Air Suspension
Air suspension uses pressurized air springs instead of, or alongside, conventional mechanical springs to support the vehicle body.
How it works
An air-suspension system can include flexible air springs, a compressor, reservoir, valves, height sensors, and electronic controls. By changing air pressure or transferring air, the system can maintain ride height as load changes or offer selectable heights for access, rough roads, aerodynamics, or handling.
Air springs and dampers perform different jobs: the spring supports the vehicle, while the damper controls motion. An air-suspended car is therefore not automatically equipped with continuously variable damping or a fully active suspension, although manufacturers often combine these systems.
Benefits and behavior depend on the design. Added components can also affect cost, packaging, service, and failure modes, so the term alone does not guarantee comfort or handling. See Suspension Springs for air-spring design and Active Suspension for actively controlled body motion.