Rear Shocks 3500 with Air Suspension

[Cummins12V98]

Can you explain why you think that?

On roads with a lot of side to side movement it's always trying to compensate. I have read people with the rear air ride do better with standard sprung truck hauling a camper.

 

[AH64ID]

On roads with a lot of side to side movement it's always trying to compensate. I have read people with the rear air ride do better with standard sprung truck hauling a camper.

What do you mean compensate? It doesn’t adjust once you’re moving.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I'm with you, no aftermarket shocks? really? I'm new to Ram trucks, how long has air ride been an option?

Let's see the rear air ride has been out since 2015. I would guess no more than 3% of the trucks come with rear air ride. If you are a shock manufacturer would you spend the $ on RnD for such little return???

 

[Cummins12V98]

What do you mean compensate? It doesn’t adjust once you’re moving.

The air bag system is constantly adjusting.

Right from RAM

AUTO-LEVEL REAR AIR SUSPENSION


The available Class-Exclusive Rear Auto-Level Air Suspension( Disclosure7) responds to your command, automatically adapting to shifting loads, changes in road camber and for a parallel hitch between truck and trailer.

 

[Cummins12V98]

What's with all these issues not going into ALT mode???

I NEVER turn mine off. Truck rides nice and level unloaded with a slightly improved ride.

 

[AH64ID]

The air bag system is constantly adjusting.

Right from RAM

AUTO-LEVEL REAR AIR SUSPENSION


The available Class-Exclusive Rear Auto-Level Air Suspension( Disclosure7) responds to your command, automatically adapting to shifting loads, changes in road camber and for a parallel hitch between truck and trailer.

I’ll have to find it later, but I'm fairly certain I've read the exact opposite from Ram.

I know that when I make a big elevation change over a couple hours and come to stop the ride height adjust a few seconds after stopping. That tells me the pressure in the bags changed with elevation and now the ride height needs changed. Maybe it's just the difference at full stop? It's done it to me several times.

What's with all these issues not going into ALT mode???

I NEVER turn mine off. Truck rides nice and level unloaded with a slightly improved ride.

My truck sits the same ALT or REG when empty and I like the dash cleaner . Unless you have 500+lbs in the be days the empty ride height is the same, at least in 17-18. Not sure about 15-16.

 

[AH64ID]

@Cummins12V98 I found that blurb you posted on the 2019 webpage. The 17-18 brochures have different verbage, but doesn’t exclude the possibility of driving adjustments.

I’m still looking.

 

[EZeis]

So if there is a small leak, they wouldn't compensate for that with adjustment on the fly? Or changes in temp or altitude? I'm sure it's able to make adjustments on the fly to keep the level close to the target. If it's in a twist when you drop a load on it and then you get out on the flat road?


Earl

 

[EZeis]

My 18 returns to normal empty height even when left in alt trailer height when the load is taken off. System knows there is no load on it and resumes normal empty ride height. Can't fool it, at least not on mine.


Earl

 

[AH64ID]

My 18 returns to normal empty height even when left in alt trailer height when the load is taken off. System knows there is no load on it and resumes normal empty ride height. Can't fool it, at least not on mine.


Earl

Mine is the same.

So if there is a small leak, they wouldn't compensate for that with adjustment on the fly? Or changes in temp or altitude? I'm sure it's able to make adjustments on the fly to keep the level close to the target. If it's in a twist when you drop a load on it and then you get out on the flat road?


Earl

If there is a small leak you have bigger issues. The system will fail before it can refill itself when empty, such as parked for a couple days with even a tiny leak.

Mine doesn’t appear to compensate while driving for changes in temp and altitude, at least not based on it adjusting the ride height after coming to a stop with big changes in temp/elevation.

The twist is a good point, and something I’ve done when having manual airbags.

Maybe there is a way to monitor pressure on the bags with my CTS2 or other OBDII scanners??

 

[EZeis]

Never had an air bag system that didn't have small leaks. It definitely needs to adjust on the fly. A major leak, yeah you're screwed. But I'm talking a small leak. Like a lb an hour or such. I don't know if it has pressure sensors. It would see the ride height is no longer in range by the two ride height senors. So say the load shifted or a small leak developed, it would see one sensor is not in range. I would expect it to add more air or less air as needed. Also think of hauling a cow in the bed or other livestock moving around shifting load. I'd be extremely shocked and highly dissatisfied if they didn't allow the system to adjust itself on the fly.

My add-on air bags adjusted itself for pressure changes. Had the wireless remote system.


Earl

 

[AH64ID]

I’ve never had an airbag system with a leak. I could set my 05 to 10 psi in November and it would still be at 10 psi in spring.

A lb/hour would drain the system overnight if empty. The system cannot refill itself from empty, it must be recharged externally before the fault codes would clear.

I’m mixed on adjustment on the fly. To me it would make it less stable as the ride height sensors would never be static, thus adjustments while driving could have negative effects on handling depending on road conditions.

The load should also never vary so much while moving that air pressure adjustments would be needed, and most altitude changes would have measurable but negligible effects on ride height.

A 5000’ elevation gain would drop bag pressure approximately 2-3 psi, enough for a minimal static ride height change on a lighter load but not enough to need adjustment while driving, IMO.

 

[TFucili]

There would have to be some reasonable lag designed in, or it would be continuously adding and dumping air unless you were driving on a pool table. It should adjust for changes in static ride height, not normal suspension reactions, it seems to me.

 

[AH64ID]

There would have to be some reasonable lag designed in, or it would be continuously adding and dumping air unless you were driving on a pool table. It should adjust for changes in static ride height, not normal suspension reactions, it seems to me.

My thoughts exactly. If it does adjust I would think it would take a 60 second average or maybe even more?

 

[EZeis]

Copied from the Ram site.

BALANCE A HEAVIER WORKLOAD
AUTO-LEVEL REAR AIR SUSPENSION


The available Class-Exclusive Rear Auto-Level Air Suspension( Disclosure7) responds to your command, automatically adapting to shifting loads, changes in road camber and for a parallel hitch between truck and trailer.


Earl

 

[dieselshadow]

Unfortunately that doesn’t mean “on the go.” It means only when the engine is running and you’re parked or at slow speeds. It doesn’t say and mean adjusts all the time at any speeds. I wish I could copy it from the manual and post it here.

 

[EZeis]

Unfortunately that doesn’t mean “on the go.” It means only when the engine is running and you’re parked or at slow speeds. It doesn’t say and mean adjusts all the time at any speeds. I wish I could copy it from the manual and post it here.

Mine will adjust up to 10 minutes after the engine is shut down. Also states that in the owners manual. Also pretty sure I've changed to alt trailer height without the engine running as well.

Earl

 

[EZeis]

How would it adjust to road camber if it won't adjust on the fly? I still say it can make adjustments on the fly. Also says it will adjust to shifting loads. Your load isn't going to shift when at a standstill other than a live load.

Disconnect a sensor and work it with a radio control servo and see if it adds adjusts the bag on the fly. Remember, there would be a delay to prevent consent adjustments like truck air ride systems.


Earl

 

[AH64ID]

Mine will adjust up to 10 minutes after the engine is shut down. Also states that in the owners manual. Also pretty sure I've changed to alt trailer height without the engine running as well.

Earl

That’s correct, but it doesn’t say it adjusts on the move. In fact I can’t get mine into ALT ride height with any movement.

I’ve also raised and lowered without the engine running.

How would it adjust to road camber if it won't on the fly? I still say it can make adjustments on the fly. Also says it will adjust to shifting loads. Your load isn't going to shift when at a standstill other than a live load.

Disconnect a sensor and work it with a radio control servo and see if it adds adjusts the bag on the fly. Remember, there would be a delay to prevent consent adjustments like truck air ride systems.


Earl

How would it adjust for road camber anyhow? If the road is flat but at a cambered slope the wheel height sensors will not detect it.

That blurb is on the website with marketing blurbs, so I’m not sure about its exact validity. It’s not in the brochures or manuals.

What loads shift while driving? Stock will shift, but it shouldn’t shift so much that more/less air is required... that much change in tongue/pin weight would provide for a unsafe towing condition. If it was adjusting to a rocking load it would make the issue worse, so I doubt it does that too.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I’ll have to find it later, but I'm fairly certain I've read the exact opposite from Ram.

I know that when I make a big elevation change over a couple hours and come to stop the ride height adjust a few seconds after stopping. That tells me the pressure in the bags changed with elevation and now the ride height needs changed. Maybe it's just the difference at full stop? It's done it to me several times.



My truck sits the same ALT or REG when empty and I like the dash cleaner . Unless you have 500+lbs in the be days the empty ride height is the same, at least in 17-18. Not sure about 15-16.

If that’s the case your system is f dup. Have you actually measured it?