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Disadvantages of Air Suspension
Disadvantages of Air Suspension
Air suspensions are the modern replacements for the older, mechanical suspension pieces that were widely used in cars and other types of vehicles for decades. With advancements in technology and manufacturing techniques, air-sides have become more refined and reliable. However, there are still certain shortcomings that the old-fashioned suspensions possess. Read on to find out more about these and how they can be dealt with if you're looking to improve your car's handling.
The first major disadvantage of air suspension shock absorbers is their sensitivity to changes in vehicle speeds. As a rule, they provide a smooth ride at low speeds but become very sensitive to changes in acceleration. The speed sensitivity is what makes them ineffective at times of sudden changes in acceleration. As a result, they may not be able to properly react to a sudden stop or sudden acceleration. This means that they will not be able to absorb the torque of the vehicle's tires and could lead to damage to the suspension system.
Another drawback of air suspension shock absorbers is that they are heavy. In fact, some of them are as much as 100 kilograms. This means that drivers who are using them need to be physically fit to ensure that the weight is distributed evenly across the whole vehicle.
There are also some disadvantages associated with air suspension shock absorbers that you should know about before choosing to install one in your vehicle. For one thing, they are noisy. They tend to make sounds like chains being pulled by a large weight. If you happen to be in an accident, you'll definitely appreciate the fact that you won't hear those squeaky sounds. But this is not really something you can ignore because it will definitely affect your ability to control the vehicle.
Air suspension systems also use a gas engine to power them and they are not fuel efficient. The gas consumed by these engines tends to make the noise levels significantly high. You will certainly not want to be stuck somewhere without a ride. So although air suspension shock absorbers are generally very good, they may not be the right solution for your car's suspension system.
The best solution for air suspension is a hybrid system that uses air and oil. These are the most technologically advanced shock absorbers in the market today. Hybrid air suspension systems combine air suspension with oil shocks. Although hybrids have proven to be less popular than their gas-powered counterparts, their benefits cannot be ignored. Hybrid air suspension systems allow users to choose between gas or oil powered operation.
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