Adaptive damping system, basic function

Overview

This document contains information on:

 General

 Function requirements

 Function

General

The Adaptive Damping System (ADS) is a combination of steel suspension with active damper adjustment. The damping mode selected by the driver adjusts the damping characteristic on a wheel-specific basis to the road surface condition and the driving style. The damping is adjusted harder or softer depending on the driving situation. If the sensor system records a sporty driving style for example, the comfortable basic damping becomes harder automatically. The electronics works continuously within a broadly spread damping performance map.

Function requirements

 Ignition ON (circuit 15)

Function

Damping mode can be selected by the driver using the DYNAMIC SELECT switch.

The drive status is determined to enable the damping characteristic to be adapted to the road surface condition and driving style.

For this purpose, the ADS control unit reads in signals from the level sensors and information from the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) control unit, the instrument cluster control unit and the combustion engine control unit. To change the damper characteristic, the ADS control unit actuates the damping valve units on the shock absorbers.

The damping valve units are mounted in the damper on the piston rod. The damping valve unit regulates the amount of oil flow from one chamber to another by changing the flow area.

The characteristic of the dampers can be changed using the amount of oil flow. For strong damping, the coil in the damping valve unit remains deenergized.

The flat slide valve closes the flow to the comfort valve and the entire oil flow must pass the main piston.

In order to reduce the body's pitch and rolling motions and to optimize wheel loads and adhesion of the tires, the damping becomes harder during acceleration, braking or steering maneuvers.