What is this? Air Suspension

Mine has a gauge for each bellows. So your taps are to enable you to use the shared gauge in turn. 

Cymro

Never get below 1 Bar

Po0kZ wrote:Hi all, I found this in my newly purchased boxer auto-sleeper.  Does anyone know what it is?  It is in the drivers side step, below the seat.  Cheers[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I don't have rear suspension bellows so this is a question for those that do.  Presumably when setting the pressure both of the above taps should be open to ensure equal pressure on both sides.  When the vehicle is then driven, should the taps be closed to ensure air can't pass from one side to the other, or, could/should they be left open so air can pass from side to side?

Very interesting for me as I've not hitherto seen a one-gauge system. 

Looking again at the photo, I wonder why there are 2 redundant holes to the right of the fitted pipes? Some earlier fitting / system?

Cymro

I would guess that the “apprentice” initially drilled the holes in the wrong place and too close together! If the gauge was further forward then you might catch your trouser leg on it. I have found lots of instances in my van of holes being drilled in the wrong places, or the wrong sizes, e.g. for blinds, drawer runners etc. suggesting a lack of proper training, patterns/templates or QC?

My van has two gauges but no valves, and two Schraeder inflation valves, so each side is independent of the other, which I would think might be safer and more fool proof. No possibility of air transfer from one side to the other if the valves are inadvertently left open and the van is unevenly loaded, unless of course there is also some system of check valves within the manifold to keep each side independent.

The bump stops which the bellows replace are only attached at the top whereas the bellows I believe are attached top and bottom.  Is there a danger that the bellows will overstretch if the vehicle is stored longterm with its wheels off the ground?

Caraman wrote:The bump stops which the bellows replace are only attached at the top whereas the bellows I believe are attached top and bottom.  Is there a danger that the bellows will overstretch if the vehicle is stored longterm with its wheels off the ground?

 
I guess it would not be a good idea at all to hang the axle on the air bellows. Do I recall correctly that older vehicles used to have leather straps around the axle from the chassis?

The Bargee wrote:

Caraman wrote:The bump stops which the bellows replace are only attached at the top whereas the bellows I believe are attached top and bottom.  Is there a danger that the bellows will overstretch if the vehicle is stored longterm with its wheels off the ground?

 
I guess it would not be a good idea at all to hang the axle on the air bellows. Do I recall correctly that older vehicles used to have leather straps around the axle from the chassis?

Does the pressure have to be changed when jacking to change a wheel which of course is only short term?

I posed my concern about storing a van with rear bellows and it’s rear wheels off the ground to several semi-suspension suppliers.  Only two have replied so far and both said it’s OK.  One said the bellows’ pressure should be set to 3 bar.  The other said let all the air out but remember to re-inflate before driving.  I don’t know how accurate any of this advice is.