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Helper Spring for Commercial Vehicles with Leaf Spring Suspension
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By Counterman
If a customer mentions that they’re seeing fluid trickling from a suspension bushing, their eyes aren’t playing tricks on them. That bushing could be hydraulic.
Hydraulic suspension bushings were developed in response to customer demands for smoother, quieter and better-handling vehicles. To achieve this, sophisticated suspension components are needed. Modern suspension systems look a lot different than they used to, with multiple links used to maintain suspension geometry.
A non-hydraulic suspension bushing typically will feature a number of empty voids inside them. These voids are a product of clever engineering, and they allow for deflection/compression in a specific direction when placed under load. Hydraulic bushings fill those empty voids with a fluid. This fluid works like a hydraulic damper, while still allowing for deflection/compression when under load.
The word “hydraulic” might imply that hydraulic fluid or oil is used inside these bushings, but they typically use a glycol mixture instead. Oil or hydraulic fluid would break down the rubber inside the bushing and cause it to fail prematurely. If you’ve ever seen a radiator hose that got coated in engine oil, you know what we’re talking about.
These bushings are engineered with a certain tire and wheel combination in mind. This means increasing the tire and/or wheel sizes can throw this off, and the suspension may need to be repaired more frequently.
Hydraulic bushings are able to isolate noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) from entering the vehicle cabin more effectively than standard bushings. Hydraulic bushings can be firmer without compromising passenger comfort, leading to crisp steering response and road feel. They will deflect less under load, such as braking or hard cornering, and this means better vehicle stability.
But, all bushings eventually will wear out and need to be replaced. Hydraulic bushings may crack, rip or tear, just the same as non-hydraulic bushings will. The big giveaway is the hydraulic fluid leaking from the bushing.
Failing hydraulic bushings typically exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:
Clunking or knocking noises while braking or turning Evidence of fluid leaks coming from the bushings Unwanted suspension movement Tire wear (from excessive suspension movement) Increased NVH transferring into the vehicle cabin Replacement Tips
Hydraulic bushings likely will be more expensive to replace than standard bushings. Here are a few tips and tricks to share with your customers.
Let’s start with the most important tip: Always check the OE service information. Even if your customer has performed this type of repair in the past, it’s still a good idea to check the service information to see if anything has been updated recently. They should road-test the vehicle before and after the repair.
If your customer is pressing a hydraulic bushing into or out of a suspension arm, they should be careful not to apply force directly against the rubber part of the bushing. Doing this will most likely rupture the rubber bushing, causing the hydraulic fluid to spill all over the floor. Once this happens, the bushing is ruined and must be replaced. Be sure to only apply force against the outer race or sleeve.
Modern bushings likely will feature some sort of locating mark, notch or indicator. Reference the OE service information to learn how to correctly align the bushing to the suspension arm. Doing this will allow the suspension to articulate properly. Failure to do this may cause the suspension to bind up during movement, and/or cause the bushing to wear out or fail prematurely.
It’s strongly recommended to wait to torque the fasteners down to specification until the suspension has been set to normal ride height. If the fasteners are tightened down with the vehicle in the air, the bushing will be forced to twist when the vehicle is lowered onto the ground. This means that the bushing will always be twisting at normal ride height, and this will surely lead to premature wear, tearing and/or failure.
Finally, your customer should perform a four-wheel alignment if the service information calls for it. Some suspension components may not require an alignment after service; it depends on the make, model and application.
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By Counterman
Westar Distribution recently announced the release of its new line of complete air-suspension kits.
The kits cover millions of vehicles, depending on the type of kit the customer chooses.
Kits are supplied in two configurations: direct replacement kits and complete service kits. Both configurations are available as front, rear or complete kits.
Direct replacement kits include:
Air spring (if applicable) Air-strut unit Compressor Solenoid or control valve (where applicable) Complete service kits include:
Air Spring (to rebuild the original air strut) Compressor Solenoid or control valve (where applicable) For more information and application information, visit
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By Counterman
Motul recently launched Motul 8100 Power for the North American market.
Motul developed 8100 Power specifically for performance street vehicles that do not require a dedicated track motor oil such as Motul 300V, the company said.
The 100% synthetic, ester-based engine oil replaces and expands upon the Motul Sport line and is available in four viscosities for use in naturally aspirated and forced-induction gasoline and diesel engines.
“Engineered with modern performance engines in mind, 8100 Power provides the ideal balance between performance and protection,” said Motul USA Marketing Manager Nolan Browning. “With 8100 Power, we are taking what we’ve learned from our decades as a leader in motorsport lubrication technology and applying it to high-performance and tuned street cars. It’s the perfect addition to our line of motor oils for everything from general service to extreme track use.”
The new line of
link hidden, please login to view is specially formulated to ensure performance and reliability for turbocharged or naturally aspirated light-duty diesel or gasoline engines across a broad range of temperatures and engine RPMs, according to Motul. Motul 8100 Power is engineered to protect against the risk of low-speed pre-ignition in small-displacement turbocharged direct-injection engines. It delivers oil-film resistance at elevated temperatures for peak engine power, torque and anti-wear protection, thanks to a unique combination of ester base oils and friction modifiers, according to the company.
Motul 8100 Power also maintains compatibility with manufacturer warranties with vehicles requiring API SP-grade lubricants as well as full compatibility with bioethanol (E85 and E100), LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), CNG (compressed natural gas) and diesel fuels.
Motul 8100 Power is available in 0W-20, 5W-30, 5W-40 and 5W-50 viscosities in 1-liter and 5-liter containers. The high-performance lubricant already has been recommended and extensively tested for high-performance vehicles at manufacturer-recommended drain intervals.
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By Counterman
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require automatic emergency braking (AEB) and pedestrian AEB systems on passenger cars and light trucks.
The proposed rule is expected to dramatically reduce crashes associated with pedestrians and rear-end crashes, according to the agency.
NHTSA projects that the proposed rule, if finalized, would save at least 360 lives a year and reduce injuries by at least 24,000 annually.
In addition, the AEB systems would result in significant reductions in property damage caused by rear-end crashes, according to NHTSA. Many crashes would be avoided altogether, while others would be less destructive.
“Today, we take an important step forward to save lives and make our roadways safer for all Americans,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on May 31. “Just as lifesaving innovations from previous generations like seatbelts and air bags have helped improve safety, requiring automatic emergency braking on cars and trucks would keep all of us safer on our roads.”
The
link hidden, please login to view is a key component of the department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), which was launched in January 2022 to address the national crisis in traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The NRSS adopts the safe-system approach and builds multiple layers of protection with safer roads, safer people, safer vehicles, safer speeds and better post-crash care, according to the agency. As part of the safe system approach, the proposed rule highlights safer vehicles and the DOT’s effort to expand vehicle systems and features that help to prevent crashes. An AEB system uses various sensor technologies and sub-systems that work together to detect when the vehicle is close to crashing, and then automatically applies the vehicle brakes if the driver has not done so, or applies more braking force to supplement the driver’s braking as necessary to avoid or mitigate the severity of the crash.
“We’ve seen the benefits of the AEB system in some passenger vehicles already even at lower speeds, and we want to expand the use of the technology to save even more lives,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Ann Carlson said. “That’s why our proposed rule would require all cars to be able to stop and avoid contact with a vehicle in front of them up to 62 miles per hour. And the proposal would require pedestrian AEB, including requiring that AEB recognize and avoid pedestrians at night,” “This proposed rule is a major safety advancement.”
If adopted as proposed, nearly all U.S. light vehicles (gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less) would be required to have AEB technology three years after the publication of a final rule.
This notice is a direct response to a provision in the
link hidden, please login to view to create a rule to establish minimum performance standards requiring that all passenger vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States be equipped with an AEB system. A preliminary regulatory impact analysis that presents the benefits and costs associated with the proposed rule also link hidden, please login to view. The post
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By Dorman Products
Reliable replacements and upgrades for active, semi-active and adaptive suspension systems
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