13 replies to this topic

[orangeLJ]

I want to look at air bagging the rear of Karlies HX ute for a few different reasons (main one being the dog, I know it sounds silly, but we settled on a ute for her, so may as well make it easier for her to get in and out)In general Id just like it lower without compromising on load capacity and dragging its arse everywhere (speedhumps are our councils speciality)

obviously Id have to make up some plates to weld ontop of the axle tubes to seat the airbag, which would then sit on the chassis.

I dont see a problem with the wheel wells (plenty of clearance)so no need to go cutting in there


The only issue I can see is that its leaf spring so the front and rear mounting points for the leaves act as the locators for the diff. So I would obviously need to swap to a 4 link style setup with bushed arms (like torana etc)

Would it possibly be easier to start with a commodore diff and work off the control arm placement on that?

Obviously its going to have to be engineered due to the change in mounting points for the suspension,

But basically, can it be done legally, has anyone seen it done in a ute and have any images?

Any suggestions on how to go about it (ie. buy a 4 link kit from someone like mc bros?)

[ls2lxhatch]

You could just remove a couple of leaves from the springs and use them with the air bags.

[dattoman]

And you have to do a shock relocation on the front

[wot179]

Go and have a chat the the guy who runs The Chop Shop at Gosford.

He specialises in this stuff and sells the best gear-which is Air ride Technologies. http://www.ridetech.com/

Dont buy the cheap airbag kits,they are junk and you will end up replacing most parts,often.

Good luck with it.

[orangeLJ]

I know lappo ( chop shop)

Funnily enough thoigh, I signed up years ago for some distributor info from airride usa for our muffler shop and we still can get discount stiff direct.

Thanks for the suggeations guys, keep em coming.

[turbo76lx]

You can remove and re-roll some of the springs and add some of these http://www.ridetech....000-series.html.

And yes don't buy the cheap valves and air suspension kits. If the the springs are re-rolled and still look factory the air bags could be classed as "helper" suspension and no

engineers may be needed. Or add these which may need more work to fit. http://www.ridetech....ts/airoverleaf/

[turbo76lx]

If you want to get it lower you can have a look at my panel van. http://www.gmh-toran...980#entry545980

[wot179]

I know lappo ( chop shop)

Funnily enough thoigh, I signed up years ago for some distributor info from airride usa for our muffler shop and we still can get discount stiff direct.

Thanks for the suggeations guys, keep em coming.

Not lappo....the other dude .The one with the tattooed pneumatic blondie on his arm?

I cant remember his name .Been too long..

[orangeLJ]

I'll have to call bby there, I only work round the corner.

Turbo76lx, have you got any detail shots of the front of you panel van?

This may sound stupid, but wouldnt the top leaf only bend so far?

[yel327]

You could also try fitting a sedan/coupe/wagon/statesman diff and control arms. Just locate the mounts in the same location they are on a wagon, statesman etc by making up bracketry to suit off the ute chassis. Best way would be to use Autocad 3D and draw up where everything is on the passenger vehicle relative to a common point eg one of the underbody members or seat holes (same location on wagon/Statesman relative to diff as they are on a ute/van relative to diff), and then overlay the ute rails on another layer. Then draw up required bracketry in Autocad and fabricate. You would probably get a way with using the ute/van shocks too, and stick the airbags where the springs used to be on the passenger vehicle diff using the ute/van shocky crossmember for the tops of the bags.

[turbo76lx]

I haven't put the rest of the photos on to the computer yet but the mods to the front end are. Enlarge the hole around the spring to clear the air bag,

mount the shock externally to the back side of the lower control arm and make a new top mount. I used the mounting kit from Airide in Melbourne

and used slam series 6" double convoluted bags which have an internal bump stop.

If you re-roll the springs it will drop the back or you can take a spring out turn it over and put it on top of the spring pack.

[Struggler]

I saw a ute or tonner at Powercruise the other day that had a 4 link conversion. The lower arms when straight into the front leaf spring mounts and back to fabricated mounts on the leaf perches on the diff. The upper arms were more like a commodore (straight and short) so it needed a panhard rod to keep it all central. As someone who has done it the hard way this looked simple and easy to set up.

Just a thought.