Thread: VB Air Suspension and Anti Roll Bars

i run ABM ECU which is a firestone product. the interlock on the firestone ECU is a ground wire on the handbrake. pull handbrake, grounds signal, allows user change of height. while naughty, i simply grounded that wire and bypassed the interlock. The ECU has height and speed parameters in its setting so even if i was to manually change height, when the parameters are exceeded, the ECU returns the ride height to the hwy setting. Or if outside the parameters, the height will not change. I set my parameters as 20kph for entry height and 60kph for lifted. That allows me to punt around the carpark if clearance is tight and 60kph is about the max you can drive on a rough fire trail. if i can drive faster than 60 kph on a dirt road, it's likely a logging trail and in pretty good condtion to be in hwy height mode. Only limitation i found in my settings is the Simpson desert when you sometimes need speed for the ascent but the ECU starts to exhaust to hwy height part way up a sand dune. Long and short, ground the wire and see it it bypasses the interlock.

Originally Posted by MLD

i run ABM ECU which is a firestone product. the interlock on the firestone ECU is a ground wire on the handbrake. pull handbrake, grounds signal, allows user change of height. while naughty, i simply grounded that wire and bypassed the interlock. The ECU has height and speed parameters in its setting so even if i was to manually change height, <snip text>. Long and short, ground the wire and see it it bypasses the interlock.

Does using the hand brake switch interfere with the dash warning lamp?

I've had the current system on the shelf in the shed for around 10 years without fitting it. As far as I can see, the AccuAir eLevel system doesn't have any speed sensors, at least there are no speed sensors external to the ECU, I guess I'll find out more as the vehicle is completed. From what I know about AccuAir from TV shows like Kindig Customs and others is that they can lower the vehicle and drive on what ever height they choose. The AUS ECU prevents the height changing while in motion (although it would be good if I could lower the vehicle at 100kph for a moment to go through the M5 toll gates in Sydney, the prices go up to the truck rate with more than 2 axles and height over 2m, just because I'm a cheapskate )

In our case we probably want to raise the vehicle for off-road obstacles and not have it drop mid traverse. I know that my D4 will lower uncommanded around 40kph

I won't be bypassing the interlock until the whole vehicle is compliance certified (first registration in Australia after import)

The good thing is that Air Ride Supplies in Vic have been very helpful this morning and well acquainted with the AccuAir products.

The hand brake switch grounds to the body. The fluid level in brake reservoir is on same circuit. It won’t mess with your warning light.

the ABM ecu has an accelerometer built in the ECU. Also has level to horizon (digital spirit level) built in. Whether accu-air offers these features, you will have to do your own research.

you would be able to change the settings n your D4. Its just a number in a table in the software. Getting access to the software is outside my pay grade.

Wow, shocked.

Was talking to an engineer yesterday, he has just given me an estimate of $7,000.00 for engineering of my Defender-RB 6x6.

His justifications:

• Each modification requires individual engineering i.e. perentie 6x6/RFSV rear disk brake hubs/rotors/calipers/mountings use of the 4BD1-T
• Accuair e-level air suspension
• $4,000.00 for the day of a track for track testing

Probably not going to use that engineer.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Wow, shocked.

Was talking to an engineer yesterday, he has just given me an estimate of $7,000.00 for engineering of my Defender-RB 6x6.

His justifications:

• Each modification requires individual engineering i.e. perentie 6x6/RFSV rear disk brake hubs/rotors/calipers/mountings use of the 4BD1-T
• Accuair e-level air suspension
• $4,000.00 for the day of a track for track testing

Probably not going to use that engineer.

any mod to suspension will require a swerve test these days. Check your registration status. if it is NBx you are in ADR80 (small truck) instead of ADR79 (light vehicle). Might make a difference to whether you need a swerve test and the benchmark for compliance. Worth asking the engineer if all the testing still needs doing if ADR80.

I upgraded my classification to NB1 with a 3850kg GVM. Truck compliance is easier than light vehicle. I didn't have to do a swerve test. My engineer at the time (now retired) was a HV compliance engineer and had designed air suspensions systems for HV so was confident in what he was signing off on.