As technology advances, manufacturers are offering motorists new options to increase safety and comfort while driving. One of these unique innovative products is the auto-buffer. This is nothing more than a cushioning pad mounted on the vehicle springs. What are autobuffers used for? Reviews of experts are unambiguous. Installing this part is the most inexpensive spring suspension tuning for all brands of cars.
History of creation
Auto springs for machine springs began to be produced in the early 90s in South Korea. It was then that the seller of a small auto accessories store Mr. Jung Mun Soo came up with the idea of ​​creating a new unique product. The founder of the current world-famous TTS company himself suffered from back pain. Doctors diagnosed him with osteochondrosis and pinched nerves. Jung Soo was in pain when driving a car when a wheel fell into a pit or cavity. Significant discomfort brought and various bumps in the road, which were transmitted through the suspension directly to the cabin. This became the prerequisite for the idea of ​​creating autobuffers.
However, the first tests and steps did not bring the desired results. But the cushioned pillow was nevertheless created. And today, after more than two decades, it can be said that the South Korean company produces a product that allows you to give more comfort while driving than when driving a vehicle with standard suspension.
All these years, TTS has constantly improved its autobuffers. She made a test of her product at the slightest change in form and materials. As a result, drivers of the whole world were presented with this wonderful product, which today has become available to Russians.
Over the past twenty years, TTS has focused its production only on the production of shock-absorbing pillows. During this time, the company has developed its own know-how and unique technologies that it uses in the process.
At home, TTS sells its products at 5,000 points of sale. Since 2009, auto-buffers began to be exported to America, Brazil, Mexico, China and Southeast Asia, where they are very popular with car owners.
In 2007, the company successfully passed the international certification, as a result of which the TTS received the appropriate certificate.
According to many experts, TTS polyurethane spacers are the best depreciation product created over the past two decades.
Need for auto buffers
The main function of shock absorbing pillows is to ensure the safety and comfort of the driver during the trip. In addition, the installation of this special spacer extends the life of the suspension itself. This issue is especially relevant when driving on Russian roads.
Spring-mounted auto-buffers improve vehicle performance. Driving performance of the car with this part get the air suspension effect. The vehicle’s ground clearance is increased and its energy absorption is improved when road bumps.
The car enthusiast who purchased a premium car does not have such problems. Only in these models is pneumatic suspension provided. However, now all Russians have the opportunity to install avtobafer. VAZ ("Lada"), "Kia" and many other cars after equipping this part also delight their owners with comfort during the trip.
Manufacturers
What car buffers are offered to consumers today? In our market, shock absorbing pillows of Korean, Russian and Chinese production are widely represented. As for goods from China, it’s just a fake. Chinese car buffers reviews of both experts and motorists will certainly receive negative reviews. This shock-absorbing pillow is of low quality and short life. In almost all machines on which a similar autobuffer is installed, in a year the process of its deformation and loss of functional properties begins.
Thus, when choosing a shock-absorbing pillow, it makes sense to dwell only on a Korean or Russian manufacturer. Such tuning will really improve
the performance of the car and become a worthy investment.
What are autobuffers made of?
The material for the production of a unique shock-absorbing pillow of the Korean company TTS is transparent urethane. This is a very durable and elastic substance, capable of not only taking on serious loads, but also damping those vibrations and shocks that go to the cabin from the wheels. It is worth mentioning that urethane is used in the manufacture of sports shoes by the well-known company Nike.
In addition, autobuffers can be made from chloroprene rubber. However, this material is more expensive.
One of the features of urethane inter-turn pillows is their ability to restore their original shape after prolonged or short-term deformation. However, according to this characteristic, this material is no different from silicone, which is used in the production of Russian autobuffers. Such cushioning pillows are no less durable. In addition, they are able to quickly return to their original shape after compression. Silicone is a material with unique properties. Moreover, they persist even under loads, elevated temperature and aggressive conditions. For example, the functionality of such a spacer is stored in the range from minus 60 to plus 200 degrees. Virtually none of the known materials has such qualities. In addition, silicone does not react with chemicals such as acids and alkalis, kerosene, gasoline, etc. This allows it to be considered one of the best materials for the manufacture of shock absorbing pillows, because inside spring coils it will constantly have to be exposed to high temperatures and compressive forces.
In its characteristics, silicone significantly exceeds urethane, which has an upper limit of heat resistance equal to +100 degrees, and it becomes brittle at minus sixty. Of course, there simply cannot be such temperatures in our climate.
However, it should be borne in mind that already at -18 polyurethane's physical properties begin to change. It begins to gradually harden, and this reduces the shock-absorbing characteristics. That is why cold-resistant silicone is the best material from which autobuffers are made, the price of which, by the way, is lower than that of South Korean counterparts. In addition, polyurethane, despite its resistance to refined products, begins to break down when reacted with chlorinated acids, acetone, formaldehyde and some other substances.
Device
The auto-buffer is a split ring, inside of which there are special oval holes. They allow the cushion cushion to freely compress at the moment of receiving the load. At the top and bottom of the autobuffer, grooves are structurally provided. Through them, the coils of the spring are fixed. It is thanks to the high sides of the grooves that the auto-buffer is firmly held on the suspension and does not jump out of it even with fast driving.
How do buffers work? There is a myth that their installation will necessarily block the coil of the spring. However, it is not. Buffers work with her. This is proved by numerous tests that were conducted by leading global automakers.
Do Russian and South Korean car buffers differ in their design? The opinion of any specialist will confirm that these pillows for depreciation are the same in their design. Both those and others are designed in such a way that all suspension vibrations are damped to the maximum. However, Russian silicone also wins somewhat on this issue. This material is more flexible than polyurethane. This allows the spacer to distribute the load as evenly as possible over the entire working area.
What are the advantages of such auto-buffers? The recall of any driver will indicate that the protection of such a part is especially affected when moving on rough roads, for example, in rural areas. As for the Korean polyurethane auto-buffer, with it the driver will feel comfortable only on flat roads.
Selection of the shock-absorbing pillow of the TTS company
Today, Korean manufacturers of spacers offer their products in certain sizes. Moreover, the selection of autobuffers directly depends on the inter-turn distance and the diameter of the spring material. Based on these indicators, the cushioned cushion may belong to one or another position in the standard series. It includes dimensions that have letter designations. These are K and S, A and B, C and D, E and F. The size of the autobuffers of each position differs from the others in different distances between the grooves. It ranges from 13 to 68 millimeters. In addition, each position of this series is designed for one or another spring diameter. It can be equal to 125-180 mm. Different sizes of shock-absorbing pillows differ in the acceptable range of inter-turn distance. This value is in the range from 12-14 to 63-73 mm.
How are auto buffers selected? Dimensions for machine models can be found in the catalog. In these collections are almost all the cars on the market. There are bus buffers on Kia and Audi, Mercedes cars, etc. Well, if such information is not available to you, how are bus buffers selected? Sizes by machine models will not be needed here. To do this, you need to determine the parameters of the spring using a standard ruler. In this case, measurements are made in those places where the turns are located between themselves at a greater distance. It should be borne in mind that a loaded suspension should be measured. To do this, you can simply put a heavy object in the trunk. As for the front of the machine, it is loaded with a permanently installed engine.
Selection of cushioned pillows of the Russian manufacturer
To purchase auto-buffers produced in our country, you do not need to study the catalog or measure the spring. Russian cushioning pillows are suitable for all brands of crossovers and cars. The diameter of the product, if necessary, will only need to be slightly adjusted, cutting off its edges a little.
Installation
You can ensure a comfortable and safe ride with your own hands. At the same time, installation of autobuffers will not take much time. First of all, you will need to lift the car with a jack, and then install a cushion pad between the turns of the spring, placing them in special grooves.
For more reliable fastening, the auto-buffer is additionally fixed with a plastic clamp. Before installation, it is recommended to lubricate the spring and pillow cleaned from dirt with soap.
Cost
What do drivers who decide to install auto-buffers pay attention to first of all? Product price is an important criterion. Sometimes it is she who plays a decisive role in choosing a cushioning pad.
TTS autobuffers in the kit will cost the buyer 8600 rubles. Of course, this is a considerable amount for suspension tuning. For those who seek to save money, Russian analogues are offered on the market. Their set, consisting of two pieces, will cost only 1000 rubles. At the same time, it is worth remembering that the cost of Korean goods is nothing more than a brand fee, which includes advertising costs and the costs of the importer.
Taking into account all the above nuances, each buyer should weigh all the pros and cons of bus buffers from different manufacturers and choose the most suitable option for yourself.
Advantages and disadvantages of cushioning pillows
Before deciding on the installation of spacers on your car, you need to study all the pros and cons of autobuffers. Their obvious advantages are:
- a smaller "beak" of the car during sharp braking;
- improving the stability of the machine and reducing its swaying and rolls;
- reduction of discomfort when driving a speed bump;
- reduction of shocks and shocks at the intersection of asphalt joints and rails;
- reducing the risk of damage to shock absorbers and the likelihood of their leakage;
- increase the performance of the suspension;
- reduction of fatigue of people in the cabin when moving long distances;
- long product life of more than three years.
In addition, after installing the auto-buffer, the drawdown of the machine is significantly reduced when loading it with heavy objects. It is noticeable even visually. However, such a relatively cheap suspension tuning increases its rigidity. Not all drivers perceive such changes with enthusiasm. In addition, when you purchase low-quality urethane spacers, these cushion pads can quickly lose shape.
The disadvantage of auto-buffers is the frequent breaks in the fastenings - those tape clamps that are used to fix to the spring. As a rule, drivers begin to talk about such a problem after three to four months of using spacers. To eliminate this defect, experts recommend attaching the part again.
The disadvantage of autobuffers is their high price. A piece of silicone or polyurethane, even if created using high technology, according to some drivers, should cost less.
For which suspensions are the auto buffers recommended?
After installing the spacer, the driver will be able to appreciate all the benefits it provides. First of all, the autobuffer affects the stiffness of the spring. This indicator of the suspension increases with its compression. But under tension, all the characteristics of the spring remain unchanged. That is why such tuning is recommended for "tired" and sagging springs, as well as for soft suspension.
Clearance when installing avtobaferov changes slightly. And even then for a while. Those who wish to increase this indicator are advised to install a spacer directly under the spring cup. This option would be more reasonable.
Owners of vehicles with a stiffer suspension should not put auto-buffers. The fact is that excessive spring stiffness will significantly increase the value of shock loads on the body. And this will cause the appearance of cracks and tears in it. In this case, you have to choose between comfortable trips and quick wear of the body.