How does the Ride Control System work.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Cruise-In III Veteran
How does the Ride Control System work.
My C5 is a 1997.
Still don’t have a good explanation how the Ride Control System works and what it does.
1) All the settings feel the same to me.
2) Is the suspension somehow exotic controlled by Air or Hydraulic
3) I noticed sensors on struts, these must provide position feedback
4) I've also seen reference to a steering wheel position sensor.
5) Does anyone have a link to a good site so I can read about it?
6) How does the Ride Control System differ from active handling on the newer C5s?
BTW: I do like the way my vet rides. My Firehawk had Bilstein Struts and shocks. Handled well, but beat you to death. (C5 handles better though :)
Still don’t have a good explanation how the Ride Control System works and what it does.
1) All the settings feel the same to me.
2) Is the suspension somehow exotic controlled by Air or Hydraulic
3) I noticed sensors on struts, these must provide position feedback
4) I've also seen reference to a steering wheel position sensor.
5) Does anyone have a link to a good site so I can read about it?
6) How does the Ride Control System differ from active handling on the newer C5s?
BTW: I do like the way my vet rides. My Firehawk had Bilstein Struts and shocks. Handled well, but beat you to death. (C5 handles better though :)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,529
Likes: 1,943
From: Austin Texas
Re: How does the Ride Control System work. (JMon)
The F45 suspension changes the settings on the shocks based on various meassurements of the suspension, brakes, and engine.
The softest setting is somewhat underdamped, and allows some wallow in the motion control of the body. This setting has the highest grip on perfectly smooth surfaces.
The middle setting is a comprimise between too soft and too hard. This setting is (pretty close to) optimal damping; and gives the highest grip on not-so-smooth surfaces.
The hardest setting is overdamped, trading absolute grip for predictable excursions between slipping and sliding.
The softest setting is somewhat underdamped, and allows some wallow in the motion control of the body. This setting has the highest grip on perfectly smooth surfaces.
The middle setting is a comprimise between too soft and too hard. This setting is (pretty close to) optimal damping; and gives the highest grip on not-so-smooth surfaces.
The hardest setting is overdamped, trading absolute grip for predictable excursions between slipping and sliding.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Re: How does the Ride Control System work. (JMon)
JMon
If you're not feeling ANY difference betwen the three settings - check your tire pressure! There was a really good, in-depth, more-than-you'd-ever-want-to-know description of the Ride Control System in this forum, some months back. You can probably find it in the archives. But without getting too deep into it (and show my utter ignorance :D ) I DO know that if your tires are over-inflated, you're not going to feel diddly-squat. Now...if you want to know the optimum cold tire pressure...dear God, do we really want to go there, again??? :cry :cry :lol: :lol:
If you're not feeling ANY difference betwen the three settings - check your tire pressure! There was a really good, in-depth, more-than-you'd-ever-want-to-know description of the Ride Control System in this forum, some months back. You can probably find it in the archives. But without getting too deep into it (and show my utter ignorance :D ) I DO know that if your tires are over-inflated, you're not going to feel diddly-squat. Now...if you want to know the optimum cold tire pressure...dear God, do we really want to go there, again??? :cry :cry :lol: :lol:
