Hello, my name is Walter. Over the past few months, I have been working on my car. I never used to think much about my car. I would just jump into it and hit the road. Things were fine at first, but soon I realised that things were starting to go wrong. Strange white smoke started to appear from the exhaust. Sometimes when I changed gear, I could hear a strange noise. Foolishly, I ignored all of this until my car broke down. When I got to the auto repair shop the mechanic repaired my car and then gave it a full service. As he did so, I began my auto servicing education.
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If you're new to heavy vehicle ownership, you may realise that your truck relies on air suspension but may not know too much about it. Still, you'll want to take action if things start to go wrong, and it pays to have a general awareness of the situation to take the appropriate action. How does this suspension system work, why does it sometimes fail, and what are the symptoms at that time?
Airbag Suspension Setup
Your heavy vehicle will typically have one airbag on each corner, linked to a compressor, dryer mechanism and other ancillaries. When working properly, the compressor will feed just the right amount of air into each bag to maintain the vehicle at the appropriate ride height and take changeable conditions into account.
Drying the Air
The dryer is a crucial part of the system as it needs to remove any moisture from the air before it can be used. If not, this can lead to the risk of corrosion, which compromises the system's ability to perform its work.
In Harm's Way
Airbags are similar in appearance to rubber bellows and they are made from very sturdy material to put up with a tremendous amount of wear and tear. Still, they're not indestructible and are vulnerable to damage from road debris and other threats. This debris can sometimes cause small holes to develop in the casing, making it hard for the compressor to regulate levels appropriately.
Compressor Overload
The first sign of an issue may be a compressor that seems to be constantly in the "on" position. You may hear this and wonder why it is running more than it should, or you may also get a warning sign on the vehicle's dashboard.
Sagging Suspension
Sometimes, the damage may be more subtle, but you may find that the vehicle appears to sag to one corner. This means that one bag is not as inflated as much as it should be, and you will need to inspect it to see if it needs to be repaired or replaced.
Other Problem Areas
The entire system is joined together via a network of pipes and tubes, with seals and other connections. Again, issues can arise here, leading to leakage or moisture infiltration. This can be harder to pinpoint, but a trained mechanic will have the knowledge and relevant equipment to diagnose the problem.
Urgent Action Needed
Remember, your vehicle will not handle as it should, and you may not be able to carry as much payload should any issues arise with your airbag suspension. At the first signs of a problem, talk with a mechanic for their advice.
For more info, contact an auto repair company that can help with truck suspension repair.
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