To assist automotive workshops stay aggressive on this increasing market, ZF Aftermarket has expanded its spare components program for digital dampers. With a spread extension of 33 new half numbers by the top July, the enterprise has doubled the variety of Sachs authentic spare components obtainable to the unbiased aftermarket (IAM).
Luxury autos and sports activities vehicles, in addition to many mid-range autos and SUVs are additionally geared up with electronically adjustable dampers, such because the Sachs CDC (Continuous Damping Control).
The CDC digital damper system has been in large-scale manufacturing for the reason that mid-2000s and is obtainable for a lot of autos in sequence proper right down to the compact automotive class. To date, ZF has produced in extra of 34 million CDC dampers. In line with this, unbiased automobile dealerships will be assured that digital dampers shall be put in within the autos of a rising share of their buyer fleets.
ZF Aftermarket has responded to this development by including 33 new half numbers by finish of July to double its aftermarket supply of CDC dampers. The new to vary extension covers a wide range of makes and fashions together with Audi A6, BMW 5, 6 and seven fashions, and the Porsche Macan.
But earlier than any restore will be carried out, the workshop should first deduce if digital dampers are put in on the automobile, so they should understand how to do that. In some instances, the automobile proprietor himself or herself could not even find out about this tools function, for instance if she or he purchased the automotive second-hand.
If the automobile is fitted with a CDC which has an exterior valve, it’s straightforward. Here, the proportional valve, which is chargeable for adjusting the damping forces, is positioned externally within the decrease part of the damper tube.
If nonetheless, it’s fitted with dampers with inside valves, these can solely be recognized by the cable that protrudes from the piston rod. And that is housed in an space of the automobile which is, most often, unfamiliar to the technician as they received’t go to this space even when altering the wheel, for instance. Therefore, they should search for different issues which point out the presence of an digital damper system. These will be discovered within the type of switches or buttons with a damper image within the cockpit or show space and there can even be dashboard warning lights to indicate defects.
Since shock absorber put on is gradual, typically drivers both don’t discover the altering driving habits of their automobile, or over time merely get used to it. Electronic parts make it tougher for workshop personnel to detect indicators of wear and tear on these components, as a result of to a sure extent the variable valves can compensate for the consequences. Furthermore, digital dampers can’t be precisely examined utilizing standard shock absorber check strategies.
But the damage is there nonetheless. For instance, if the sealing tape across the damper piston is worn away then an oil bypass will kind at this level which the management system can’t compensate for. The sturdiness of variable dampers is due to this fact not per se larger than that of standard, purely hydraulic designs. At the top of the service life, due to this fact, the identical adverse results on driving security happen: larger physique actions and lack of contact between tyre and highway can result in longer braking distances and subsequently unsafe driving habits.
In addition, a brand new class of harm is rising, to {the electrical} and digital techniques. This ranges from kinked cables, corroded plugs and sensor impairment to wreck attributable to animals, significantly martens that are infamous for damaging {the electrical} techniques by chewing on uncovered wires and tubes beneath a automotive’s bonnet/hood. Any harm of this sort is indicated by a dashboard warning mild. And in some autos, the engine will even routinely swap to emergency mode if the damper adjustment fails.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”