Magnetic suspension

Magnetic suspension is the most comfortable driving experience Beginning in 2002, when General Motors debuted the so-called Magnetic Suspension (Magnetorheological Suspension System) on the Cadillac Safeway STS, this suspension system is slowly but steadily gaining popularity. While a number of cars, including Buick and Chevrolet, featured this suspension, German manufacturer Audi gained notoriety for its use in the TT and R8.

What sets it apart from other suspension systems is the fact that it lacks any electro-mechanical valves and it basically has no small moving parts. Instead, the suspension is based on a magnetorheological fluid (MR), a type of smart fluid, as it is called, which reacts to a magnetic field.

MR is in fact a carrier fluid, usually oil, which is filled with micrometer-sized magnetic particles. When subjected to a magnetic field, the magnetic particles inside increase the fluid’s viscosity, rendering it viscoelastic solid. Usually, a MR suspension system is made of four magnetorheological struts or shock absorbers, a sensor set and an electronic control unit (ECU).

Magnetorheological fluid (MR fluid)

A MR fluid usually consists of 20-40 percent iron particles, suspended in mineral oil, synthetic oil, water or glycol. The fluid also contains a substance which prevents the iron particles from setting.

When the coil of the damper system, which contains the MR fluid, is not energized – the so called “off” position – the MR fluid is not magnetized and the particles inside, distributed randomly, allow the fluid to move freely, acting like a regular damper fluid.

However, when the system is turned “on”, and a charge which creates a magnetic field is applied, the particles become energized and align into fibrous structures, usually perpendicular on the direction of the magnetic flux. This restricts the movement of the fluid, proportional to the power and intensity of the magnetic field.

ECU module

Thanks to the ECU and in accordance with the riding style chosen by the driver, the system adjusts the MR system once every millisecond. Sensors monitor road and vehicle conditions, while the controller modifies the damping characteristics up to one thousand times per second.

For instance, in Audi TT’s case, the driver can choose between “Normal” and “Sport” programs by flipping a switch and the system reacts accordingly, providing different damper response.

Magnetorheological suspension advantages

The use of a MR suspension system allows for a better ride due to the flat and stable ride it ensures. The MR system allows for the action of each wheel to be smoothened and isolated. The system can be integrated with vehicle’s stability control to enhance stability on gravel, and slippery road surfaces. Thanks to the ECU’s software, the MR system allows for a wide range of damping force control and high bandwidth for fast response.

Thanks to the fact that magnetic polarization is not affected by temperature, the performance of MR-based devices is relatively insensitive to temperature over a broad temperature range (-40 degrees Celsius – 105 degrees Celsius).

The biggest disadvantage with an MR suspension system is the cost. Although clearly superior to other suspension systems, thanks to both the lack of moving parts and the better response to road conditions, using a magnetorheological suspension system is still a limited feature. So far, only around half a million MR systems are in use.

Vehicles using Magneride

Undoubtedly, MR will become more of a common sight as soon as the cost issue is resolved. So far, the range of vehicles to use such a system includes Acura MDX, Audi TT, Audi R8, Cadillac DTS, SRX, STS, Chevrolet Corvette, Ferrari 599 GTB ,Tesla Model 3 ,Tesla Model Y and Holden HSV Commodore.

For the future, automotive manufacturers plan to expand the magnetorheological fluid for the development of fluid based clutch systems, to be used on push-button 4WD vehicles. Unlike the suspension systems, which use electricity for the creation of a magnetic field, the clutches will use electromagnets to solidify the fluid. 

Tesla MRC Suspension

Tesla has not developed the relevant suspension, but there is already a company on the market that has developed and patented it, and N2003.com are the only overseas distributor, for more information please click here