Air ride handling quesiton

[PhillipM]

If an air ride system were to have mechanical height sensors that ran off of the control arms and the rear end (like newer vehicles) and an air system that was fast enough (big lines/valves). Wouldn't it technically be able to adjust itself in the middle of a corner? Would this eliminate the need for sway bars?

[deuce_454]

in theory, yes... it is actually what Audi is rubbing on the Q7´s active suspension option... you would need a prety big compressor, saft valves and well engineered airsupply and controll system... if you get it to work, ill buy a setup... :-)

[PhillipM]

I'm not sure if I can make it happen but it was making for good bench racing! Thanks.

Phillip


:wrc:

[darren@ridetech]

I don't thing that adjusting your spring rate mid corner would be a great idea.....

[marolf101x]

In order to create a fully active air suspension system correctly you need a valve that can control air flow rates (variable rate valve, not an On/Off unit) and a sophisticated control system that utilizes level sensors, air pressure sensors, and an accelerometer or two. If the system is fast enough and your software is "extra tricky", you can predict the severity of vehicle roll in a turn based on data from initial turn-in and data while in the turn. The computer can then open the valve, slowly increasing air spring pressure. If the forces continue to increase (you know the vehicle is in a hard corner) the airflow through the valve can be increased to further increase the spring rate of the air spring.

Now, this all has to work VERY quickly, and the airflow into, or out of, the air spring should never be a large burst as this will upset the vehicle. The spring rate has to be increased to a value that the computer "thinks" the vehicle requires, based on how hard the car is pushed in the turn.

If you were building this system for one vehicle (or at least one vehicle platform) it's not that big of a deal (many auto manufacturers already have similar systems that adjust some part of the suspension “on the fly”). But if you are like me, and have to make this work on any vehicle ever designed and built by a major auto manufacturer, or anything someone fabbed up in their garage, you can see it is almost impossible to make one system work correctly on all vehicles.

[deuce_454]

i inquired.. just for fun.. on what a compressor for the audi Q7 costs (it also houses the valves and computer for the airsuspension... and the price tag was 7100 dollars for the part... including taxes but still it´s kinda steep in my view