Thread: ACE enhancements

Graeme,

Is the ACE system always unlocked below 40 km/hr as standard or only in low range etc?

With the system you have and being able to turn off the ACE system effectively could you run disconnects on the system?

The bars are always unlocked at less than 4 kph. They can also be unlocked or partially unlocked at speeds up to 40 kph when ACE detects rough road condition, as long as the vehicle is not cornering. The only connection with low range is that in high range in a manual its almost impossible to travel at less than 4 kph, so low range is necessary to get that slow.

I understand that greater articulation can be achieved using disconnects but not by much.

Thanks for that.

I might have a look into it a bit more and see about running the disconnects and contact you for one of the units.

The disconnects will make a big difference when looking at the radius arm setup and shock lengths.

Would be nice to be able to turn the ACE off completely and run the disconnects, but then also be able to run the ACE for touring and general driving.

Running 10" shocks - 655mm open if I recall correctly, disconnects with ACE makes no difference, but I think thats also about where its limits are so there may be something to be gained if you have longer shocks. I've tested this. If you do disconnect the ACE sway bars then you can just pull the fuse on the ACE as an interim.

I have been looking at runnning 12" travel Bilsteins for a while but was about to rethink the setup and step back down to shorter shocks due to the ACE.

I still want to retain the ACE system for touring / on road travel.

I have been told by a few people of the issues with the ACE hydraulics not being able to handle the longer suspension travel and destroying seals / rams in the process.

Something for me to think about now anyway.

Might end up with those new front arms and rear four link after all

Nice! I'm not sure about the V8, but I think on the TD5 it would be straight forward to do the front with 2 lowers, 1 upper + panhard or 5-link too. The 4link rear is sweet!

I havent looked at the front end too much yet.

My thoughts where to build new arms with currie joints to remove any binding issues.

On the rear you can easily fit in a triangulated four link setup, I was looking at the one from Draken Offroad but will end up building one at some stage.

I am not really impressed with the bolt on setup they use, I would prefer to strengthen the diff housing and add the link tabs etc into the reinforcing.

The one thing I seem to be stuck with is coils, I want to stick to a maximum 3" lift however with long travel shocks the coils may be too short.

I was thinking of possibly using longer lower rate flexi coils that will sag slightly with the weight of the extra bar work but be able to extend out longer due to their extra length.

Would probably run some polyairs for touring to take the weight or I could play around with some long airbags instead of coils.

Who knows, like everything else on the disco I will probably do it more than once until I am happy with the setup.

Slunnie,

Something like this?