When you’re experiencing the vibration in bad road conditions, your vehicle is also suffering from the damage it brings. Thus, it is important to ensure your vehicle has a proper suspension solution to keep you safe and comfortable all year. In fact, there’re many options available such as leaf spring and coil spring suspensions. Or better, you can choose vigorairride air suspension air spring.
We will talk about these 3 springs and how they differ.
The function of the suspension systems
Normally, a suspension contains shock absorbers, springs, and other components that connect the car to the wheels. So, your suspension helps you protect your car, absorb vibrations, deal with the effects of gravity, and manage your car’s handling.
The function of the springs
Your suspension system is incomplete without springs. The springs in your car adjust to the road surface and reduce bounce. In addition, springs are able to support the extra weight and keep your car at a fixed height. Without springs, cars wouldn’t be able to adapt to different road conditions and would drag on the ground. We are blessed with this amazing automotive invention. Over the years, many variations of spring systems have been developed to meet the needs of modern drivers.
Let’s check out 3 of the most common suspensions.
Leaf spring suspension
Usually, leaf springs are likely to be found on vehicles manufactured before 1970. In France, leaf springs were invented in the 18th century for improving the ride of horse-drawn carriages. Although there were many variations to this suspension design, it was still the most widely used spring style for decades.
A leaf spring consists of multiple layers, or leaves, of metal that is bent into an arch (elliptical springs). The vehicle’s weight is held down by the friction between the leaves and the arc created by the friction. The leaf springs attach to the car’s body at one end and the axle or wheel assembly in the middle.
Leaf springs are a popular choice for rear-wheel-drive vehicles, especially trucks, due to their simplicity and ability to carry heavy loads. Since the introduction of front-wheel-drive cars in 1970, leaf springs have been losing popularity. Today, coil springs are still popular.
Coil spring suspension
Back in the 1970s, the vehicle world was undergoing a huge revolution. At that time, front-wheel drive became standard in some drivetrains. Thus, a new type of spring was needed for all suspensions due to this wide-ranging industry change. The leaf spring was famous for its usefulness for many centuries.
Coil springs are heavy-duty torsion bars that have been wrapped around an axle. This enables the coil spring to expand and contract. Then, the wheel can suffer from less motion. Normally, coils are not as strong as leaf springs. Yet, it’s great for daily driving when you don’t need to carry heavy loads.
The development of suspensions
The auto world is witnessing yet another shift in suspension technology, just like the transition from leaf springs to coil springs. Then, air springs become popular.
Air spring: airbag suspension systems
Actually, air spring suspension systems are not something that’s new. Actually, air springs were first created in the early 1900s. And now, they are in a few luxury cars and heavy-duty equipment like military vehicles and construction vehicles.
Air springs can be described as tough rubber airbags. With the help of air compressors and sensors, an air spring will inflate and deflate to adjust the vehicle’s height. Actually, an air spring allows for suspension modifications according to the vehicle’s needs.
What is airbag/ air spring suspension?
The truck’s stock suspension was designed to give a compromise between ride comfort and the safety of towing or hauling a payload. The rear suspension may sag if your truck is used for a lot of hauling or towing. This can be detrimental to the truck’s handling. Similar problems can also occur in the front of snowplow trucks. Installing a set of air springs is the best way to solve this problem and increase your truck’s ability to handle the additional weight.
How does the air spring work?
You can install an air spring between your truck’s frame and leaf springs or within its coil springs. They work in conjunction with an air compressor to provide additional support for your truck’s front and rear. This allows you to keep a level ride height while hauling heavy loads. The air spring can be adjusted so you can inflate or deflate them manually or remotely.
In fact, the airbags can be adjusted individually which makes it easier to handle heavy or uneven loads. Besides, you can adjust the bags individually to achieve the ideal balance between load support and ride comfort.
Advantages of air spring
Air springs offer many advantages over conventional solutions like spring coils and leaf springs. Firstly, an air spring enables you to easily adjust your ride with minimal to no tools. Also, air spring suspension systems can adjust vehicle handling to suit different circumstances and load capacities.
Actually, air spring suspensions today have self-leveling and raising/lowering capabilities. This allows for incredible ride quality.
Leaf spring suspension with an air helper spring
Leaf springs are the foundation of most trucks today. They consist of a series of curved metal bars that have been stacked together. If a heavy load is being towed or carried in the bed it can cause the gap between the frame and the leaf springs to close. This can lead to the truck bottoming out if it hits bumps or potholes. Air springs bridge this gap and help stabilize the suspension. This will greatly reduce the risk of your truck bottoming out. It also dramatically improves the handling and braking performance when you are under load.
Coil spring suspension with the air spring as a helper
If the vehicle is loaded with heavy equipment, such as a snowplow, coil springs can become sagging. By installing an air spring within the coil spring, can help to prevent this problem. After the bag has been installed, it can then be inflated to provide a smooth ride and enhance your vehicle’s safety and handling.
Conclusion
Your car’s suspension ensures you have a smooth ride and safety, no matter what road conditions may present. Choosing a proper suspension system is vital. So, which will you pick: coil, left, or air spring?
