Probably—unless there is something amiss—never. . . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

Odds are, unless there is a problem with your suspension system like one corner of the vehicle sagging to a surprising degree or continued bouncing long after the pothole has been hit, you probably don’t think much about it.

So it is probably a good thing that there are companies like ZF that do. Otherwise there could be serious problems—dare I say?—down the road.

ZF has developed what it calls its “next-generation* Smart Chassis Sensor.”

This unit fits into a ball joint in the control arm.

Consequently, it is able to measure a number of factors related to the vehicle, some to help ensure the ride as is as smooth as it can be, some that are unexpected.

For example, if a tire has been changed and the lug nuts aren’t sufficiently tight, it can detect that and send an alert to the driver.

Or if the vehicle is at the local landscaping supply store and being loaded with those decorative rocks, it can determine whether the vehicle is being overloaded.

(Apparently this load-detection capability is good for electric vehicle drivers in that it can provide more accuracy regarding when it is going to be necessary to get a recharge.)

ZF says the sensor system can even provide an assessment of “Chassis Health,” providing alerts when maintenance or repair is required.

Of course, this is the sort of thing that must be specified in a vehicle during development, not the sort of thing you have your local repair shop integrate into your vehicle.

Here’s hoping some chassis engineers look at the functionality and capabilities of this unit.

==

*A few weeks ago ZF introduced the Smart Chassis Sensor. Already there’s another, this enhanced with the integration of an accelerometer. Certainly not the rate of development more common in automotive, which tends to be measured in months, not weeks.