What Is LiquidSpring and How Does It Work?

We’re all familiar with vehicle suspension on metal springs, and air suspension is pretty common, but ever heard of vehicle suspension based on a liquid? Yep, it exists and we have tested it out! Liquid Spring is trying to revolutionize the heavy vehicle suspension industry with a radically different suspension concept based on a compressible silicone liquid. You might be asking why?

Well, Today, we’re looking at what LiquidSprings are, how they work, and why you should consider them. Let’s get started!

What Is LiquidSpring?

LiquidSpring makes custom smart suspension systems for motorhomes, emergency vehicles, commercial vehicles, and vehicles used for overlanding. Their suspension bounces on a liquid silicone solution that can compress. Think of it kind of like a hydraulic cylinder that is supposed to compress. Its kind of like rubber but it won’t wear out because it’s liquid and enclosed from the elements. These unique suspension systems can automatically adjust the stiffness of the spring and damping for each wheel based on the current driving conditions.

Air suspension has been the primary way large vehicles have obtained this kind of control in the past. Liquid spring is bringing this level of comfort and control to any type of vehicle and trying to improve on it.

These suspension systems help create incredibly smooth rides over rough terrain and enhance stability during turns and other maneuvers. Once installed, there are no adjustments the driver needs to make to take advantage of the system. That’s because it’s entirely automatic.

How Does LiquidSpring Work?

Liquid springs are like hydraulic cylinders mounted in place of your vehicle’s springs. These contain a bouncy compressible fluid that is what allows the wheel movement. Additional tanks allow for excess fluid to move in and out of them as needed for changing road conditions. There is a valve that can automatically adjust to allow more or less fluid to move in and out of these extra canisters.

Each wheel then has a sensor mounted at it that monitors its movement and a central computer system can make adjustments to the valves and fluid flow. The system takes this data and adjusts the stiffness and damping. It smooths out the ride to maintain control of the vehicle.

The additional fluid it housed in a reservoir with a pump that allows the system to be pressurized with an additional fluid to adjust the ride height of the vehicle. The driver then can control how high the vehicle is riding from an in-cab controller.

If it all sounds pretty complicated, its because it is. However, the liquid spring team has told us that despite the complexity the system is very reliable. In fact, they are one of the primary suspensions used on ambulances because of the advanced ride quality and handling emergency vehicles need.

Pro Tip: Do you find yourself wondering What Is Air Suspension? We uncovered everything you need to know about it!

Benefits of Using LiquidSpring

LiquidSpring can transform your driving experience in multiple ways. Let’s look at a few of the claimed benefits as well as our personal experience testing out the system.

Reduced Road Shock

One of the largest benefits of using LiquidSpring is the superior ride. The system automatically adjusts based on the road and driving conditions. Due to this, you can enjoy a smooth ride no matter where you’re driving. Gravel, dirt, and roads filled with potholes can feel like you’re driving on a brand-new highway.

Having a smoother ride is not only comfortable but also helps avoid abusing the structure of your vehicle. Those in RVs are likely to avoid plumbing and other issues that arise from the constant bouncing with standard suspension systems.

Personally, we have found that these claims do hold true on a vehicle we tested. It was a 5500 ram and compared to our 5500 it rode much smoother. The truck felt like a 1500 vs a 5500 in the harshness of the ride. In addition, the ride could be tuned in the cab to he sportier or softer.

Improved Handling

A disadvantage of large and heavy vehicles is the lack of handling. However, according to LiquidSpring, you may be driving a large motorhome, but it’ll feel like you’re driving a luxury sports car. The system automatically adjusts to help maneuver, corner and handle sharp turns. Additionally, onboard computers and processors make necessary adjustments to help you navigate your large vehicle.

In reality, we found the system does an incredible job of handling on an unloaded truck. You can swerve at high speeds and the vehicle experiences almost no body roll. Slam on the brakes and the nose doesn’t even dive. This makes for a much nicer experience. However, when we tested on a vehicle loaded with a truck camper, it seems that the system sometimes is slow to react to the higher center of gravity. While it still felt better than a stock truck, it was not as exaggerated.

Personally, I think much of that could be fixed in software as they are using sway and axle sensors to make all their determinations of load. On vehicles that change weight significantly this can make a big difference in the tuning. In a vehicle that stays mostly the same like a motorhome or ambulance, im sure this problem does not exist.

Fights Wind Sway

If you’ve ever tried driving a large vehicle in the wind, it can be a painful experience. LiquidSpring helps prevent wind gusts from blowing a vehicle back and forth on the highway. You can focus on the road and less on the wind gusts when using this system.

However, it’s not just mother nature that will cause a vehicle to sway on the road. Large semis passing by can create an opposing force that can cause large vehicles to sway. Thankfully, LiquidSpring technology makes the necessary adjustments to minimize these forces.

This concept is not new and is used on some air suspension systems as well to stiffen airbags depending on sway. However, with the liquid, the control is much greater and they can offer more suspension control. Overall we have found their claims to be true, the system is much more stable in winds than standard or air suspension.

Less Maintenance

One thing many LiquidSpring users love is their minimal maintenance. Aside from checking the torque and inspecting for leaks, there’s very little maintenance required of the owner. The last thing RVers need is another item on their rig that requires their constant attention. Having LiquidSprings on your motorhome means more time enjoying the things you love and less time spent on maintenance.

We have had to replace all our airbags on our coach more than once due to age and damage. I would hope a liquid spring system would never need this kind of maintenance.

Can Control Ride Height

Extra height can be highly beneficial for those who enjoy taking their vehicle off-road. LiquidSpring allows drivers to raise and lower the height of their vehicles based on the conditions. Due to this, your RV will have more clearance to help avoid rocks, ruts, and other uneven terrains. These can all have you searching for a mechanic and leave you with an expensive repair bill. Having the flexibility of adjusting your vehicle’s height can be a huge benefit.

Even for class A motorhomes, a large benefit for some diesel air systems is the ability to raise or lower the coach for clearing steeper road inclines. With liquid spring they bring this capability to and motorhome.

Adjusting the ride height while going down the road with the liquid spring is a weird and amazing experience. The truck we tested had about 9 inches of lift which makes a huge difference in the feel on the road.

Liquid Spring Doesent Level (Yet)

One huge thing that I was disappointed to find is that liquid spring cannot level the vehicle. Considering that the system can independently control the height of each tire, you would think the system could do some side-to-side and front-to-back leveling. We have air leveling on our coach and we find it to be one of the best features. We have no need to put jacks down and can level anytime anywhere.

We however were told that this is a feature that might be coming to installs in the future. Personally, leveling would be a huge selling point for RV’s and truck camper users in our opinion.

Pro Tip: If you’re going to go off-roading, make sure to pack a winch! We took a closer look at How They Work and Components Explained.

Can LiquidSpring Be Installed on Any RV?

LiquidSpring is available for a variety of RVs. For example, they are compatible with GMC, Ford, Ram, Chevy, International, and Freightliner chassis. However, not all RVs are compatible. Reach out to LiquidSpring or one of its approved installers to confirm whether they can retrofit your specific RV with their upgraded suspension.

How Much Does LiquidSpring Cost?

One of the largest obstacles for many to upgrade to LiquidSpring is the cost. If you want to upgrade to this suspension system, expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000. Premium results typically come with a premium price tag, and LiquidSpring is no exception.

Is LiquidSpring Worth the Money?

LiquidSpring is very expensive but does provide a superior ride. It can be a great option for those who log thousands of miles each year in their vehicle or are sick and tired of the abuse from rough roads. With vehicles that have a high center of gravity and handling problems, it could be a huge help as well. However, for most drivers, it’s not a cost-effective option. 

Complexity is also a concern for some. While the system overall should be very reliable, the components are not standard and would be hard to come by if something went wrong. Also, the fluid used in the system is very specialized.

Overall I do think the liquid spring system is the best-feeling suspension I have ever driven on a large vehicle and if you are looking for the best then it might be a good option.

Would you consider investing in a LiquidSpring system for your vehicle? Tell us in the comments!

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