Level AUDI A6 ALLROAD 1999 C5 / 2.G Pneumatic Suspension System

2
242_067
Pneumatic self-levelling suspension system
The 4-level air suspension of the Audi
allroad quattro is described in self-
study program 243.
You will Þnd further information on the
Audi allroad quattro in self-study
programme 241.
Principles of spring suspension, damping and
air suspension
Self-levelling suspension, A6
The rear axle air suspension system for the
Audi A6 Avant is described here.
242_046242_048
This self-study programme is divided into two
parts:

3
Contents
Principles
Vehicle suspension.................................................................. 4
The suspension system .......................................................... 6
Vibration ................................................................................... 8
Characteristic values of springs .......................................... 12
Conventional running gear without self-levelling ............ 14
The self-study programme is not intended as a workshop manual.
The self-study programme will provide you with
information on design and functions.
New
NoteImportant:
Note
Page
For maintenance and repairs please refer to the current
technical literature.
Principles of air suspension
Self-levelling air suspension ............................................... 16
Characteristic values of air spring ...................................... 21
Vibration damping................................................................. 23
Shock absorbers (vibration dampers) ................................ 25
PDC shock absorbers ........................................................... 33
System overview ................................................................... 38
Air springs .............................................................................. 40
Air supply unit ........................................................................ 42
Diagram of pneumatic system ............................................. 43
Compressor ........................................................................... 44
Air dryer ................................................................................. 47
Discharge valve N111 ........................................................... 48
Valve for suspension struts N150 and N151....................... 51
Self-levelling suspension sender G84 ................................ 52
Self-levelling suspension control unit J197 ....................... 54
Self-levelling suspension warning lamps K134 ................ 55
Function diagram ................................................................... 56
Interfaces................................................................................ 57
The control concept .............................................................. 58
Other features of the control concept ................................ 60
Self-levelling suspension, A6

10
The degree of damping of the vibration
damper has no signiÞcant inßuence on the
value of the natural frequency of the
bodywork. It inßuences only how quickly the
vibrations cease (damping coefÞcient). For
further information, see chapter ÒVibration
dampingÓ.
Matching of the natural frequency of the
bodywork
The axle loads (sprung masses) of a vehicle
vary, at times considerably, depending on the
engine and equipment installed.
To ensure that the bodywork height
(appearance) and the natural frequency of the
bodywork (which determines the driving
dynamics) remains practically identical for all
vehicle versions, different spring and shock
absorber combinations are Þtted to the front
and rear axles in accordance with the axle
load.
For instance, the natural frequency of the
bodywork of the Audi A6 is matched to 1.13Hz
on the front axle and 1.33Hz on the rear axle
(design position).
The spring rate of the springs therefore
determines the value of the natural frequency
of the bodywork.
The springs are colour-coded to differentiate
between the different spring rates (see table).
Principles
For standard running gear without self-
levelling, the rear axle is always
matched to a higher natural frequency
of the bodywork because when the
vehicle is loaded, it is principally the
load to the rear axle which increases,
thus reducing the natural frequency of
the bodywork.
242_073
Vehicle height Natural frequency of the bodyworkComponent tolerance band
Natural frequency tolerance band Usable load range
of a spring
Height tolerance
Axle load 800 kg 850 kg 900 kg 950 kg 1.13 Hz
c

F1

= 33.3 N/mmc

F2

= 35.2 N/mmc

F3

= 37.2 N/mmc

F4

= 39.3 N/mmc

F5

= 41.5 N/mmc

F6

= 43.7 N/mm

Spring rate levels of the front axle for the A6

14
When the vehicle is stationary, the vehicle
body retracts by a certain spring travel
depending upon the load. In this case, we
speak of static compression: s
stat

.
The disadvantage of conventional running
gear without self-levelling is its reduced
spring travel at full load.
Conventional running gear
(steel springs) without self-
levelling
Spring travel
The overall spring travel s
tot

required for
running gear without self-levelling is
comprised of the static compression s
stat

and
the dynamic spring travel caused by vehicle
vibrations s
dyn

for both laden and un-laden
vehicles.
s
tot

= s
stat

+ s
dyn(un-laden)

+ s
dyn(fully laden)

Principles
242_075
Steel suspension
fully laden
Design position
Un-laden position
Supporting force in kn.
H

V
H
H
L
dyn. rebound
s
stat

(un-laden)
dyn. compression
(un-laden)(fully laden)

10
8
6
4
2
+80 mm-40 mm -80 mm
H

V
= height when fully laden
H

= design position height
H
L
= height when un-ladenCharacteristic curve of spring
s
stat(un-laden)

s
stat(fully laden)

+40 mm
0

16
Principles of air suspension
Self-levelling air
suspension
Air suspension is a controllable form of
vehicle suspension.
With air suspension, it is simple to achieve
self-levelling and it is therefore generally
integrated into the system.
The basic advantages of self-levelling are:
¥ Static compression remains the same,
irrespective of vehicle loads (see overleaf).
The space requirement in the wheel
arches for free wheel movement kept to a
minimum, which has beneÞts for the
overall use of available space.
¥ The vehicle body can be suspended more
softly, which improves driving comfort.
¥ Full compression and rebound travel is
maintained, whatever the load.
242_074
¥ Ground clearance is maintained, whatever
the load.
¥ There are no track or camber changes
when vehicle is laden.
¥ The c
w value is maintained, as is the visual
appearance.
¥ Less wear to ball joints due to reduced
working angle.
¥ Greater loads are possible if required.
= constant

17
In addition to the main advantages offered by
self-levelling, its realisation by means of air
suspension (Audi A6) offers another
signiÞcant advantage.
As the air pressure in the air springs is
adapted in accordance with the load, the
spring rate alters proportionally to the sprung
mass. The positive outcome is that the natural
frequency of the bodywork and thereby
driving comfort remain virtually constant,
irrespective of the load. With the aid of self-levelling, the vehicle
(sprung masses) remains at one level (design
position) because the air spring pressure is
adapted accordingly.
Static compression is thus the same at all
times thanks to the self-levelling system and
need not be accounted for when designing
the wheel clearances.
s
stat = 0
Another feature of self-levelling air
suspension is that the natural frequency of
the bodywork is kept virtually constant
between un-laden and full-load (see chapter
ÒAir spring characteristic valuesÓ page 21).
242_077H = constant
fully laden
Design position H
un-laden
sstat
0
Supporting force in kN.
10
8
6
+80 mm+40 mm-40 mm -80 mm4
2
Air suspension
dyn. rebound dyn. compression
Spring travel
Characteristic curves
of springs

18
Principles of air suspension
Another beneÞt is the principle-related
progressive characteristic curve of an air
spring.
With fully supporting air suspension on both
axles (Audi allroad quattro), different vehicle
levels can be set, e.g.:
¥ Normal driving position for city driving.
¥ Lowered driving position for high speeds
to improve driving dynamics and air
resistance.
¥ Raised driving position for travel off-road
and on poor road surfaces.
You can Þnd further details in SSP 243
Ò4-Level air suspension in the Audi allroad
quattroÓ.Fully supporting means:
Self-levelling systems are often
combined with steel or gas-Þlled spring
devices with hydraulic or pneumatic
control. The supporting force of these
systems results from the sum of both
systems. We therefore call them
Òpartially supportingÓ (Audi 100/
Audi A8).
In the self-levelling suspension systems
in the Audi A6 (on the rear axle) and in
the Audi allroad quattro (rear and front
axles) air springs are the only
supporting suspension elements and
these systems are therefore described
as Òfully supportingÓ.
0 1 2
3 40 102030
242_030
Spring rate
0 1 2
3 40 102030
Natural frequency of the bodywork
Supporting force
242_031
Supporting force
Steel springs (linear)
Air springsSteel springs (linear)
Air springs

27
Single pipe gas-pressure shock absorber
With the single pipe gas-pressure shock
absorber, the working chamber and the oil
reservoir are located in a single cylinder.
Volumetric changes caused by the piston rod
and the temperature changes in the oil are
compensated by another gas chamber which
is separated from the working cylinder by a
dividing piston. The level of pressure in the
gas chamber is approx. 25 - 30 bar and must
be able to sustain the damping forces during
compression.
The damping valves for compression and
rebound are integrated into the piston.
Comparison of single/dual pipe gas-pressure shock absorbers
Dual pipe gas-pressure shock
absorberSingle pipe gas-pressure shock
absorber
Valve function The tendency towards cavitation
is reduced by the gas pressure in
the oil reservoirMinimal tendency towards
cavitation thanks to high gas
pressure and separation of oil and
gas
Characteristic
curvesAny, due to separate valves for
compression and reboundDependant on the gas pressure
during compression
Short damping
strokesGood Better
Friction Low Higher due to seal under pressure
Design Greater diameter Longer due to gas chamber in the
cylinder
Installation
positionApproximately vertical Any
Weight Heavier Lighter
242_082
Piston with damping
valves
Dividing piston
Gas chamber
Damper valves

33
The PDC damper
In order to maintain the degree of damping
and thereby the handling characteristics at a
constant level between partially and fully
laden, the Audi A6 self-levelling air suspen-
sion and the Audi allroad quattro 4-level air
suspension both have a continuously variable
load recognition system Þtted to the rear axle.
Along with the constant natural frequency of
the bodywork, the vehicle bodywork
maintains virtually constant vibration
characteristics irrespective of the load thanks
to the air springs.
When the vehicle is partially-laden, good
driving comfort is achieved and body
movements are damped sufÞciently Þrmly at
full load.
The PDC damper (Pneumatic Damping
Control) is responsible for this. The damping
force can be varied according to the air spring
pressure.
242_043
PDC valve
Hoses
Air springs
1 1,2 1,4 1,6 1,82,0Body weight ratio
Degree of damping D
PDC damper
Conventional dampers242_057
Coaxial arrangement of air springs/PDC damper

38
The Audi A6 air suspension system comprises
the following main components:
Air springs with U-bellows are used as
suspension elements.
PDC dampers as used as shock absorbers (see
page 33).
The air supply unit with integrated air dryer,
control valves and control unit are contained
in a metal box within the air supply unit.
A level sensor detects the actual vehicle level. The following chapter deals with the self-
levelling air suspension system in the Audi A6
Õ98. Basic information about air suspension/
self levelling has already been given in the
ÒPrinciplesÓ chapter. As this information and
knowledge forms the basis for the next
chapter we recommend making yourself
familiar with the principles before continuing.
Overview of system
In the case of the Audi A6, an air suspension-
based self-levelling system is offered as an
optional extra. The air suspension system is
designed speciÞcally for the rear axle
because only small loads are applied to the
front axle and consequently only small level
changes occur as a result of loading the
vehicle.
Self-levelling suspension, A6
Self-levelling suspension, A6 front
wheel drive
242_040
Air springs PDC damper
Level sensorAir supply unit