DRiV™ Introduces Innovative Add-On Valve Technology to Enhance Comfort on Passive Dampers

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 DRiV™, a Tenneco Inc. (NYSE: 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 completion of the small piston stroke, the damper’s main valve resumes normal operation.

“Monroe RideRefine SDD valves bring new levels of comfort and tunability to conventional dampers,” said Neville Rudd, group vice president and general manager ride control, DRiV. “Stroke dependent damping helps ensure the damper effectively filters out minor road inputs encountered on highways and other comparatively smooth surfaces. Additionally, because the new valve is added below the piston, it is easy to integrate into an existing damper design.”

DRiV is a leading global OE and aftermarket supplier of conventional, passive dampers as well Monroe® Intelligent Suspension selective and semi-active suspensions.