IMPACT 4.00.51.

00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

Chassis ID Path
72/Description, Design and function//Electronically controlled suspension (ECS), system description

Model Identity
FH (4) 136637061

Publish date ID/Operation

28/01/16

Electronically controlled suspension (ECS), system description

ECS
Overview
Front air suspension
Rear air suspension
Description
Level control
Load distribution
Control units
Blocked mode

Related information

ECS (Electronically controlled suspension)

Overview

Components in ECS system

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

1 Solenoid valve, 1-channel

2 Solenoid valve, 2-channel

3 Solenoid valve, 4-channel with integrated pressure sensor

4 Level sensor

5 Pressure sensor

6 APM (A177)

7 CCIOM (Centre Chassis I/O Module) (A163)

8 RCIOM (Rear Chassis I/O Module) (A164)

Air suspension
There are primarily two types of air suspension used in vehicles:
Full air suspension the vehicle has air suspension on both front and rear axle(s)

Rear air suspension the vehicle has leaf spring suspension on the front axle and air suspension
on the rear axle(s).

Front air suspension

FSS-LEAF, with FAL (Front Axle Limitation)

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

1 CCIOM (A163)

2 Level sensor, (B28) only for Front Axle Limitation

3 APM (Air Production Modulator) (A177)

FSS-AIR, FSI-TARM, FSI-REAC

1 CCIOM (A163)

2 Solenoid valve, 1-channel (Y40)

3 Pressure sensor (B56)

4 Level sensor (B28)

5 APM (A177)

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

FSS-AIR, FSI-DWIS

1 CCIOM (A163)

2 Solenoid valve, 2-channel (Y40)

3 Pressure sensor (B56L and B56R)

4 Level sensor (B28L and B28R)

5 APM (A177)

Rear air suspension

RAD-GR/RAD-G2, 4x2 RIGID, FSS-LEAF/FSS-AIR

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

1 RCIOM (A164)

2 Solenoid valve, 2-channel (Y136)

3 Test nipple

4 Pressure sensor (B57, B58)

5 Level sensor (B29B, B30)

6 Air suspension tank

7 Auxiliary tank

8 APM (A177)

RAD-GR/RAD-G2, 4x2 TRACTOR, FSS-LEAF

1 RCIOM (A164)

2 Solenoid valve, 1-channel (Y135)

3a Test nipple, BBOX-L

3b Test nipple, BBOX-EF

4 Pressure sensor (B57)

5 Level sensor (B29B)

6 APM (A177)

RAD-GR/RAD-G2, 4x2 TRACTOR, FSS-AIR

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

1 RCIOM (A164)

2 Solenoid valve, 2-channel (Y136)

3a Test nipple, BBOX-L

3b Test nipple, BBOX-EF

4 Pressure sensor (B57, B58)

5 Level sensor (B29B, B30)

6 APM (A177)

RADD-GR/RADD-G2/RADD-G3, 6x4/8x4

1 RCIOM (A164)

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

2 Solenoid valve, 4-channel (Y137)

3 Test nipple

4 Level sensor (B29B, B30)

5 Air suspension tank only on RIGID

6 Auxiliary tank only on RIGID

7 APM (A177)

RADD-GR/RADD-G2/RADD-G3, 6x4/8x4, LIFT-BAS

1 RCIOM (A164)

2 Solenoid valve, 4-channel (Y137)

3 Test nipple

4 Level sensor (B29B, B30)

5 Air suspension tank only on RIGID

6 Auxiliary tank only on RIGID

7 APM (A177)

8 Dog clutch sensor (B306)

RADT-GR/RADT-G3, 6x2/8x2, TAG

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

1 RCIOM (A164)

2 Solenoid valve, 4-channel (Y137)

3 Test nipple

4 Level sensor (B29B, B30)

5 Air suspension tank only RIGID

6 Auxiliary tank only RIGID

7 APM (A177)

RAPD-GR, 6x2 TRACTOR, Pusher

1 RCIOM (A164)

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

2 Solenoid valve, 4-channel (Y137)

3 Test nipple

4 Level sensor (B29B, B30)

5 APM (A177)

RAPDT-GR/G3, 8x2 RIGID, Tag

1 RCIOM (A164)

2 Solenoid valve, 4-channel (Y137)

3 Solenoid valve, 2-channel (Y136)

4 Test nipple

5 Pressure sensor (B57, B248)

6 Level sensor (B29B, B30)

7 Air suspension tank

8 Auxiliary tank

9 APM (A177)

RAPDD-GR, 8x4 TRIDEM, PUSHER

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

1 RCIOM (A164)

2 Solenoid valve, 4-channel (Y137)

3 Solenoid valve, 2-channel (Y136)

4 Test nipple

5 Pressure sensor (B57, B248)

6 Level sensor (B29B, B30)

7 Air suspension tank only RIGID

8 Auxiliary tank only RIGID, FSS-AIR

9 APM (A177)

RADDT-GR/RADDT-G2, 8x4 RIGID TRIDEM, TAG

1 RCIOM (A164)
Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

2 Solenoid valve, 4-channel (Y137)

3 Solenoid valve, 2-channel (Y136)

4 Test nipple

5 Pressure sensor (B57, B248)

6 Level sensor (B29B, B30)

7 Air suspension tank

8 Auxiliary tank

9 APM (A177)

Description

Variants

Variant symbol Variant description

Electronic control system levelling

SUSPL-EC
device

Front suspension system

Variant symbol Variant description

FSS-AIR Air suspension, front

Leaf (mechanical) suspension,

FSS-LEAF
front

Rear axle installation

Variant symbol Variant description

RAD-GR 1 axle, 1 driven, air suspension (GRAS)

RAPD-GR 2 axles, 1 driven, air suspension (GRAS), pusher

RAPDT-GR 3 axles, 1 driven, air suspension (GRAS), pusher

RAPDD-GR 3 axles, 2 driven, air suspension (GRAS), pusher

RADT-GR 2 axles, 1 driven, air suspension (GRAS), tag

RADD-GR 2 axles, 2 driven, air suspension (GRAS)

RADDT-GR 3 axles, 2 driven, air suspension (GRAS), tag

1 axle, 1 driven, air suspension (GRAS), high

RAD-G2
clearance

2 axles, 2 driven, air suspension (GRAS), high

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

RADD-G2 clearance

3 axles, 2 driven, air suspension (GRAS), high

RADDT-G2
clearance, tag

The main functions of ECS are:

Level control - the vehicle maintains the desired level during driving, loading and unloading,
irrespective of the weight of the load and its position.

Adjustment of axle load distribution.

Level control
The ECS regulates the level of the vehicle automatically as the load characteristics change. The level
of the vehicle can also be changed manually using one of the remote controls or the FSP (Flexible
Switch Panel). Automatic and manual level regulation are based on signals from level and pressure
sensors. The filtering of sensor signals makes the regulation slower during driving compared to
standstill.
The level sensors measure the height between the frame and the axle, and the pressure sensors
measure the pressure in the air suspension circuits. The ECS compares the current ride height with
the requested ride height and regulates the solenoid valves to adjust the air pressure in the bellows
by filling or evacuating them.
The ECS uses pressure sensors and vehicle-specific parameters to calculate the necessary pressure
difference needed for maintaining the balance between the right and left hand sides.
The advantage is that the vehicle is more level, but too much pressure difference can affect
road-holding negatively, which would make left turns feel different from right turns. The vehicle also
then has asymmetric springing.

Note
This does not apply to 4x2 rear air suspension TRACTORS with only one level sensor, which
can only control the total height of the axle.

Load distribution
Pressure controlled bogie axle
The load distribution on the axles is regulated by the pressure in the bellows on the driving and
trailing wheel/pusher axles respectively. For trailing wheel and pusher axles the lift bellows are used
to obtain the correct axle load. To reduce axle load, the system can increase the pressure in the lift
bellows instead of reducing the pressure in the suspension bellows.

Note
In order to achieve the correct axle load and remaining pressure, the lifting bellows pressure is
balanced against the air suspension bellows pressure. This means that even with the tag axle
lowered, there can be a substantial pressure in the lifting bellow(s).

Tech data

Bellow pressure, tag axle lowered 6bar

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

Bellow pressure, maximum traction 8bar

TheECS calculates the bellows pressures to be supplied depending on the load.

Some of the input parameters are:
Load

Characteristics of the bellows

Rigidness of the axle installation

The weights for the chassis and axles.

TheECS continuously regulates the levels through precise opening times for the solenoid valves.

Note
TheECS will not function until the system pressure is high enough and the remote control is
activated or the parking brake is released.

Tech data

System pressure, ECS activation >8bar

Control units

Components in ECS system

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

1 Solenoid valve, 1-channel

2 Solenoid valve, 2-channel

3 Solenoid valve, 4-channel with integrated pressure sensor

4 Level sensor

5 Pressure sensor

6 APM (A177)

7 CCIOM (A163)

8 RCIOM (A164)

The ECS is located in the chassis control units:

CCIOM

RCIOM

The ECS manages the solenoid valves that regulate the pressure in the air bellows. The ECS
processes information from the level sensors and the pressure sensors during automatic level
control. During manual level control, it receives signals from the level sensors, remote control and
bogie axle switch and in some cases, from the differential lock switch.
In the case of serious faults in the system, all automatic regulation stops and the air suspension is set
in blocked mode. In blocked mode the solenoid valves can be operated manually by means of the
remote control and the bogie axle switch.
Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 22/05/17

ADR vehicles:
When the main switch has to be switched off, during loading and unloading of the vehicle, the chassis
should be raised or lowered before the main switch is switched off.
No air regulation is possible once the main switch is switched off.

Blocked mode
If the system discovers a fault, the air suspension is set in blocked mode. This means that the
automatic ride height regulation stops completely and that the remote control takes on redefined
functions.
To test how the vehicle performs in blocked mode, disconnect the cable to one of the rear axle level
sensors.
Resetting from blocked mode, once the fault is rectified, occurs next time the starter key is turned to
drive.

Related information
For more information on the electrical architecture, refer to:
Wiring diagram
Vehicle electronics overview, system description
Related function
Electrically controlled suspension, function description
Related components
WRCS, component description WRC, component description
APM, component description
CCIOM, component description CCIOM, component description
RCIOM, component description RCIOM, component description
Solenoid valve, 1-channel, component description
Solenoid valve, 2-channel, component description
Solenoid valve, 4-channel, component description

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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