Air Lift suspension assistors

[windywatson]

Hi, The bongo has a habit of bottoming out on the rear suspension when running over sleeping policeman / speed humps. Which is a pain as most campsites have loads of them dotted around. So have purchased an air lift suspension assistance kit.
So "has anyone out there fitted one themselfs"? I'm technically competent to do the job, but if it's been done before and theres any tips to help make it easier then why not ask. If not then I'll take photos and try to produce a fact sheet to help others.

[missfixit70]

Factsheet in the members area If you do a search on here, quite a few have fitted them, mine are still sat in the box big roundtuit list

[mikeonb4c]

I keep meaning to get a pair of these but tightness over £ and a distinct lack of roundtuitedness mean I haven't prosecuted the idea yet.

I'd be interested to hear how you find the job. It looks a pleasant enough task - just got to decided where to mount the top-up valve (in my case I have a towbar mounted rear step that has a vertical face that might do nicely and offer protection as well as ready access)

[MountainGoat]

The rear of the sliding door step is definitely the best place for the valves Mike. That is where it is in my Bongo. Since it is inside the Bongo and the sliding door protrudes forward a tad when full open it is well protected from both the elements and vandals and it is not possible to scuff your ankles angainst them.

Tony

[mikeonb4c]

The rear of the sliding door step is definitely the best place for the valves Mike. That is where it is in my Bongo. Since it is inside the Bongo and the sliding door protrudes forward a tad when full open it is well protected from both the elements and vandals and it is not possible to scuff your ankles angainst them.

Tony

Yup I can see that but this spot:


...seems conveniently near and is actually sheltered, protected, and not v. visible but means I could avoid cutting into the Bongo bodywork and also check/adjust pressures as easy as doing the tyres. Waddya say?

[dandywarhol]

I put mine in the side door - I hardly adjust them anyway except when fully laden.

Best to drop the panhard rod and remove the lower damper mounts when doing the job IMO - and loosen ALL the suspension pivot bolts before removing the spring - then jack up the axle to the natural ride height before tightening the bolts again - less liable to damage the metalastic suspension bushes that way

[apole]

Mine are in the same place in the step on sliding door, easy to access and not in the way.

Check out the ones from Matt Savage Landrover, I found them to be a very good price.

Andy

[mikexgough]

what psi do these have in them when in use?......
I have seen where to get them from and want to fit some but I was interested to what psi you guys use unloaded and loaded?

I have also just uprated my ARB bushes too front and rear with Polyurethane ones that I am evaluating (if all keeps going well, I hope to having some more made) which seems to have stiffened things up a little and "should" be a fit and forget part if I have got it right.
I wont say too much just now until I have finished evaluating over the next few months but I also wouldn't want to be seen using a public forum to advertise/promote anything

[apole]

Hi Mike,

The pressure is down to personal taste and how much weight you are carrying, within sensible limits of course.

I run mine normally at 18 to 20, and when loaded up from hols up to 25 from memory. I have slightly more on the offside due to the weight of conversion on that side.

They do make a very good difference, especially on undulating roads such as in the IOW where the car would bottom out alot before they were fitted.

Remember these are not a fix all but an assistor, remember they cushion the springs when they compress to help, but if you go over a speed hump too fast it can still bounce as it won't help when the spring decompresses.

Interested in your findings on the new bushes, keep us posted as I'd be interested if they work out.

Andy

[dandywarhol]

16/18 unladen (unconverted, middle seat out) and around 20 laden. Along with the diesel heater it's the best thing I've done to the van.