Air Suspension - Your Views

fairytooth

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Having heard some good reports, I am thinking about getting air suspension. So far I have seen a couple of recommended suppliers who can also fit it.

Just wondered if anyone already has it and whether it is worth the cost and hassle of getting it done.

Any views welcome
 
some one on here did a fitting guide to it where they fitted it to there van not sure who
 
I don't think it's easy to answer because it depends on how satisfied you are with your current suspension. I would never change my suspension, I don't think it could be improved on, or at least it would be very difficult to improve it.

But if I did change it, how could I equate difference in ride quality (which is very subjective... it could even be a worse quality in some people's opinion) against the cost of fitting a different suspension.
 
Hi Graham, Techno 100 put a fitting guide on the other week, I've been thinking about getting it fitted but don't know how much of your payload it will take up. I've read on other forums it's good if you want to have your max weight altered above 3500kg.

John.
 
artheytrate said:
Hi Graham, Techno 100 put a fitting guide on the other week, I've been thinking about getting it fitted but don't know how much of your payload it will take up. I've read on other forums it's good if you want to have your max weight altered above 3500kg.

John.
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Hi John
Many thanks to you and Techno 100. Payload - wise I'm ok because I'm on the Ducato Maxi (not Alko) chassis with the higher load capability, so no worries there.

Presumably when the bellows are deflated you are just riding on your leaf suspension as normal. The only thing I'm a bit concerned about is that the motorhome is already slightly lower at the front (so I normally park facing slightly uphill if I can).

Having said that I like the idea of being able to raise/lower the suspension and left/right too. I will go away and read Techno's helpful guide.
 
I often let the air out to between the minimum half a bar and 1 when parked on slopes to suit.
I use a £20 compressor that is too slow for tyres but great for suspension due to the lower volume of air.
I can pump up to 7 bar in a few minutes.
I drive at 4 bar normally now and not added enough load to justify any higher pressure yet but I'll be at Carfour Santander soon LOL

gone up
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automo...60WE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1335024108&sr=8-2
 
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Is the pressure vehicle specific? Do you just adjust it to your own preference and what is the maximum distance between highest and lowest setting?
 
Yes I would say you have to experiment for sure but there is plenty of scope to cover anything.
The amount of lift depends on how much overhang you have? mine will rise by a good 5" at the towball
 
Techno100 said:
Yes I would say you have to experiment for sure but there is plenty of scope to cover anything.
The amount of lift depends on how much overhang you have? mine will rise by a good 5" at the towball
Click to expand...

OK, that's very helpful, thanks. And so's the guide by the way!
 
air suspension

Hi i just joined the site this is the first post iv'e read i fitted air suspension to my old pilote r800 had the vans weight uprated to 3.5 tons. took me 2 hours to fit less if you can lift the van i think it makes a difference when going round corners i tried diff. pressures 30 psi seems to be ok for us
 
I fitted airsuspension to my autocruise. I did it really as part of increasing the MGW from 3300kg to 3500kg. The idea was to give me a bit more payload. The benefit in handling is superb. It is not a dificult job to do, A bit of mechanical common sense and a couple of big axle stands. I would recommend fitting it if only to give a lot more stability.

I did a report of how I did it and sent it to Phil (twice) at his request, but it never appeared on the forum.
 
steer clear

I run coaches for a living most of which have air suspension. It's ideal where payload varies drastically as in PSV and HGV scenarios. Otherwise forget it. A split in an airbag makes your vehicle immovable, frozen air lines in winter the same, bouncy bouncy ride. It's a no brainer. Besides the cost of course.....
 
I fitted air suspension to my 2007 Ford Ranger this year. I carry a demountable camper and wanted to ensure that I had the option of adjusting the suspension / reducing the load off the springs if required (e.g. on corrugated dirt roads / off road).

The air bags are supposed to be at a minimum pressure to keep their shape - on my ones that is about 7 PSI, so you aren't supposed to completely deflate them. However I've found that even at this low pressure, and with the camper on the back the ride starts to get bouncy - adding air bags makes the suspension stiffer so I find that rather than a slow oscillation when going over bumps the resonant frequency of the suspension is higher with the air bags. If it wasn't for them providing a backup to my springs for overland use I would just remove them as the ride was better without them.

However, a friend had an older pick-up truck which had a quite harsh ride and he said the air bags improved it.

For a weight upgrade I believe you need to have the vehicle tested and re-plated - so there is cost involved there.

Steve.
 
Thanks guys that is very useful information. I have no payload problems to overcome but the point about splitting bellows or frozen airlines is a concern. Has anyone else had such a problem?
 
Air Suspension

Had it fitted to our Toyota Granvia, £300. The ride is far better, no more wallowing round corners or bouncing on speed bumps. Also it raised the clearance by 2 inches, which is handy off road and up ferry ramps. It is adjustable with a bicycle pump. I would recommend it.
 
***** said:
Most people including me use SVTech for the uprate
SvTech - Special Vehicle Technology
It cost me about £230, which at the time was money well spent as I uprated my van from 3500kg to 4100kg...
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Now I remember - I did talk to them, but they had never done an uprating on my model of vehicle so couldn't do it for that sort of money. I believe they get one vehicle in themselves and do all the testing / validation to work out what weight it can be rated to (according to them about £6000 worth of work), then assuming you have the same model of vehicle you only get charged for the paperwork - i.e. because of the number of people with that same vehicle everyone is contributing to that initial testing cost.

Steve.
 
fitted airide two years ago it only takes about 1 hour easy. would reccomend it stops all waving about on main roads and stops bottoming out its also a much firmer ride, I have mine set at 35 psi which I find ok, the cost was approx £450, I certainly think is was money well spent.

hope this is helpful !
 
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