Active Suspension for Road Handling

Posted on 03 April 2019 Print

Suspension systems are made to absorb most of the impact of a bump in the road. This ultimately increases the ride quality from inside the vehicle. Over time, suspension has greatly improved. There are several different types of suspension, including active suspension.

What is active suspension? Active suspension is a system in which the vehicle senses road conditions and adjusts the suspension accordingly. These systems may be equipped with wheel sensors as well as road views with a front camera. Active suspension anticipates road conditions and prepares the suspension for the road ahead.

For Example:

  • The 2019 Cadillac XT5 is equipped with Real-Time Damping suspension. Every two milliseconds, the suspension adjusts to the road conditions. The active suspension is equipped with modules within the suspension to assess the road conditions.
  • The 2020 BMW 7 Series active suspension is called Active Comfort Drive with Road Preview. This system learns driving style and uses the navigation system and the stereo camera to anticipate the road ahead, therefore improving ride comfort.

Some systems may require calibration so always refer to the service manual before making repairs or replacing components on this system.

Related I-CAR Courses

Course Suspension System Overview

Course Suspension Systems Operation and Damage Analysis

Course Suspension Systems Service

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