Volvo Air Suspension
Volvo Trucks says its new ‘Blade’ air suspension, available on VNL and VNM models, was designed to improve ride, handling, and driver comfort.
Field-tested by customers for more than three million miles, it features paired high-strength steel blades for each wheel end attached to the axle using the upper and lower axle seats. The design, explains Volvo, acts to control windup for smoother and more effective braking and improved traction especially at startup.
In traditional highway trailing-arm suspensions, braking and tractive forces cause the vehicle to rise during acceleration and drop during braking as the axle twists, increasing driveline bearing stresses and vibration, says Volvo. The Blade suspension prevents excessive axle windup and resulting vibration, creating a more comfortable ride for the driver. And because it’s less torque-reactive, the suspension allows input torque ratings up to 2050 lb ft in higher gross-combination-weight ratings.
The blades of the new suspension are stiff vertically and flex laterally, allowing them to track and reduce tire scuffing, improving tire wear. Customer field tests reported up to a 25% improvement in tire wear because of this alignment feature, claims Volvo, adding that the suspension is also lighter and requires less maintenance than trailing-arm suspensions. Huck U-bolts are used to connect the axle seats to the axle housing that never require re-torqueing. There are no wear pads to wear out or bushings that need lubrication or maintenance. Because of the unique construction of the suspension, axle alignment is said to be easier.
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