Q. What types of trends do you see with air suspensions in the future?
As more equipment is added to the truck or trailer to meet new regulations, the overall vehicle weight continues to be a prominent factor...
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A. When discussing tire wear and performance, it is important to consider both the tire and suspension manufacturers. For trailer suspensions, one of the primary design goals is to ensure the axle presents the tires to the road surface in a way that minimizes resistance to forward travel. For this reason, Hendrickson has invested in advanced manufacturing processes that allow for the straightest axle in the industry. Additionally, we always emphasize that proper suspension alignment and tire pressures are two of the most key factors to maximizing tire performance on a trailer.
Remember that steer, drive, and trailer tires are all unique. Because the tires on the tractor are either designed for optimal ride and handling (steer axles) or to react torque at the road surface (drive axles), they wear differently than trailer tires, which are designed to simply roll freely unless reacting to braking forces. Tire manufacturers and industry organizations like TMC publish diagnostic tools for evaluating tire wear. These publications almost always make a distinction between steer, drive, and trailer tires.
Typically, owner operators or fleet managers aim to use all of the tread on a tire. The objective is to wear out the rubber tread evenly. Tire wear can become an aggravator when it wears irregularly. No one wants to take a tire out of service because the usable tread has worn away in just one section or spot on the tire.
Proper alignment and tire inflation pressure are typically at the top of the list of factors that can influence tire wear. Solutions like Hendrickson’s QUIK-ALIGN Pivot Connection and TIREMAAX tire pressure controls systems help with maintaining these critical performance factors. The QUIK-ALIGN pivot connection allows for quick and easy suspension alignment without welding or use of section tools. TIREMAAX PRO is an advanced automatic tire pressure control system that is capable of actively inflating, relieving, and equalizing tire pressures across all wheel positions.
Hendrickson - TIREMAAX, TIREMAAX PRO-LB, TIREMAAX PRO TIREMAAX CP Tire Pressure Control System (hendrickson-intl.com)
Marketing Director, Hendrickson Trailer Commercial Vehicle Systems
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As more equipment is added to the truck or trailer to meet new regulations, the overall vehicle weight continues to be a prominent factor...
An air suspension provides improved ride quality by isolating the truck and trailer from road inputs...
For trailer suspensions, the first consideration should be the vehicle type and how it will be used...
On an air suspension, the hydraulic shock absorber plays a crucial role in suspension damping, but it is also likely requiring replacement or service during the life of a trailer...
Historically, automatic tire inflation systems (ATIS) work to maintain proper tire pressures but cannot provide insight to potential issues like small leaks...
The potential of telematics and its implications for modernizing fleet operations is exciting, but there are some considerations fleets should make when it comes to integrating systems between the tractor and trailer...
A comprehensive preventative maintenance program includes two critical components: maintaining good records and understanding your operating conditions...
Some say uptime and reduced maintenance. Others say superior performance and value...
As the commercial trailer industry’s understanding of tire pressure issues has evolved, so have tire pressure control solutions...
Variations in vehicle design can affect the operation of a liftable suspension by impacting the suspension’s operating ride height. Some valuable information to consider when spec’ing a lift axle include...
Maintaining air suspensions have a lot of similarities to mechanical suspensions such as checking for proper torques and ensuring proper lubrication at required intervals. These maintenance items are essential to proper operation and suspension performance...
Routine maintenance on air suspension will consist of audible inspections, visual inspections, and adjustments...
Of course, as fleets begin to use telematics to move from traditionally reactive to more proactive maintenance strategies, it is important to emphasize that preventative maintenance and predictive maintenance are not the same...
Some compare the current explosion in telematics to the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, which was characterized by advancements in connectivity, widespread adoption of the Internet, and subsequently, an explosion of growth in internet-based companies...
Rebound straps are available in single or dual configurations with hardware...
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