Primary Suspension

Our Magneto-Rheological (MR) technology enables new levels of performance in automotive primary suspension systems. In an MR suspension, controllable MR fluid replaces traditional hydraulic fluid in each shock absorber. As sensors monitor road and vehicle conditions, a controller modifies the damping characteristics up to one thousand times per second. This enables dramatic improvements in both ride comfort and handling.

Delphi’s MagneRide™ system incorporates LORD MR fluid to provide real-time optimization of suspension damping characteristics. MagneRide is incredibly flexible – it can be used to improve the driving characteristics of any vehicle, from high-end sports cars, to sedans and SUVs. First introduced in the 2002 model year, the system now appears on more than a dozen models from a wide variety of OEMs, including:

Acura MDX
Audi TT
Audi R8
Buick Lucerne
Cadillac DTS
Cadillac SLR
Cadillac SRX
Cadillac STS
Chevrolet Corvette
Ferrari 599GTB
Holden HSV Commodore

LORD MR Technology Advantages:

Our controllable MR damping technology outperforms all existing passive and active suspension systems.

Unequaled shock and vibration control. Our MR systems offer unsurpassed effectiveness in precise, real-time control of mechanical systems, resulting in an unequaled ride experience. LORD MR-based suspensions are a “no-compromise” suspension solution that provides both firm cornering and superior isolation from road shocks and vibrations.

Fewer moving parts, less manufacturing complexity. Delphi’s MagneRide shocks with LORD MR fluid have fewer moving parts than conventional controllable shocks — 60 percent fewer parts than valve-based semi-active damper systems.

Low power consumption. Our MR suspension systems typically require very little power. In the MagneRide system, peak power is 20 watts at each of the system’s four dampers.

Quieter operation. Our MR dampers are also quieter in operation than those based on conventional servo-valve technology.

Durability-tested and approved. Our MR technology has surpassed all automotive durability testing for primary suspension shocks and is endorsed by two leading component manufacturers. The durability of this technology is further validated by more than five years of production and billions of incident-free road miles in Class 8 vehicle seat suspensions.