Air Bellows height difference
Submitted: Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 13:30
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53471
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NicI
I've just had TJM fit a pair of Polyair bellows to a (brand new) leaf-sprung 4wd traytop ute, but with the same air pressure in each bellow there's a 30mm difference in ride height on each side.
The installation looks identical on each side, and the air hoses are the same length.
To equalise the ride height takes about a 20-30psi differential between the two bellows.
Is this normal, and if so is it practical ? I would usually run about 50-60psi with the traytop camper on, but with this imbalance one bellow would be at 80-90, which sounds rather high.
Any ideas or experience would be appreciated.
Reply By: Wizard1 - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 13:45
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 13:45
Which side is your fuel tank?
AnswerID:
281556
Follow Up By: NicI - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 14:02
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 14:02
I thought of that and measured the height with the tank empty - no appreciable change.
FollowupID:
545871
Reply By: The Rambler( W.A.) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 13:53
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 13:53
NicI,
30mm difference between the two sides seems a little too much and I would think it is because one set of leaf springs has had a bit more work than the other due to uneven loading in the ute.Ihave a set of Firestone bellows and never use more than about 40-50psi with a filly loaded(1.1t.) camper trailer.80-90psi seems too much in my opinion.
AnswerID:
281557
Follow Up By: NicI - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 14:10
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 14:10
Rambler,
Thanks for the suggestion - a good one except that the ute has only done 1500km since new, and of that only 400km loaded with the camper (about 700Kg), so it seems a little unlikely that
the springs have worn that much so quickly.
FollowupID:
545873
Reply By: Member - Poppy (QLD) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 14:37
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 14:37
Hi Nici
Warranty is a wonderful thing, go straight back to TJM
Cheers Ray
AnswerID:
281563
Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 14:39
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 14:39
Yep what Ray said.
Its got to be an installation issue.
FollowupID:
545879
Reply By: redfive - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 17:48
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 17:48
Hi
Are the Airbags the same
might be a case of too different airbags in the box
did you
check them before fitting ??
might be a place to start
Glenn
AnswerID:
281589
Reply By: Member - Bucky (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 07:18
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 07:18
Go straight back to TJM
Get them to
check the physical size of the bags.
Are the air bags in the same position on each side of the car ?
Get it sorted, and don't pay them any extra, because they have failed to fit properly in the first place.
Cheers
Bucky
AnswerID:
281690
Reply By: Member - Nic I (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 08:30
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 08:30
Thanks everyone for your suggestions, it is now likely that the bellows or their installation aren't at faultl; looks like it might be
the springs.
Yet to be confirmed, but it seems that one of the leaves on the driver's side may have been either incorrectly tempered or of the wrong grade of steel. This wasn't obvious until a decent load was applied, in my case about 700kg of camper, then - instant sag on that side.
It's obviously a warranty issue, but the bellows may have to be removed before the warranty is honoured.
AnswerID:
281702
Reply By: Member - Big Al. Gold Coast - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 19:16
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 19:16
We have firestone airbags and from new have been uneven
Relocating the heavy items from one side helped but even with a max load we never exceed 20psi in each side.
The driver side always higher than passenger side. I run 56psi front and 60psi rear.
AnswerID:
281817