Suspension Elements

b) Suspension Elements





The spring strut (5) is attached to the spring link (72) below and the dome of the frame floor above. The spring strut (5) is connected via the pressure line (P4) attached to the top of the housing to the accumulator (4) attached to the frame floor.

The accumulator is in turn connected to the level control unit by the pressure line (S1). Lifting of the lowered rear end of the vehicle is achieved by increasing the oil quantity in the oil chamber of the spring strut, which results in extending the piston rod. The mechanical layout of the spring strut (5) is similar to that of a normal shock absorber.

Therefore, prior to measuring the vehicle level in ready-to-drive condition, the level control unit, with the connecting rod disengaged and the engine running, must be moved for a short time first upwards into the "filling" position and then downwards into the "emptying" position (for "checking vehicle level").

Accumulator





The accumulator used is spherically-shaped. The oil chamber (a) and gas chamber (b) of the accumulator are separated by a diaphragm.

The gas chamber is pre-filled to a specified pressure.

Under the influence of constantly changing oil pressure in the system during operation of the vehicle, e.g. during deflection and rebound, the diaphragm will adapt itself to the resulting oil volume in the chamber. During this procedure, the diaphragm changes its shape in the spherically-shaped housing of the accumulator.

For this reason, the accumulator can perform as required only if the gas pressure does not drop below a specified value.