TiTAN Suspension Airmatic Conversion
Airmatic suspension systems or Air suspension were the forefront of innovation in the automotive world when it was first introduced; Air springs and electronic ride controls provide a cushy, smooth as silk ride, but the ride doesn’t last forever. All air suspensions share a common vulnerability: air leaks. And when a system can no longer hold air, it goes flat.
There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.
– Brene Brown –
However true the above statement is, failure isn’t a problem you want consumers to be facing in their vehicles when driving as it can be very dangerous to your safety, and your wallet!
When an air ride suspension system fails, it can be very expensive to fix. Original parts are very expensive and may not even be available for some of the older applications.
Air Suspension Basics
With an air ride suspension, hollow, inflatable rubber bags (air springs) are used in place of ordinary coil steel springs or leaf springs. The rubber bags are flexible and have a certain amount of give, so they help absorb and dampen bumps to better isolate the suspension from the vehicle’s occupants. Air springs also provide a variable spring rate and offer increased stiffness the more they are compressed.
Air Suspension Failure
Damaged Airbags and Air Struts
Starts from ~ 185,000km
The airbags and air struts in your air suspension kit are responsible for keeping your rides cushioned and adjusting the ride height. But like all air suspension parts, they break down and deteriorate as they get older, leading to air suspension failure.
Rust can also damage the air struts. Moisture in the air system reacts with the metal of the struts and forms rust and corrosion. This can result in severe suspension problems when left unaddressed.
Mercedes-Benz W221 with failed Airmatic airbags
This Mercedes is sagging on its left side as both the left air bags had collapsed due to old age / wear and tear and also a severed air line connection. This can be very dangerous while driving as this may cause the vehicle to lose control and is very unpredictable.
Mercedes-Benz W221 with failed Airmatic airbags
Driving with the car sagging on either side is very dangerous as well as uncomfortable for the occupants. This may also cause further damage to your suspension components and other mechanical parts on the undercarriage of your vehicle.
Malfunctioning Air Compressor
Starts from ~ 200,000km
The air compressor in your air suspension kit inflates each airbag to the proper pressure based on your performance preferences. If it starts to malfunction, it no longer can keep the airbags inflated, which causes the car to sag, bottom out, and produce a bumpier ride.
On top of that, an overworked air compressor results in a failing air suspension kit. If the airbags are punctured or damaged, they can’t stay inflated. Because of this, the air compressor continues to pump air into the bags, which can overwork the system and make it fail.
Problems with Air Line Connections
Air lines connect the airbags and air struts to the rest of the system. If they’re not properly connected or if the lines are damaged, air from the compressor can’t fill the airbags.
Generally, problems with air line connections in a suspension system occur when the lines rub against something sharp, like a moving air suspension part.
Air Dryer Issues
The air dryer controls the amount of moisture in the air that flows through the suspension system. However, if it begins to fail, the excessive moisture will accumulate, forming rust and corrosion on various parts.
Plus, electrical parts in the suspension, like the compressor, are more susceptible to problems when the air dryer fails because excessive moisture can cause these systems to short out.
TiTan Suspension has performed over 40 Airmatic conversions to-date with satisfactory feedback from customers.
Let’s take the AIRmatic suspension as an example, according to Mercedes Benz; the front air springs are supposed to last anywhere between 10 and 15 years with typical street driving before needing replacement. The rears last longer, likely because they’re not supporting the weight of the engine nor having to deal with turns and such.
However, bear in mind that these estimations were based of testing on European roads which are smooth as silk and doesn’t account for the unpredictable road conditions in most Asian countries. When dealing with sudden change in road undulations, bumps and potholes; these sudden shocks can be detrimental to the air bags or air springs found in airmatic equipped cars.
The other option is to replace the original air springs and electronic struts or shocks with a conversion kit that includes conventional coil steel springs with ordinary struts or shocks.
COST
Leaking is a usual vulnerability shared by all air suspensions. A system will go flat when it cannot hold air any longer. Leaky or clogged air lines and leaking air springs are the common air ride problems.
On a Mercedes, the original Airmatic air bag replacement is priced at almost RM8000 – RM12,000 per wheel! If the compressor also needs to be replaced, the parts cost alone is around RM4000 – RM6000 not including the workmanship cost! The maintenance costs are clearly a lot higher than standard coil and shocks.
Installation time to for an air suspension will also take a much longer time due to the complexity of wiring, lines and hose installations, and installation requires the use of special tools – at the end of the day, this just means added cost .
TiTAN Airmatic Conversion Kits
TiTan SP-3 vs OEM Airmatic Suspension
TiTAN SP-3 installed on a Mercedes W221 S-Class
By comparison, our conversion kit for this vehicle is only quarter to half the cost of replacing the entire Airmatic suspension depending on the type of vehicle and includes struts, and springs for all four wheels.
The general concern from customers is that they will not experience the smooth air suspension ride that the Airmatic provides; however TiTAN Suspension coilovers are so versatile and configurable enough for us to provide an ideal setup that offers you a comfortable yet stable ride.
Mercedes Benz W220 S-Class after TiTAN Airmatic conversion
TiTan Airmatic Conversion prolongs the life of your car – without having to worry about Airmatic issues.
Our suspension kits can be customized according to your preference; variable spring rates, adjustable height, compression and rebound rates.
The TiTAN SP-3 & TiTAN T-40 Cruiser suspension kits are suitable replacements for your vehicle’s air suspension.
To date, we have successfully converted over 40 vehicles with air suspension systems to TiTAN Suspension’s Airmatic conversion with positive results and feedback from customers.
A fleet of Mercedes Benz W220 S-Class after TiTAN Airmatic conversion
Customers are pleased with the ride quality as their handling has improved dramatically without compromising comfort.
This chauffeur driven W220 S-Class life is prolonged thanks to TiTAN’s Airmatic conversion kits
Cost of maintenance is also effectively reduced and predictable as there is no unexpected failures to watch out for.
Mercedes Benz W219 CLS after TiTAN’s Airmatic Conversion
Mercedes Benz W219 CLS after TiTAN’s Airmatic Conversion
All our suspension kits are serviceable and comes with a 2 Year warranty which gives owners a peace of mind and reduced maintenance cost.
We also provide an electronic damper cancellation kit (TEDC Cancellation Kit) that is included in the kit that eliminates any warning messages on your dash which essentially fools your vehicle in thinking that the Airmatic suspension is still present in the car. This will not in any way cause any issues during normal operation of your vehicle.
There are 2 suspension kit’s to choose from which is suitable for TiTAN’s Airmatic conversion; the TiTAN SP-3 & the TiTAN T-40 Cruiser.
TiTAN SP-3 Airmatic Conversion
TiTAN T-40 Airmatic Conversion
Both these suspension kits have different features and price points.
For more information on the TiTAN Suspension Airmatic Conversion kit’s specifications, click the following link:
Contact us today for more information!
Cars that support TiTAN Suspension Airmatic Conversion Kits:
- Mercedes Benz C Class W205
- Mercedes Benz GLC X253/C253
- Mercedes Benz CLS W218 4/6CYL
- Mercedes Benz CLS W218 8 CYL
- Mercedes Benz CLS W219 6CYL
- Mercedes Benz CLS W219 8 CYL
- Mercedes Benz E Class W212 4CYL
- Mercedes Benz E Class W212 6CYL
- Mercedes Benz E Class W212 8CYL
- Mercedes Benz E Class W211 4/5/6 CYL
- Mercedes Benz E Class W211 8 CYL
- Mercedes Benz R230 / W230 / SL500
- Mercedes Benz W164 / ML 350
- Mercedes Benz S Class W220
- Mercedes Benz S Clas W221
- Mercedes Benz W251 / R280 R Class
