You probably know that your vehicle has an air suspension compressor from Vigorairride.

But do you know what an air suspension compressor really is? How it functions, and a host of other essential things you essentially need to intimate yourself on this vehicle feature.

Maybe not, but not anymore.

In this post, you’ll discover all there is about air compressors.

Now, let’s get things underway.

What Does An Air Suspension Compressor Do?

Here, I won’t bore you with fuzzwords. As much as possible, I will endeavor to explain this in the simplest of terms.

With that in mind;

Air compressor does one thing, Air compressor is the suspension component that rakes in the air from outside the vehicle. With the aid of desiccants or drying material, the air is freed of any moisture, pressurized, and passed into a reservoir from where it eventually flows to the air suspension whenever need be.

But one tends to wonder, does my vehicle need an air suspension compressor?

Well, the simple answer is YES! YES!!

Why?

Without an air compressor, there is virtually no means by which the air suspension would get the supply of air needed to raise or lower the vehicle.

Continue reading to discover how long air spring compression is expected before it goes bad.

How Long Should Air Suspension Compressors Last Before It Goes Bad?

For starters;

There is no standard threshold for how long an airw compressor should last. Although some experts opined that it should be around 70,000 miles to 100,000 miles, I have seen the air compressor on my friend’s car last till the mileage reached 130,000 miles.

So, here’s what I have discovered;

How long the air bag suspension compressor lasts depends on two basic factors; One, your use of the vehicle and the environment where you drive your vehicle.

Hold on, let me explain;

How do you use the vehicle in the sense that, do you use your vehicle for heavy-duty jobs or do you merely drive it around?  If you use the vehicle for heavy-duty jobs, then it is normal that the compressor would wear faster.

Vehicles driven in areas where the winter is dominant should expect the air suspension compressor to wear out faster. In the same vein, people who offroad or drive on bad roads are equally expected to have the same fate.

How Do You Test An Air Suspension Compressor?

Your vehicle design would mostly influence how to test the air suspension compressor. And how many car manufacturers do we have?

Quite a few, yeah?

Therefore this procedure is purely generic, and you will have to consult your manufacturer guide to aid you.

First, verify that the compressor compartment is indeed faulty; do this by listening for the compressor compartment to come up after igniting the vehicle.

Secondly, verify that it is indeed the compressor that has the issue and not the wiring in the compressor control circuit.

If you observe the circuit to be fine, then it could be the air compressor that needs to be replaced. Otherwise, you may discover the compressor control circuit has faults and in that case, you’ll need to carry out advanced tests. Some of the common circuit problems usually result from failed control modules, failed compressor relays, wiring issues, and so on.

But what are the signals to watch out for whenever you suspect a damaged air ride suspension compressor?

How Do I Know If My Air Suspension Compressor Is Bad?

It is somewhat tricky to tell when your air compressor is bad, especially when you consider the fact that a number of air suspension compressors are on board and are in the air suspension system.

Nonetheless, here are pointers you should take seriously;

  • The vehicle sits below the normal riding level; If you ever observe that your vehicle has sagged below its normal level, it could mean the air compressor is getting bad. You should pay particular attention to the rear end of the vehicle.

Observe how the car sags whenever you place heavy loads in the trunk, the vehicle is expected to self-balance, if it doesn’t then there could be a problem.

With each additional mile, the journey gets less comfortable: The point of the air suspension system is to improve the rider’s comfortability. Once you notice the journey getting bumpy and rough, it could mean the air compressor has failed to pump the needed air for the air springs to function.

  • You begin to hear irritable clicking or grinding noise from the rear end of your vehicle. It gets even more noticeable when you approach a curve.

These are top signals you should watch out for each time you suspect the air suspension compressor on your vehicle is bad.

Once you eventually confirm that it’s indeed the air spring compressor that’s bad, then it is only right that you replace it.

While there are a number of options on the market, I will offer insight on factors worth considering when choosing a new air suspension compressor for your vehicle.

Keep reading to find out.

What To Look For When Choosing Replacement Air Compressor

  • What is the new air compressor duty cycle; duty cycle simply means the expected period, an air compressor is supposed to run within a ten-minute period time frame. The standard-duty cycle is 10%, meaning the air compressor should work for 1 minute and rest for 9 minutes.
  • Check the IP rating of the replacement compressor; it should be at least IP67.

In Conclusion

I have shown you what an air compressor does, how long it should last, signals indicating a damaged compressor, how to test it, and what to look for when getting a replacement air compressor for your vehicle.

If you have suggestions, questions, opinions, or experiences to share. Kindly, leave comments in the box right below.