Air suspension

[bikey]

Hi all,

Just fitted airide suspension to my panel van conversion fiat Ducati x290,

Had these in the garage, took them of my 2007 autotrail.

My question is any suggestions on the best pressure to use,

Thanks

[Derek Uzzell]

There’s no simple answer to your question as the optimum pressure to use will depend on the make and specification of the air-bellows units, the specification of the motorhome’s rear suspension, the specification of the rear tyres and the inflation pressure you are inflating them to, the vehicle’s axle-loading, and what you are seeking to achieve.

 

As will be seen from these search results

 

https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=ducato+airide+pressure

 

people use anything from 20psi to over 50psi according to the reason why air-bellows have been fitted.

 

If you have an “Airide”-branded system, you might get some advice from this UK company

 

http://airide.co.uk/index.php

 

but, realistically, you’ll need to experiment to establish the effect of playing about with the inflation pressure.

 

The only motorhome manufacturer I’m aware of that fits air-bellows as original equipment to the rear suspension of their X290 panel-van conversions (PVCs) is Auto-Sleepers, who choose Al-Ko “Air Top” units. This discussion

 

http://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t18284-al-ko-air-springs

 

may be helpful, but it’s worth noting that - besides the air-bellows - A-S PVCs apparently have secondary rear leaf springs.

 

Suggest you start with 25psi and work upwards. Also that you monitor the pressures closely for a while, as 9-year-old rubber may well have degraded by now.

 

[RogerThat]

I run mine at 2 bar, I find 3 bar is a bit too bouncy 8-)

 

But as per above posts, it'll definitely be trial and error, the load on the rear axle will be different for everyone :-S

[joe66]

The info on mine says set it at 4 psi.

[Keithl]

joe66 - 2016-11-25 7:26 PM

 

The info on mine says set it at 4 psi.

 

Joe,

 

Do you mean 4 psi or 4 bar?

 

4 bar is 58 psi which sounds far more likely!

 

Keith.

[Keith T]

My Burstner MW chassis I have had AS Air Suspension fitted, mainly as I needed to raise the rear end height on some occasions....ther is a rather long overhang and it did ground when we tried to get inot our then driveway, which was a fairly steep incline off the cul de sac. Also for some ferries, its useful to raise it.

I generally run on 2bar pressure which is suitable for normal running. , but for situations as meniotned above, (ie not actually driving long distances) I would increase short term to 3-4bar.

[Derek Uzzell]

The Installation Manual for a Dunlop auxiliary air suspension system suitable for X250 vehicles can be read here

 

http://www.motorhomeairsuspension.co.uk/L.D06.C.M.en.pdf

 

Inflation pressures are referred to on Page 13 as follows:

 

"Maximum Pressure 7.0bar Minimum Pressure 0.5bar

 

Do not exceed 7.0bar (101psi), which is the recommended maximum charge pressure for the air springs. The springs may be deflated if the vehicle is to be stored for a lengthy period without use, but a pressure of at least 0.5bar (7.25psi) should be maintained at all times in order to avoid possible compression damage to the springs.”

 

 

The first thing to ask is why air-assist has been fitted. If it’s primarily to raise a motorhome’s rear end ocasionally but the vehicle otherwise handles OK, it makes perfect sense to follow Keith’s approach, choosing a relatively modest pressure for normal running and a higher pressure only when required. If it’s to counter ‘soggy’ handling, start low and increase as necessary. A ‘bar’ is 14.5psi, so there’s a big difference between 1, 2, 3, 4 (etc.) bars.