Wizard
SupporterI'm kicking the can down the road for alternatives to an electronic valve control system for air bag suspension. I'd prefer mechanical for reliability and field serviceability. One option i'm considering is to use height control valves (HCV) from a truck trailer. The simplest set up is to have a HCV on each corner with 1 air line that loops around the chassis with a T piece to each HCV, the bag is isolated from the feed line so no cross linking. The HCV and bag are independent of the other bags and self level to the pre-determined height. If you are not familiar, a pic is below. The valve is fixed to the chassis and the control arm is fixed to the radius and trailing arm. Wheel lifts up the valve opens to air up, wheel drops away valve opens to exhaust air. The HCV will do this until the arm returns to horizontal. There is a dead zone where the valves are not active to accommodate the natural frequency of the bag driven on the road. You can reset the height by undoing the nut on the horizontal arm and turning the valve to change the bag height then nipping up the horizontal arm. In reality it is a set and forget system and not ideal for anyone that wants air suspension to raise and lower at will with independent bag control. I've lived with set height coils for 10 years in my defender. It would be no different.
I know that Oliver Boatwright in the UK uses them and says that they work great. After any first hand knowledge or comment if it is a good or bad idea for a touring 130 that can be loaded to 3.5T.
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MLD
Current: (Diggy) MY10 D130 ute, locked F&R, air suspension and rolling on 35's.
Current: (but in need of TLC) 200tdi 110 ute & a 300tdi 110 ute.
Current: (Steed) MY11 Audi RS5 phantom black (the daily driver)
Gone: (Dorothy) MY99 TD5 D110
Wizard
SupporterThought these would normally be set up as only one per axle not one for each bag? Otherwise they would be too reactive.
I have manual paddle valves in the cab with separate gauges, this works fine, no extra equipment other than the airline going to the bag. Simple and pretty much set and forget except for leveling up at camp.
Remind me what you currently have...
Wizard
SupporterI might be over thinking it but....wouldn’t you want the opposite when off roading to aid in articulation. My tears seem to articulate just fine at a constant pressure.Originally Posted by MLD
Am I reading the above correct,
When suspension compresses I.e. tyre tucked up in wheel arch you want to add air and
When tyre drops into a hole you want to release air?
Wizard
SupporterW&KO
At the moment i'm still on coils but planning to go to air suspension in the next few months (once corona passes and client pay their bills owing). Mulling over control system options.
AFAIK air suspension must be self levelling. Only self levelling options are the higher end electronic systems and this option i've posted.
You read the post right. When the control arm is above horizontal it airs up, control arm below horizontal the exhaust valve opens. The objective of this post is to test my theory. That is: In dynamic situations like 4wding (driving not stationary) the valves are not open long enough to materially affect the bag although it might put more demand on the air compressor if the system is bleeding and refilling constantly. There is a HCV from Barksdale that has 3 functions, options are: normal ride height, secondary ride height, lock out of the valve (air retention), variable flow rate and dump valve. You use pilot valves to select what 2 auxiliary functions you want. You could lock the valves off road if you felt the active system is not working for you.
Hoping to learn more than i know now.
Barksdale Atlas 52334 single valve dual height CV.pdf
MLD
Current: (Diggy) MY10 D130 ute, locked F&R, air suspension and rolling on 35's.
Current: (but in need of TLC) 200tdi 110 ute & a 300tdi 110 ute.
Current: (Steed) MY11 Audi RS5 phantom black (the daily driver)
Gone: (Dorothy) MY99 TD5 D110
Wizard
SupporterI found your thread from last year, you’re well advanced on the research.
I’m just thinking when your stopped on a track for what ever reason your suspension may have time to self adjust just when you don’t want it it. Having a way to isolation off road would be handy.
Got it, I only have rear bags and didn’t need self leveling when I got them engineered.
I want front bags but don’t want all the stuff that come with self leveling. I tempted to convert the front and retain manual adjustment.
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