Suspension compressor noise suppression

[Fausto]

I've got two different sounds that I am assuming are the air pump working. One sounds like the cheap electric cigarette lighter powered air pumps of 30 years ago. This comes on for 5 or so minutes at a time and is a bit intrusive and annoying. The other is a duller more rhythmic thumping that I'd almost attribute to something stuck in the wheel although its rate is not speed dependent. I sense that both are air suspension related. I recorded it, brought my truck in for service, let the service tech hear the recording (only of the 90's sound), but they couldn't recreate it and it wasn't throwing a code so they stated there was nothing they could do. I figured since he heard the recording and then didn't immediately say it was normal, it is probably something they would repair/replace, if he could've recreated it. Maybe a bad bearing or otherwise out of spec pump that is extra noisy?

I think you summed it up well. "Cheap electric cigarette lighter pump" it just seems a little unrefined hence why Im going to investigate muffling it

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[Avery21]

Ive noticed this too recently and its frustrating to be honest. Im going to delete all my height changes and see if that helps. Sounds like this might be an update issue as it just started randomly.

 

[carsly]

I think the only answer is not to change suspension heights if you don’t want to hear it.

I will say, if you’re using entry mode daily I doubt the compressor survives the warranty period, but then at least you get a new one.

 

[Jack27]

I generally don't notice any compressor sounds, unless I'm outside standing by the tailgate, but if the stereo is completely off, and i'm not in an area with a lot of traffic noise, I can faintly hear mine inside the cabin occasionally. But it's barely detectable, let alone bothersome. I actually like to know what's going on with my truck but I generally can't hear it, or maybe it just doesn't come on very often. It's so faint it's hard for me to know whether it doesn't run very often, or I just don't hear it when it does.

I can't imagine the sound actually bothers anyone and that's coming from someone who prefers quiet environments. Maybe it's time for the OP to take it to a Service Center to see if it's installed correctly.

Good point. Bro driving around in dead silence just hoping to hear the compressor to be mad ?

 

[WWIII]

I too am noticing the air pump run for a long time on certain days on my FS CB and it’s annoyingly loud like da da da da da da brrr da da da da brrr, it’s almost as if it reaches a full point but something still tells it to continue pumping as it finally does stop after a few minutes or so but with a thud and is quiet thereafter.
But occasionally it does go on and on for an unusually long time and is easily heard in the cabin of the truck while driving. I’ve even heard it over low music at times and is annoyingly loud.
My 2016 Model S 90D has air suspension as does the 2024 Model X Plaid and I never hear them at all.
Perhaps there are some semi-bad pumps out there from factory and this is a warranty replacement to bring up with service.
I have my CB set for easy entry (lower) on park and higher ride height. Maybe those who just drive around in low mode aren’t hearing the pump as often.

I am hearing the same thing. It runs and runs and runs and then a loud thud noise and it stops. Service said its normal but it didn't do it to start.

 

[Fausto]

Good point. Bro driving around in dead silence just hoping to hear the compressor to be mad ?

Nah not mad, just that the cabin is so quiet and comfortable it feels like a shame this one thing is able to disrupt that feeling.

Basically I raw dog every drive in the CT ?

 

[Outdoors]

One can always go into the service menu and go to the suspension to see if there are any alerts, and one could drain the tank and fill. Look for leaks etc.

Best bet is to let one of the hundreds of updates that will come over time keep making it better. Service tickets usually end with we checked the car remotely, and see no issues.

Definitely make sure around warranty expiration check for leaks. I had 2 on my S. It was covered, and two new fronts added. Not cheap, and worth the time to look ahead.

 

[dalton108]

I like all of the sound! Makes me feel like I’m driving a big rig, especially when all of the air releases on entry mode.

The whole aesthetic of the truck is being brutalist. This just goes with that, imo.

 

[CyberGus]

Driving home today, I changed ride height between medium and low repeatedly, like 20 times. It happily obeyed, and never heard the compressor.

In the driveway, I used off-road mode to select Very High, and it stopped halfway with an overheat warning before continuing. I could definitely hear the compressor, but only barely. The fan noise of bio-defense mode is enough to drown it out.

 

[SentinelOne]

I've never heard mine from inside the truck!

 

[dalton108]

Driving home today, I changed ride height between medium and low repeatedly, like 20 times. It happily obeyed, and never heard the compressor.

In the driveway, I used off-road mode to select Very High, and it stopped halfway with an overheat warning before continuing. I could definitely hear the compressor, but only barely. The fan noise of bio-defense mode is enough to drown it out.

I think the fan noise for biodefense could drown out World War III.

 

[BillSirloin]

Yea I hear the same buzzing from the compressor and then a pressure relief sound as if it lets out some air before turning off. I figured it was the cooler weather that’s causing it to turn on for extended periods but I’ll probably ask my service center at the next visit. I’m expecting them to say it’s all normal and nothing looks wrong but we’ll see.

 

[rlhamil]

I have the impression that if you have entry and higher driving hight set, it goes from entry to low driving height as soon as you tap the brake, and goes to higher once you leave a parking lot or residential side street, not counting if you have higher set for specific locations (speed bumps, etc). Other than that, I rarely hear it.

I suppose with very slight air leakage, it could kick in occasionally to make up the difference. A greater leak would have it kicking in often enough to be more noticeable and probably throw an error.

 

[Jwadoc]

Hey,

Maybe it's just me, but the persistent drone of the compressor in the back is really starting to bother me. As it's tiny it really seems to take ages to full the tank for the suspension and with entry mode and ride settings it's clearly working extra hard.

I was thinking about sound deadening the area around the compressor with something like dynamat. I was also thinking about applying something to the compressor itself.

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience on this? Gotchas, successes etc?

TIA

Took mine to service center. They said it was a ground wire. They fixed and did something to dampen it. I have little knowledge on the specifics. I’m an idiot with those type of things.

 

[Drummerm]

I think you summed it up well. "Cheap electric cigarette lighter pump" it just seems a little unrefined hence why Im going to investigate muffling it

@Fausto did you ever take it apart to see what is making the noise? Did you find a solution? I never hear the compressor in our Model S. In the Cybertruck I hear it and it seems to me like it's either hitting another panel and transferring noise or that the isolators are not installed correctly and letting the noise of the pump transfer into the cabin.

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