What makes air springs different?
There are significant differences between a coiled steel spring and an air spring. Engineers use the term “hysteresis” to describe it. Hysteresis is the loss of mechanical energy that occurs as a spring is cycled from loaded and unloaded and is proportional to the amount of deflection. The rubber products that make up the air spring do not react with the same speed as the steel coil spring. This makes the air spring slower to return to its uncompressed state. This difference in air spring reaction time requires different shock absorber valve configurations, when compared to a conventional coil spring to produce the same ride characteristics. All air spring suspensions are more complex than the conventional steel spring in that they require a compressor, solenoid valves, controls and plumbing. Air Spring Types Most passenger car original equipment air springs are of the rolling lobe (Goodyear /Air Lift), or tapered sleeve (Firestone). Rolling lobe and tapered sleeve air springs have a c
