Thread: D2 Replacement Airbag Suspension

Originally Posted by DI5CO

I have replaced mine as well from Arnott's at the time the Aussie dollar was high. Same price as strangy. For my situation, I wanted to keep the air, am in the process of lifting the car, (ordered my rear blocks). I like the idea of being able to load the car & it pumps up to the original height. I think its a personal decision weather to go coils or air.
Clarky, were your air bags old? I find it hard to believe they would fail if new,or newish unless manufacturers fault but i see your point!!
Dave.

My opinion is that it was perishing due to age.
For me though its one less thing to be concerned about. Less electricals, no pump etc.
The airbags are definately better when you load up the car, but coils are simple.Personal preferance.

Well I have bitten the bullet and ordered 2x AirBags from Arnotts' industries in Florida. A$474.00 delivered which I thought is not a bad price. Now I can't wair for them to arrive..... I missed driving around in Sherman and it's been sitting in the garage on stands for 5 days now....

Thanks for eveyones 2c worth of input....

i guess i too can add something to this,

i swapped the SLS system out of my car as i am intending on using it for a serious toy out in the 4x4 parks and IMO you cannot get the same articulation out of the SLS system. i dont have any really intention of towing with the vehicle and i did opt for an extra heavy duty coil for when it is loaded up with the fridge camping gear etc. i have found the change in the ride for the better as it is a bit stiffer and handles better both on and off the road.

i put 2' raised coils into mine. having had my 01 d2 in the family since new it did a the left bag in 06 and the second in 07. i agree that in 8 years thats wear and tear not unreliability. before i bought it the car was used soley for on road daily driving and towing a 3ton boat, and in that role the SLS was outstanding, but for what i want (flex) you can go past the coils.

ooooooops!

sorry,, but HD coils wont give you ultimate flex.

This months PIC in the AULRO calender is proof of that.


read this excellent thread,,
especially post 19---
bugger me dead

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

sorry,, but HD coils wont give you ultimate flex.

no but they are a trade off for the load carrying of the bags and their very limited flex. will work even better once i get the sway bar disconnects in

Has any one had experience with replacement bags from Brittpart?

Cheers,

Tim

Trade off??

sorry,,

what was the question again??

you want to carry a load,,

but you want great flex,,,


I dont have a problem with you wanting coils,,,
I have a problem with you publicly disregarding bags with no knowledge,,,

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Trade off??

sorry,,

what was the question again??

you want to carry a load,,

but you want great flex,,,


I dont have a problem with you wanting coils,,,
I have a problem with you publicly disregarding bags with no knowledge,,,

Pedro’s right – what we have here is a complete lack of knowledge on how the air system works.

The air spring will have far greater flex/travel that any coil let alone HD coil. When a coil expends to its max it is carrying no load at all – an air spring will continue to expand out and will be stopped by the shock, at this point the spring is carrying (pushing down on the tyre) a lot of weight. As a simple example – if you have a straight bag (not tapered) and at full stretch it is 1.5 times the length as standard ride height it’s internal air pressure will be std/1.5 because the internal volume has multiplied by 1.5 so (~70psi/1.5 = ~46psi). Say that the tyre was carrying 600kg at standard height it will now still have (600kg/1.5) 400kg of weight (so traction) on that tyre…. Remember a coil has 0kg and a HD coil does not expand anywhere near a far as even a standard coil – that’s the point of HD – when you put a heap of weight on it the car won’t drop as far…. Now this is a very simple example of what’s there and doesn’t include variables like the length/volume of the piston… But it shows that an air spring is far superior for travel and traction (keeping weight on a tyre).

On the D2 the problem is not the air spring (bag) – it’s the SLS logic. Essentially the computer tries it hardest to keep the rear two springs at the same length (this issue is fixed on D3 RRS RRV). So for travel there is a problem with the standard D2 SLS setup but it ain’t the air spring and can be very easily over come. Simply fit a shut off valve to the top of each spring or fit a 3-way diverter and cross link….

As for load carrying…. Come on - someone saying that having a spring that automatically increases its "Heavy Dutyness" when you load the vehicle is no good?

If people want coils for their own reason that's great - even though I ask why buy a car with air in the first place if it is so bad?. And I admit there are a few vehicles that have had their problems - like all other part of a car - but nearly all SLS failures have been due to lack of scheduled maintenance – the air system has been ignored (for now 10 years by some – including the dealers) and simple checks would show early signs well before they become an issue – who here has ignored their engine oil or coolant for 10 years and then complained with "engines are no good – bring back the horse"?

See some one got me started again…..