Active Suspension?

[RWebb]

What ever happened to Active Suspension?

was supposed to be better than sliced bread...

[nota]

cost and weight + a MPH hit with the pumps and plumbing
some cars have semi-active bits [new 911?] in the anti-spin control

[legion]

I think GM's visc-electric shocks (which are cheaper and lighter than an "active" suspension) made the systems obsolete overnight.

Even Ferrari has licensed the technology from GM.

[Schumi]

Lots of cars have electronically controlled suspension nits i.e. the 911's 'sport' mode- changes the valving in the shocks to a firmed setting. But it's only two settings, irm or soft, not continuously variable, as far as I know.

Some cars do this actively, varying the valve setting on how hard you drive. This isn't a full compensation mode, but it's still active.

A fully active suspension in the sense that F1 saw in the early 90's requires heavy linear motors or hydraulic pumps and expensive Moog valves.

Cars are using suspensions with magnetorheological fluid in parts of the damping system, which have a magnetically variable viscosity as to vary the damping rate actively. This is seen on cars like the Volkwagen Phaeton I believe- I've driven one, it's ridiculously smooth. Not sporty, however.


It's all out there, but as stated it's a necessity/cost/weight/benefit thing.

[red-beard]

My BMW X5 has active suspension with an automatic leveling system.

[island911]

Same for my pepperwagen. (and I didn't know X5's even had that option)

The damper valving is continuously (fast)variable, the spring rate, not so much(afaik). Oh, and it can de-couple the giant swaybars for off-road cat-like foot planting.