The air suspension spring has three functions. The first is shock absorption, the second is comfortable, and the third is the ability to adjust the height according to specific requirements.

This product can provide you with a comfortable driving experience. During driving, the wheel vibration will not be transmitted to the suspension or the cab. Therefore, when the wheel bumps on the road, the car body and seat will hardly vibrate, which improves the comfort of the vehicle.  Generally speaking, air spring suspensions are commonly used in buses, trucks, trailers, high-end cars, and off-road vehicles.

Knowing the function of the air spring, what are the common causes of its failure? Let's take a look!

Ⅰ Cab tilt adjustment

After starting the engine, the air compressor starts to work. Observe the air spring inflation on both sides of the cab. If the inflation is normal and the heights on both sides are the same, you don’t need to adjust.

If the heights on both sides are inconsistent, causing the cab to tilt, you need to adjust the length of the threaded rod to adjust the lower side height valve swing lever toward the intake direction, or the higher side height valve swing lever toward the exhaust direction.

By comparing the air spring inflation state to take measures, the under-inflated side needs to adjust the pendulum rod toward the air intake direction.

Ⅱ Air spring collapsed

The main reasons for the collapse of the air spring are as follows: ①The pressure of the air supply system is too low; ②The air supply system is blocked or the height control valve fails; ③The air supply system pipeline is leaked or blocked.

How to solve?

Turn on the car, check if the air pressure and the air supply system can work normally. After the air pressure of the car is normal, observe the air spring status.

①Remove the air supply port pipeline of the height valve and check whether it is ventilated;

If there is no ventilation, check the failure point of the gas supply system;

②If ventilating, after installing the air supply pipeline, remove the adjusting rod nut of the height valve and swing the rod of the height valve up and down.

③Observe whether the air spring can be inflated and deflated normally. If it can be achieved, the height valve will function normally. If it cannot be inflated and deflated normally, the height valve function will fail and the height valve needs to be replaced.

Ⅲ Surface wear or perforation

①There is insufficient clearance around the air spring, causing friction with other parts.

②Factors such as loose/unfixed pipes cause friction with the air spring.

③There are foreign objects such as sand, glass, etc. stuck on the air spring base.

How to solve?

One of the most practical is to replace the air spring (same model as the original). After replacement and inflating, check the clearance around the air spring. If the clearance is too small or even contact interference, the interference parts need to be adjusted and fixed.

Ⅳ Cracked

①The air spring has been used for too long, the bladder skin rubber has aged, and the outer surface has cracks visible to the naked eye.

②Corrosion and aging caused by organic solvents such as grease on the outer surface of the air spring.

③The air spring is damaged by external force.

④The air pressure used by the air spring is too high, causing the capsule to burst.

How to solve?

First, if there is an air leak, you need to replace the air spring (replace the product of the same model as the original); if there is no air leak, you do not need to replace it, as long as the surface of the oily airbag needs to be cleaned.

Reminder, when replacing the air spring, in addition to replacing the product of the same model as the original, it must be replaced according to the plan of the OEM or the corresponding brand manufacturer.

ⅤAir leak at the quick plug

There are two reasons:

①The quick-plug connector is damaged by the impact of external force or the trachea is pulled out by the wrong method, which causes damage to the quick-plug connector;

②The trachea is loose or not inserted to the bottom of the quick-plug connector, and there are scratches or ends at the trachea joint. The ministry is unfair.

How to solve?

①Use a 4mm Allen key to remove the old connector and replace it with a new one.

②Re-insert the trachea according to the correct way of inserting and unplugging the trachea; if the tracheal joint is scratched or the end is uneven, cut off the scratched or uneven end, and then re-insert it.

In addition to the above five reasons, there is one that is often overlooked, the air spring is burned out and hardened.

The main reason for the air spring to burn out and harden is that the air spring is too close to the heat source, which leads to the rapid aging and failure.

For this phenomenon, we need to replace the air spring (same model as the original), and install the thermal insulation accessories according to the plan of the OEM or the corresponding brand manufacturer.

Tips

①When the vehicle air tank is full, it is forbidden to forcefully plug and unplug the air spring and height valve air pipe.

②The swing lever of the height valve can only swing vertically in the up and down direction, and cannot be moved horizontally, because it is easy to damage the outer plastic shell.

③Do not pull off the rubber dust cover of the height valve easily. It is easy to cause dust to enter the valve core and affect the sealing performance of the valve body.

④Air springs, also known as rubber air springs, are mainly made of rubber. The maintenance process must be kept away from heat sources and oil stains, otherwise it will cause rapid aging and failure of the airbag.

⑤When purchasing or replacing an air spring, be sure to choose a large brand with guaranteed quality.