Lifted P38 on air - questions

I was having a look at the sensor arms on the car and noticed that the fuel hose with 6mm sprinkler plastic pipe that I have been using for the past 3 or so years was starting to get a bit of a permanent bend on the 2 rears. Not wanting to mess around with creating threads or gluing I have hopefully come up with a viable simple alternative.

The components comprise of: 6mm brake line from Enzed hoses (it has an ID of 6.1 mm) and fits snugly over the sensor arm. A tent peg of approximately 6mm diameter creates the internal spacer and then finally 5mm stainless steel wire rope grips from Bunnings fit perfectly over the 6 mm brake line.

Attachment 67270
4 lengths of brake line tube ready for installation
Attachment 67269
End of tube
Attachment 67271
Wire rope grips
Attachment 67272
Installed (rear sensor)

To install I have cut the desired lengths of brake line then on each end cut down the tube approx 10mm. This is to allow the clamps to tighten up on the sensor arms. The spacer is put inside the tube and then simply push the sensor arms in until they meet the spacer. Clamp up the tube using the wire rope grips. So far so good, now to find the time to try it out, and probably recalibrate the ride heights slightly.

Apologies for the crappy photos, Blackberries are not the ideal camera :(

Gary

Just bumping this back to the top. This weekend should be 'hopefully' the finished product.

I still plan on playing around with the height sensors - not because there is an issue, rather to try and find a way to allow those running a standard to 265/75 (or 32" in old money) tyre to lift their P38 without needing to modify bump stops and really make the most of the long travel shocks.

I believe it can be done. I am trying to do it all without breaking the bank so it is taking some long thinking sessions and a tiny bit of hope before each step, plus I've been overseas for a bit, and my P38 is on loan to a hopeful new P38 owner so I've not had much time to play the last month!

Cheers
Keithy

Thought you'd given up on it! ;) fully understand. We all have day jobs. Watching with interest. My kit is still sitting there winking at me.

I'm still going as well... Just very slowly. Bull bar, winch, dual battery.... new starter motor, have all over taken.

But as of last Friday I finally got the spacers all together. So should be the next few weeks seeing its all sitting there waiting for me.

Edit: Yep still no plan for a bump stop change here too.

Kinda thinking allowed here, but is there any chance of the Arnott's being damaged in full compression, by their own feet making contact with the top of the bag. Assuming the 2" lift spacers have been fitted and the original bump stops remain?

I guess we're looking to ensure the bump stops to hit home before the shockers and before the bags - I recall this may already have been discussed earlier - so forgiven me if I'm repeating a topic. Just want to check.

But if we assume the car is on its bump stops, is there enough slack/sag in the airbags to avoid them destroying themselves?

I don't think it's a concern. I'm pretty sure there is heaps of space between the foot and the Mount at the top of the bag. And I believe there are others overseas that didn't extend the bump stops. I think the hardrange ones were extended to reduce the chances of the shocks bottoming out, but I don't think the terrafirma ones were available then, which can be run with standard bump stops. If you look when the car is on the bump stops at the moment there appears to be plenty of room... I think. Obviously the rubber will start to try and fold over the foot a little with the spacers so I'll be sure to make sure there are no sharp edges. I have no plans for extended bump stops, but my spacers are only 30mm at the centre.

But valid point still which I don't think has been asked.

I thought of that, cheers for reminding me as I meant to post about it!

The fronts are not an issue, the top mount for the spring is a tower-like shape and hollow inside - it will not touch.

The rears are a different story as the top is flat-ish. With that in mind, my Rangie has been on the bump stops more than once with the spacers fitted (and no bump stop mods) without any sounds or signs of damage.

I can't confirm the rears anymore as my height sensor hits the chassis just as the bump stop hits the pad, so I've had to increase the bump stop pad height until I've mucked around more with the sensors.

Cheers
Keithy

Thanks guys. It'll be one of the needed checks I have to perform when I get round to the installation.

I'm currently running the air springs on manual only, as I'm giving the eas a refresh.

I wondered if this could be a reasonable installation sequence, so I can break it up into smaller time slots and see how each mod settles:

1. install spacers. Retain standard length shockers.

2. install longer travel shockers.

3. install modded height sensors.

4. reactivate eas and calibrate height settings.

Hey presto. Should work, shouldn't it?

Peter, the hardrange rear lift spacers that I've seen, have spacers that are much wider, so they effectively restrict travel. The bump stop hits the spacer 2" higher, instead of on the original pad. Thereby defeating the aim of the type of lift you and Keith have devised. If you get my drift.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by davidsonsm

Thanks guys. It'll be one of the needed checks I have to perform when I get round to the installation.

I'm currently running the air springs on manual only, as I'm giving the eas a refresh.

I wondered if this could be a reasonable installation sequence, so I can break it up into smaller time slots and see how each mod settles:

1. install spacers. Retain standard length shockers.

2. install longer travel shockers.

3. install modded height sensors.

4. reactivate eas and calibrate height settings.

Hey presto. Should work, shouldn't it?

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You will have limited wheel travel until the new shocks are in

Gary