How to Avoid Suspension Sag in Trucks and Trailers?

Carrying heavy loads in your truck also causes the front or rear suspension to sag and deviate lower than expected in performance. To avoid sag, installation of powerful durable hollow rubber cushions will help in carrying the heaviest loads effortlessly without ripping-off the suspension.

Springs are designed to cope with extreme conditions like highway cruising to severe off-road use, whether the vehicle is laden or not. The springs are integrated with a correctly matched shock absorber and determine the optimum limits the suspension can withstand. A shock absorber controls the spring, dictates the ride quality, and is often used as a stop to limit sagging.

Ideal sag measurement is determined by various factors which vary from individual to individual, their abilities, riding styles, weight of the driver, and measuring techniques. The above factors should be taken into consideration before replacing the spring.

Attention to spring design eliminates "sag." Steps during the design and fitting stages will ensure no built-in failures occur. Leaf lengths are calculated to ensure that the spring is as uniformly stressed as possible. Inappropriate lengths will concentrate stress in one particular area and will cause premature sagging or breakage. Fitting a shock absorber and leaf or coil spring system will instantly result in improved towing capabilities, an increased load-carrying capability, enhanced off-road traction and excellent on-road comfort.

Suspension sag is of two types:

1. Static

2. Free

Static sag involves how much the suspension compresses under the weight of the rider and free sag involves how much compression occurs under the weight of the trucks and trailers alone.

Calculate the static sag and adjust the rear preload accordingly – one turn of preload usually equates to between two and three millimeters of sag. Here's a tip to check your rear spring rate. Lift the rear end of your empty vehicle with the help of equipment, until the suspension tops out. Next, gently let it settle – how much it drops is the free sag, which should be approximately five millimeters. If the suspension doesn't drop at all, you've overloaded your vehicle and should consider a stiffer spring.

Broadly thinking suspension sag is not always a bad thing, a correctly set up vehicle with evenly distributed weight will ride smoother, deal with imperfect roads, and reduce rider fatigue.

The bottom-line is to never load your trucks and trailers beyond the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating.

Conclusion:

You may not be mechanically inclined but a combination of common sense and basic knowledge of your truck is definitely a worthy investment. As a result, you may experience a smoother ride on your trucks and trailers and run farther with lower maintenance costs.

Affordable Ways to Improve Trailer Suspension Performance

The motive behind the design of each vehicle is to give the best possible ride under ideal road and load conditions; the trailer suspension enhancement system takes care of unusual loads and bumpy or mountainous road conditions and is specifically designed to improve suspension performance without compromising on the quality of the ride.

Trailer suspension is a durable hollow rubber cushion installed in the front or rear of a truck to assist suspension performance. The characteristics of the hollow rubber cushion is to upgrade the deflection quality of the suspension automatically – while handling deep curves, reducing the sway when driving in crossroads, and when carrying heavy or unbalanced loads.

The function of the rubber spring is ideally to absorb the shock from the suspension that is otherwise transmitted to the frame. This in turn will reduce the downtime and maintenance cost of the vehicle.

The suspension trailer is engineered in such a way that if your vehicle leans or corners or curves, the kit can improve weight distribution to all four corners of the vehicle. This helps to maintain the vehicle level, improves steering balance, and reduces application of strong brakes and tire wear.

There are also a number of sway-control devices available to stop a trailer from swaying. The key is in selecting the right spring for each application. The following are some basic tips on trailer suspension:

Installation Tips

It is easy to install and can be installed in minutes using the basic hand tools. There is no need to drill holes, just follow the simple installation steps provided.

Maintenance Tips

There are no airlines or fittings to leak. It just comprises of bolt and kit and your vehicle is all set for a lifetime of trouble-free service. Keep an eye on the rubber cushion as it is subject to wear and tear. As soon as you detect that your trailer ride is no longer smooth, immediately check the suspension and replace it if required. This could cut repair costs which are possible when the suspension does not work as parts are subject to wear and tear.

Usage Tips

The rubber cushions in the trailer suspension absorb road shocks and automatically adjust to uneven loads or road conditions, the result being a smooth, stable rubber cushion ride. But still it is always better that you drive carefully and avoid bad roads and strong brakes, if possible.

The trailer suspension series features distinct operational and technological benefits and advancements that include patented pivot bushing, more robust shock absorbers and a unique, patent-pending axle wrap design.

• Patented pivot bushing – These absorb road inputs resulting in a softer ride, more cargo protection, and reduced torsion stress on the vehicle's structure. Patented steel interleaf shims in the bushing provide improved fore-aft stiffness aiding in dynamic axle alignment, better tire wear, and controlled roll steer.

• Larger, more robust shock absorbers – These are specifically tuned to credit the suspension with three times the damping power, over competitors. Larger bore design provide greater suspension control, and more consistent tire contact with the ground, reducing tire tread wear and improving braking and enhanced handling.

• Unique, patent-pending axle wrap design – These are used for secure and durable axle connection.

There are chances of damaging your suspension trailer if you tend to exceed the tow rating for any vehicle as you will overload the suspension. In some situations, you may encounter premature brake fade and even experience further reduced and possibly unsafe passing ability. Furthermore, you will not be doing any favors to the engine, and the chance of eventual transmission failure is also possible.