Link Mfg., Ltd., provider of specialty-engineered suspensions, introduced its new 52K Air Link Gen 3 Tandem Drive Suspension.

The suspension has been specifically reconfigured to meet the needs of states, municipalities, and road maintenance contractors using tire chains on heavy vocational equipment with 315 tires. 

Many entities with responsibilities for large-scale snow and ice management operate heavy equipment, with dump trucks and refuse vehicles often being pressed into service during winter months. Unfortunately, for those fleets running 315 tires, using tire chains can cause damage to a vehicle’s suspension and undercarriage due to inadequate clearance.

The 52K Air Link Gen 3 Tandem Drive Suspension also features larger, high-volume, low-frequency air springs that deliver a smoother ride whether the vehicle is under load or empty. Dual height-control valves maintain proper ride height, leveling the vehicle independent of load and maximizing its roll stability.

Weighing in at only about 875 pounds, the 52K Gen 3 is now 50-pounds lighter than its predecessors and lighter than competing suspension offerings, according to Link.

The Gen 3 has also been engineered to enable easier service and to demand less maintenance. The suspension’s anti-corrosive polyurethane bushings require no lubrication, and trailing arm bushings can be easily replaced with hanging brackets in situ. The suspension has been designed with a lower number of moving parts, extra-large bearing surfaces, more brawny main components and a higher level of load-bearing redundancy. Once wheel alignment is set on the Air Link, no future adjustments are required.

The 52K Air Link Gen 3 Tandem Drive Suspension offers numerous advantages compared to spring leaf or rubber block walking beam, two-spring “six-rod” and trailing arm suspensions, not the least of which is ride quality. The Air Link Gen 3 delivers a smooth comfortable ride, resulting in less driver fatigue and equipment damage. High roll stability, coupled with equal weight distribution to both axles means safer operation on-highway, off-highway and in all weather conditions.

The new suspension’s superior ride, handling and tractive characteristics can make all the difference when a vehicle is transitioning from paved roads to off-highway conditions, such as worksites or municipal dumps. These attributes also play a significant role in vehicle control during snow and ice management duty. Because, like all Air Link suspensions, the 52K Air Link Gen 3 Tandem Drive Suspension is 100 percent off-highway rated it is not only well suited for the rigors of winter road cleanup; it was designed for, and can be employed to tackle, much worse.

The Air Link has three times more roll stability than any other vocational air-ride suspension, and it rides four times smoother than a conventional spring pack and 10 times smoother than a rubber block suspension. The Air Link retains the benefits of a walking beam suspension without any of the problems associated with steel or rubber walking beam suspensions.

All Air Link suspensions are treated with Link’s exclusive Link-KOAT migratory self-healing metal treatment. Link-KOAT provides unparalleled corrosion resistance and rust protection, even when surfaces are exposed to excessive abrasion, harsh chemicals and other severe-duty environmental factors. The new 52K includes an extended three-year warranty.