Air Spring Design | Which One Should You Use 

Today, most air springs have three basic shapes. They are the bellows, the tapered-sleeve, and the rolling-sleeve.

Air Spring Basic Shapes

• Bellow style air spring are configured with either one, or multiple convoluted chambers. Bellows air springs are typically larger than sleeve style air springs and can lift with greater force at lower air pressures. Popular bellow air spring configurations include the following: single, dual and triple chamber designs. 
• Tapered sleeve air spring is sleek, slender in shape, which makes it the ideal bag when the area offers little space. This design allows for additional adjustability on ride height.
• Rolling sleeve air spring is a specific-application airbag. Depending on the application, this design optimizes ride height and spring control.

Air Spring Type Benefits

• Double-convoluted air springs generally have more load capacity, a shorter stroke, and a more progressive spring rate. It’s ideal for use on most front suspensions. Since the spring sits considerably inboard of the suspension’s load point, it is efficient for multiplying load-capacity requirements and numerous travel requirements.
• Tapered sleeve and rolling sleeve air springs generally have a longer stroke and a more linear spring rate. This makes them ideal for most rear-end applications. This is typically due to the travel necessities and fewer load-capacity requirements.

Why You Want Air Springs

• Driver comfort and safety
• Less damage to application, cargo, and roads
• Less load shifting and damage
• Load versatile, wide spring rate and load capacity

Driver Comfort and Safety

Truck drivers clock in long hours over countless highway miles, rough terrain, and unforgiving asphalt. Fatigue and discomfort have led to many accidents over the road. By reducing these harsh elements, you can experience a safer, more comfortable ride. Reducing noise, isolating vibration, and eliminating harshness of the ride whenever possible, driver fatigue is lessened. Safety is improved.

With air suspension, drivers can choose a softer ride for cruising along a well-maintained interstate or opt for a harder ride with added handling benefits when the road terrain is more demanding.

Reduced Vibration

Less vibration is great for driver comfort, but it also means that it’s easier on the road, bridges and even nearby buildings. Fewer vibrations are transmitted which means less damage.

It’s also better on your vehicle’s components too. The reduction in vibration can lead to longer trailer life. This means those wearable parts like shock absorbers, height control valve, airline hoses and fittings, etc., may have a longer lifespan. This can save you time from fleet downtime and money accumulated from repairs. 

Quick Tip: Air-Ride Suspension Maintenance Guidelines, states that air springs should be inspected every 50,000 miles.

Benefits for Truck and Trailer and Components

• Reduces cab, truck body, and trailer damage
• Reduces electrical repairs
• Reduces wear on tires, axles, and transmissions
• Reduces damage to hinges, lights, rivets, and trailer hardware

Less load shifting and damage while in route

There is only so much that packaging and load restraints can do if your suspension isn’t up to snuff. Less vibration throughout the suspension means that there is less likely to damage the cargo you are carrying. For loads that have shifted, or when cargo weight cannot be loaded evenly, air springs can help the vehicle adapt to terrain and turns.

Load versatility

When hauling fragile loads, like glass, many drivers choose air springs because there is less risk of cargo damage. Additionally, with unladen trucks or when you are carrying a light load, some air suspension systems can optimize ride height (lowering your ride height), thus improving aerodynamics and keeping a consistent ride.

Leaf Spring Identification and Measurements

Leaf Spring Design | Which One Should You Use

Leaf springs consist of long, metal strips. Typically, there are three-five but can consist of more depending on the capacity requirements. They are stacked on top of each other, creating an inverted arch with the longest strip on top. These strips are held together by a center bolt and bound together with clips in quarter-length intervals. It is common for the top springs to curl upward to form circles (eyes).

Why You Want Leaf Springs

• Longevity and durability
• Load handling
• Cost savings

Made to Last

Leaf spring suspension is more durable than air suspension. It’s common to see the factory leaf spring in a vehicle that’s half a century old. Leaf springs are durable and don’t require much maintenance. At Wheelco, we encourage proper maintenance to be conducted according to manufacturer’s specifications.

Common reasons for leaf spring failure

Leaf springs failure does happen. They can crack, corrode or break. Common reasons why include:

• Improperly torqued U-bolts and break a leaf spring. It is common that they are not tight enough.  
• Corrosion is common if you drive salted roads or drive in areas where corrosives are involved.
• Overloading your truck and break leaf springs. You may see radial shearing or broken/distorted spring eyes when this occurs.

#WheelcoQuickClips: How to Measure Your Leaf Spring

Need to replace your leaf spring? Here’s a How-To Video showing you how to measure your leaf spring. 

Load Handling Benefits

Heavy duty leaf springs significantly reduce sagging, wheel-hopping, swaging and squatting. Leaf springs make your ride more stiffness to your ride, therefore you’ll have better load handling. You are sure to notice when your load is full or if you are driving empty.

Lower Costs and Fewer Components Required

Air suspension tends to be more expensive than leaf suspension. This is due to the many wearable parts and materials used to build the components. Additionally, the labor costs to install and fix are often more. Hose installations, fitment of air suspension—there are several mishaps that can occur if you are planning to install air systems yourself. We recommend this be done by a professional/knowledgeable mechanic. It’s also important to consider that warranties are often void if the parts weren’t installed properly.

Wheelco Recommendations

If you are looking to upgrade or replace your suspension, we are ready to help you. Likewise, if you would like additional help determining the best suspension system for your heavy-duty vehicle, we can advise you to which would be the best system. Our experts are knowledgeable in suspension and can give you expert advice as to which suspension system would best be tailored to your specific needs.

Check Out Stemco’s Air Spring Features!

STEMCO SUPER CUSHION® ROLLING LOBE AIR SPRINGS

We back our air springs with a 3 year warranty. Whereas competitors only offer 1-2 year warranties.

Chemical additives infused into rubber walls provide ozone resistance, resulting in less flex-cracking and longer life.

Innovative materials and design weighs less than competitive products, which means more miles per gallon.

Non-elongated design provides a more secure mounting for the air spring, increasing longevity and reducing vibration and misalignment.

High-strength, extra-tight cord provides exceptional wall and internal splice strength.

Reduced driver fatigue and increased safety. Improved vibration isolation reduces wear on truck & trailer.

What are the Top Brands in Suspension?

Wheelco recommends using brands like Stemco, Goodyear, and Firestone for air springs. If you are buying leaf springs, we trust Triangle and Dayton.

Suspension Service Centers

With many full-service centers, our service technicians regularly work on suspension systems. If you need installation, maintenance work and/or repair jobs, we can help. Simply give us a call or stop by one of our stores.