Automakers looking for innovative ways to enhance the comfort, handling and ride performance of future vehicles can now select a cost-effective add-on valve technology from DRiVTM, a Tenneco Inc. (TEN) business and leading global aftermarket and original equipment (OE) ride performance supplier. DRiV Incorporated has introduced a family of advanced, highly-tunable add-on valves for OE manufacturers, that bring best-in-class comfort to passive dampers used in a wide range of passenger vehicle applications. The cost-effective new Monroe® RideRefine™ SDD (stroke dependent damping) valve technology works in concert with a damper’s main valve to provide highly refined, luxury-level ride characteristics in a full range of driving conditions.
Stroke dependent damping dramatically enhances comfort by improving plushness and road isolation, enabling vehicle manufacturers to tune vehicles for greater everyday comfort with minimal impact on handling. A bypass on the main valve directs oil into the Monroe RideRefine SDD valve, which provides separate, tunable damping of small strokes for reduced vibration and harshness. Following the completion of the small piston stroke, the damper’s main valve resumes normal operation.