Cold Weather Maintenance for Air Suspension

Wintertime is typically not the most exciting season of the year for enthusiasts if you live in a state that experiences snowfall and extremely cold temperatures on a regular basis—I'm talking below-freezing temperatures, not "winters" of 60°F.

Frozen airlines and a frozen compressor are the two most frequent problems that drivers encounter when traveling by air in the winter.

This can happen if you don't check and drain the water trap on a regular basis to keep it from freezing within your air tank. The same holds true for adding anti-brake freeze, also used in semis, to your air tank to prevent frozen and cracked airlines.

What and How Does Air Suspension Work?

An air suspension system is a style of vehicle suspension that's powered by an electric pump or compressor that pumps air into flexible bellows that are typically made from a textile-reinforced type of rubber.

The bags are inflated to a specific pressure by a compressor to make them act like springs. Hydropneumatics suspension is different from air suspension in that it uses pressured air rather than pressurized liquid.

Sports suspensions occasionally include an air suspension system as well; however, air suspension is typically employed to provide smooth and consistent driving quality. As with heavier vehicles, such as tractors, tractor-trailers, passenger buses, and even passenger trains, air suspension takes the place of a traditional steel spring suspension in these applications.

Let’s dive deep into what are the pros and cons for getting Ais Suspensions.

The compressor may freeze in really cold weather. If you intend to drive throughout the winter, make sure you mount the compressor inside the vehicle, preferably somewhere that receives some warm air from the vehicle when you warm it up in the morning.

Pros:

1. Less road noise, harshness, and vibration, which can be uncomfortable and exhausting for drivers, means greater driver comfort.
2. Because of the diminished harshness and vibration from heavy-duty driving, the suspension system will endure less wear and tear. 
3. Experiencing less vibration, air suspension trailers last longer.
4. Short wheelbase trucks' propensity to buck over rougher roads and terrain is lessened by air suspension while the truck is empty.
5. Depending on the load weight and the speed of the vehicle, air suspension raises the ride height.
6. Because air suspension is more adapted to the road's surface, it allows for faster cornering.

Cons:

1. When compared to a leaf suspension system over a 10-year period, the initial expenditures of purchasing and installing an air suspension system can occasionally be three times higher.
2. Costs associated with fueling compressors infrequently push air to the proper pressure.
3. Because air suspension is heavier than leaf suspension, fuel efficiency may suffer.
4. Leaks in the air might cause problems with an air suspension system.

Winter air suspension expert advice:

1. Keep a minimum of one water trap and drain it frequently!
2. Anti-brake-freeze should be added to the air tank to avoid condensation in the air lines.
3. To prevent water condensation, you can also drain your air tank once or twice a month.
4. Clean your compressor's air filter regularly.
5. When you warm up your car before traveling, mount your compressor wherever it can get warm air.
6. To avoid overusing the compressor, maintain riding height as long as you can.

Summary

Do you need to run the air conditioning in the winter? Winter operation of an air ride is not at all problematic; but, to keep everything operating as it should, air rides require routine maintenance.

Where can I find air suspensions then? To view the greatest air suspensions and pricing on the online tire market, visit Mountainfirewheels tire rack.