How long does a hanging airbag last?

Once reserved for luxury cars and heavy trucks, air suspension systems are now becoming more popular with more and more vehicles fitted with them. These systems replace traditional dampers/struts/springs…

Once reserved for luxury cars and heavy trucks, air suspension systems are now becoming more popular with more and more vehicles fitted with them. These systems replace the traditional damper/strut/spring system with a series of airbags. They are actually heavy balloons made of rubber and filled with air.

An air cushion suspension system has quite a few different advantages. First, they are incredibly customizable and can be tailored to suit different riding preferences, terrain, and more. Secondly, they can also adjust the height of the car to raise or lower it and make driving easier, as well as help getting in and out of the car.

One of the main components of the system is the suspension airbag. These inflated bags sit under the vehicle (on the axles) and replace the mechanical springs and dampers/struts. The only real problem with them is that the bags are made of rubber. Thus, they are subject to wear as well as damage from external sources.

In terms of service life, your results will vary depending on the automaker in question and their particular system. Each one is different. One company estimates that you will need to replace every air suspension bag at between 50,000 and 70,000 miles, while another suggests replacing every 10 years.

In all cases, airbags are used whenever you are driving and even when you are not driving. Even when your car is parked, the airbags are still full of air. Over time, the rubber dries out and becomes brittle. Airbags may begin to leak, or they may even fail. When this happens, the side of the car supported by the airbag will sag violently and the air pump will run continuously.

Knowing a few of the most common signs of airbag wear can help you replace it before it completely fails. This includes:

• Air pump turns on and off frequently (indicating a leak somewhere in the system)
• Air pump running almost constantly
• The car must inflate the airbags before you can drive.
• Car sags to one side
• The suspension feels softer or "spongy".
• Can't adjust seat height correctly

It is important that your airbags are checked for problems and a certified mechanic can inspect the entire air suspension system and replace the faulty airbag for you.