The reason why my truck doesn’t bounce

The Freightliner Airliner suspension really is the best of all.

I drove all kinds of trucks and nothing Rode better than Freightliner suspension with an air ride cab. Not to mention the front end holds the road better than any other truck and together makes the ride really comfortable.

And it is inexpensive and relatively simple to repair.

 

Yeah I've had the Airliner suspension under me for the last 10 years now. First one was a Freightliner Classic daycab and the last two have been Western Star 4900's. All rode really nice.

 

My dad's CL Mack was the same way, just a standard 4 bag air suspension but drove down the road like you were sitting on a pillow. His 379 with low air leaf was the roughest riding truck I've ever driven. I couldn't tell you how many times I've hit bad bumps and it knocked the truck out of gear

 

Or one in Pennsylvania

 

That Flex Air/AG380 (or whatever KW markets it as) has always perplexed me. Just looks really weak with that single, curved leaf hanging out there like that.

 

Like a baby carriage haha. It's Hendrickson air ride. Most people that haven't been in em wouldn't think an old mack rides like that. The only other truck I've been in that comes close is the freightliner classic. The engineers hit a home run with the CH.

The way it handles in the snow is amazing too. It just feels "planted" if that makes sense

 

The bounce is all nice but, when that 45000 pound surge slams into you from that tanker load of product, that’s my concern.

 

In process of putting together a New 2022 western star 5700. Anyone have experience with the air ride front end with dual leveling valves?. Had one decades ago. Any insight on how they ride now days?. Thx

 

The current transport truck I’m driving for the last two years.

Hendrickson long leaf.

Shall all trucks go back
To this style? So simple.



Just had a new leaf pack installed last week after last pack cracked a leaf.

A little bouncy over some bumps but rides really nice as long as the cab is air ride.

The other two trucks I’ve driven is a sterling and freightliner with the Airliner. So smooth and simple.

The simplest suspension set up is usually also the best for ride compared to a complex system or multiple systems on the same truck or machine trying to do everything.