Active Suspension
Most of the cars on the road today do not have an active suspension. As of now, active suspension is reserved for higher-end and performance vehicles. However, given the direction of innovation and the addition of more features, active suspension will likely become more commonplace in the near future.
What is active suspension and what does it do?
In a standard, non-active suspension the shocks, struts, and springs react to bumps and potholes in the road as the wheels hit them. These components do not prepare for these road imperfections beforehand, but rather react to them in the moment.
In contrast, active suspensions control the vertical movement of the wheels and utilize an array of computers and sensors to prepare for road imperfections beforehand. The sensors monitor the movements of the suspension, the vehicle frame, and anti-lock braking system in real time. The active suspension can then adjust the shocks and springs to minimize the impact of the road bumps and potholes. They can also adjust the ride height and soften or stiffen the handling on the fly too.
The benefits of having an active suspension:
- Softer ride, especially on rough roads
- No body roll when taking hard turns/corners
- Ride height adjusts to optimal level when driving
- No nose-dive or rear-end squat when braking/accelerating hard
More recent active suspension systems have also included a camera to monitor the road surface and react accordingly. Some systems can lift the wheels up to prevent them from dropping into potholes. Overall, an active suspension system creates a much smoother ride that is able to prepare for disruptions on the road surface.
Signs of a bad active suspension
Issues with the active suspension pose significant safety hazards. Since your suspension is in charge of controlling your wheels and tires, your ability to control or maneuver your vehicle may be affected. The most common signs of a bad active suspension are:
- Suspension warning light is illuminated on the dashboard (if applicable)
- One side of cars sit higher or lower than the other
- Hissing noise from air springs
- Abnormal noises when going over bumps
Active suspension maintenance
Active suspensions are made up of a collection of advanced computers and sensors, so determining the cause and solution of an issue requires a meticulous troubleshooting process. A car care professional will need to complete the repair for this reason. Completing the repair itself will require a variety of sophisticated tools. Your car care professional may recommend a wheel alignment once the suspension issue is resolved.
The best way to get maintenance done on your active suspension system is to book your appointment through CarAdvise. CarAdvise makes car care simple and guarantees that you will pay less than the shop price for all car maintenance services.
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