Mount Lower Arm

Valve
Oil
Stabilizer
Piston Rod
Shock Absorber
Coil Spring
Component Layout
Suspension:Shock Absorbers
Suspension: Shock Absorbers
Suspension
Component Layout
The suspension has two functions: to improve
riding comfort, and to provide steering stability.
Shock absorbers
The shock absorbers work to reduce the
Shock bouncing motion of the springs.
absorber Coil spring
Piston Piston rod
rod The piston rod consists of a valve and an orifice.
It works together with the oil to dampen excess
motion.
Stabilizer
Oil Oil
The oil produces a damping effect as it flows
through the valves and orifices of the shock
Orifice Valve absorber.
Stabilizer bar
The stabilizer bar helps to limit body roll during
cornering.
Mount
Lower arm
Lower arm
The lower arm is used to attach the suspension
to the body.
Ball joint
The ball joint is connected to the lower arm. It
provides a pivot point for the bottom of the front
suspension.
 Mount Lower Arm

Valve

Oil
Stabilizer

Piston Rod

Shock Absorber
Coil Spring

Component Layout

Suspension:Shock Absorbers

Suspension: Shock Absorbers

Suspension
Component Layout
The suspension has two functions: to improve
riding comfort, and to provide steering stability.

Shock absorbers
The shock absorbers work to reduce the
Shock bouncing motion of the springs.
absorber Coil spring

Piston Piston rod

rod The piston rod consists of a valve and an orifice.
It works together with the oil to dampen excess
motion.
Stabilizer
Oil Oil
The oil produces a damping effect as it flows
through the valves and orifices of the shock
Orifice Valve absorber.

Stabilizer bar
The stabilizer bar helps to limit body roll during
cornering.
Mount
Lower arm
Lower arm
The lower arm is used to attach the suspension
to the body.

Ball joint
The ball joint is connected to the lower arm. It
provides a pivot point for the bottom of the front
suspension.
 Vehicle Height
sensors (front)
Pneumatic cylinders Height control
Target Low
High Normal
Vehicle Height valve (rear)
sensors (rear) Height control valve (front)
cylinder
Pneumatic Height control control
Height
OFF switch
(with shock absorber) Height control
Pneumatic cylinder
NO
RM
HE
IG
HT
HIGH
NO
RM
HEI
GH
T
HIG
Sensors H
NO
RM
HE
IG
HT
HIGH
switch
Height control (with dryer)
and motor
Compressor
control ECU
Suspension
control ECU
control actuator
Suspension
Suspension
switch
System Diagram Pneumatic cylinders
OFF switch Height control
Height control
Component Layout
Air Suspension System
Air Suspension System
Component Layout Overview
Instead of the coil springs used in conventional suspensions, the air
Height control
suspension system uses pneumatic cylinders to support the vehicle and
OFF switch Height control Pneumatic cylinders
switch control ride motion.
Suspension
control ECU Components
Height control switch
The height control switch allows the driver to select the target vehicle height:
low, normal or high.
Height control OFF switch
Grouped with the suspension and height control switches, the height control
OFF switch allows the driver to turn off the height control function.
Height control
sensors (rear) Height control sensors
Pneumatic cylinders
Height The height control sensors are used to determine the distance between the
control
valve (rear) vehicle's body and the ground. This information is used by the suspension
Height control control ECU.
sensors (front)
Suspension control ECU
System Diagram The suspension control ECU controls the system in order to maintain a
constant vehicle height. Based on signals from the height control sensors, the
Suspension
control actuator ECU calculates changes in vehicle height resulting from changes in vehicle
load and the number of occupants. Then, by controlling the solenoid valves
Vehicle Height and the compressor and motor, the ECU lowers or raises the vehicle as
Suspension necessary.
control ECU
Targets
Pneumatic cylinders
Pneumatic The pneumatic cylinders are single air chambers with large compressed air
cylinder
capacity. They support the vehicle body and are used to adjust vehicle
Height control height.
switch
H
HIG
T
IGH
HE
RM
NO
High
Height control valves (front and rear)
Normal
Low The height control valves are solenoid valves used to adjust the air pressure
Sensors
in the pneumatic cylinders.
H
HIG
T
IGH
HE
RM
NO
Compressor and motor (with dryer)
Height control
OFF switch
Pneumatic cylinder Based on commands from the suspension control ECU, the compressor and
(with shock absorber) Vehicle Height
motor (with dryer) compress the air necessary to control vehicle height.
 Vehicle Height
sensors (front)
Pneumatic cylinders Height control
Target Normal
Low
High
Vehicle Height valve (rear)
sensors (rear) Height control valve (front)
cylinder
Pneumatic Height control control
Height
OFF switch
(with shock absorber) Height control
Pneumatic cylinder
NO
RM
HE
IG
HT

HIGH

NO
RM
HEI
GH
T

Sensors H
HIG

NO
RM
HE
IG
HT

HIGH

switch
Height control (with dryer)
and motor
Compressor
control ECU
Suspension
control ECU
control actuator
Suspension
Suspension
Pneumatic cylinders switch
System Diagram
Height control OFF switch
Height control

Component Layout

Air Suspension System

Air Suspension System

Component Layout Overview

Instead of the coil springs used in conventional suspensions, the air
Height control
suspension system uses pneumatic cylinders to support the vehicle and
Height control
OFF switch
switch
Pneumatic cylinders control ride motion.
Suspension
control ECU Components
Height control switch
The height control switch allows the driver to select the target vehicle height:
low, normal or high.
Height control OFF switch
Grouped with the suspension and height control switches, the height control
OFF switch allows the driver to turn off the height control function.
Height control
sensors (rear) Height control sensors
Pneumatic cylinders
Height The height control sensors are used to determine the distance between the
control
valve (rear) vehicle's body and the ground. This information is used by the suspension
Height control
sensors (front)
control ECU.
Suspension control ECU
System Diagram The suspension control ECU controls the system in order to maintain a
constant vehicle height. Based on signals from the height control sensors, the
Suspension
control actuator ECU calculates changes in vehicle height resulting from changes in vehicle
load and the number of occupants. Then, by controlling the solenoid valves
Vehicle Height and the compressor and motor, the ECU lowers or raises the vehicle as
Suspension necessary.
control ECU
Targets
Pneumatic cylinders
Pneumatic
cylinder
The pneumatic cylinders are single air chambers with large compressed air
capacity. They support the vehicle body and are used to adjust vehicle
Height control
switch
height.
HIG

HE
H

IGH

NO
T

RM

High
Height control valves (front and rear)
Normal
Sensors
Low The height control valves are solenoid valves used to adjust the air pressure
in the pneumatic cylinders.
H
HIG

Compressor and motor (with dryer)

T
IGH
HE
RM
NO

Height control
OFF switch
Pneumatic cylinder Based on commands from the suspension control ECU, the compressor and
(with shock absorber) Vehicle Height
motor (with dryer) compress the air necessary to control vehicle height.