Thread: Self leveling system???

The units were extremely expensive to replace, but they do work very well, as mentioned allow a much more supple suspension and carry weight.
However having said all that much the same result can be had by fitting airbags in the springs , which can be adjusted to give the required ride when loaded to compensate for a softer spring when running light . You could also go the 130HC route of having twin springs , it should be possible to adjust specs to achieve similar results .

I reckon you're onto something with the airbags in springs. That technology has come a long way since the boge unit was invented. Airbags are probably a sensible alternative. A little more complicated perhaps... but also provide more features.

In saying that, if I do anything with suspension I'll probably just put in heavier springs and never think about it again.

Does anyone have an exploded diagram of how it works. I've made a jig that allows me to recharge Citroen spheres with 1000psi of nitrogen. If it's just a matter of changing seals and re-charging them with nitrogen. That shouldn't be a huge deal

seeya,
Shane L.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

I've made a jig that allows me to recharge Citroen spheres with 1000psi of nitrogen.

Can you do Range Rover brake accumulators? See http://www.aulro.com/afvb/p38a-range...-recharge.html

These guys rebuilt mine: W.W. Shock Absorbers - Brisbane's original shock absorber reconditioners. 33 Matheson Street, Virginia, Queensland, Australia 4014 You'll need to buy new balljoints from somewhere else.

I have King Springs, airbags, and the leveller, and it all works very well. But if I didn't have a leveller I'd have just the airbags.

Do a search, and you'll see that there is a lot of confusion about the self-leveller. The whole reason they put one in is because they wanted a car-like ride but with a decent load capacity, and then they saw the Boge item at a car show and knew that would work. It's one of the special things about a Range Rover that made it stand out so much back then and even now. I don't think American design has ever caught up!

It is another compilcation, but it pays off. Because it's in the middle, it will keep the axle and chassis apart from each other a certain amount but the soft springs will still give that great ride and articulation. Whether you have harder springs or soft springs with airbags, they'll still give you a harder ride compared to the original set-up.

Originally Posted by p38arover

Can you do Range Rover brake accumulators? See P38 Brake Accumulator Recharge?

Probably .... I found the schematic and it is basically a Citroen sphere (the patents on that must be well expired given they started selling hydraulic cars in 1955). You must also have a pump as well?? I don't like brake accumulators. They work well in there designed task, but if there ignored and allowed to go "almost" dead flat, the sharp edge on the back of the filler plug, ruptures the diaphram instantly filling your braking system with nitrogen (this causes a massive brake delay in a hydraulic citroen, in a normal car, you would never pump the pedal fast enough to regain brakes ).

This is my regasser.... super dodgy, but that's just me





I would just need to make a different "frame" for the regassing head to hold the different shaped accumulators.

seeya,
Shane L.

Airbags are not a substitute.

The whole point behind the *centrally* mounted leveller is to retain ride height while reducing rear roll-stiffness. Just one more clever bit of engineer by Charles Spencer King.
If you remove the leveller and use stiffer springs (or airbags) in the outboard position, the classic rangies go from more neutral handling, to rampant over-steer.

It also of course reduces ride quality and articulation offroad.

Later on when the self-levellers where discontinued, sway bars were fitted and with a large one up-front. Rear roll stiffness was kept minimal for the same reasons.

Well put - not a substitute, but the next best thing instead of having heavy springs.