Maxload Air Suspension FAQs (Part 4): How to Adjust Damping Hardness

Two Air Suspensions for Different Demands Reading Maxload Air Suspension FAQs (Part 4): How to Adjust Damping Hardness 2 minutes

30/11/20250 comments

There’s no universal damping setting for Maxload air suspension — it depends on your driving height, vehicle model, road conditions, and load. However, you can find your ideal setup with this step-by-step method, leveraging Maxload’s 32-way adjustable damping feature.

1. Prepare for Adjustment

Park your vehicle on a flat surface and set the air suspension to your usual driving height . Ensure the vehicle is unloaded (or loaded to your typical daily capacity) for accurate calibration.

2. Start with the Middle Baseline

Set all four dampers to the midpoint (e.g., 16, if 0 = softest and 32 = hardest) . This balanced starting point helps narrow down the optimal setting efficiently.

3. Test Rebound with Manual Press

Firmly press down each corner of the vehicle one by one, then release immediately. Observe the rebound behavior:

If the corner bounces 2+ times: Damping is too soft — increase the setting by 2 increments.
If the corner doesn’t bounce at all (returns to level instantly): Damping is too hard —decrease the setting by 2 increments.

Repeat this process for each corner until no excessive bounce occurs (1 gentle rebound is ideal).

4. Confirm and Lock Settings

Once satisfied with the manual test, verify each damper’s number. For precision, turn the adjustment knob to maximum (32) and back to your final number to ensure consistent calibration.

5. Road Test and Fine-Tune

Take a test drive covering your common routes (city roads, highways, or rough patches) . Adjust based on feel:

For better comfort on bumpy roads: Reduce damping by 1-2 increments.
For sharper handling (e.g., fast turns): Increase damping by 1-2 increments.

Make small, incremental changes — avoid large adjustments that could disrupt balance .

Key Notes

Always adjust all four dampers independently (don’t use the same setting for front and rear unless tested).
Recheck settings if your typical load (passengers, cargo) changes significantly.

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