Syed Shah Posted January 4, 2002 Share Posted January 4, 2002 I have seen these, and they look cool, as you can raise the car, or lower it as you please, from in-car. Now I know that hydraulic suspension does this, yet makes the handling c**p, does pneumatic suspension do this as well? What other things need to be taken into consideration? Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradb Posted January 5, 2002 Share Posted January 5, 2002 The fact that we're not in America, might be a consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wall Posted January 5, 2002 Share Posted January 5, 2002 Would you be thinking of making your Supra dance Syed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syed Shah Posted January 5, 2002 Author Share Posted January 5, 2002 No, not like hydraulic, which is what they use for that stuff, but like the CATS system on some jags which lowers/raises them at different speeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam W Posted January 5, 2002 Share Posted January 5, 2002 Similar to the Austin Allegro system I believe Seriously though, you might get more luck on one of the american lists with this one; I think the main use for such suspension is the "dancing cars" thing though What are you hoping for? Stiff suspension but good ride on the straights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syed Shah Posted January 5, 2002 Author Share Posted January 5, 2002 Simply, to be able to have a car that lowers itself at high speeds, and can be raised in-car for ramps etc. The problem with the hydraulic suspension kits is they ruin handling But i do not think that this is a problem with pnematic suspension. So has anyone ever had this on any car, and if so, what was it like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 5, 2002 Share Posted January 5, 2002 Syed, Do you just wish to be able to adust the ride height on the fly...I remember recently seeing a Civic with hydraulic suspension that could be lowered onto the floor and raised to beyond a stock level. I'll see if I still have that article and I'll let you know if there are any good contacts. Its certainly the way to go and the french seem to be very hot on doing it. I assume that the UK's bizarre love of speed humps and lowered cars are behind your needs. Personally I wouldn't have it speed sensitive as the car will then look crap whilst driving through town and whilst stuck in traffic. It would be best to just have a few (4?) preset positions. These could be 1. Service / Road Hump (jack it right up for ease of access) 2. C/B Road 3. A Road / Motorway 4. Track The problem you've got is maintaining a decent ride and handling at the different ride heights.....and that when the hole system gets very very very expensive. But like I say I'll see if I can find the article and see what it entailes...but like I say I think your looking at mega money to sort it out and upgrade the handling or at least not deteriorate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syed Shah Posted January 5, 2002 Author Share Posted January 5, 2002 Thanks Alex, thats what I mean, I have seen it on a Honda Accord done by a French company, and it looked good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted January 5, 2002 Share Posted January 5, 2002 Whilst not admitting that i buy Fast Car, Max Power etc many of your Nova/Saxo boys are getting into this. It's like a thick rubber ball that can be inflated and deflated at will to alter ride height. I can't imagine what it would to to the Supras suspension set-up though. Before CW says it though, toyota didn't spend hundreds of hours designing the MKIV for you to just bung in some half-arsed inflatable suspension system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syed Shah Posted January 6, 2002 Author Share Posted January 6, 2002 Well, its fitted to XKRs etc, except that it is not user controlled on them, so to put it on cars like those, it cant be too bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam W Posted January 6, 2002 Share Posted January 6, 2002 I think the key point is that the factory fit systems are designed in conjunction with th supsension, and many hundreds of hours are put into making sure that the car will handle well regardless of what ride height they are set upo. Think of how many variables will change in the suspension geometry, and how much extra compliance (which the original suspension designers did not account for) will be in the system. I'm not saying it will be impossible to get it to work fairly well, but I would imagine it will be very difficult. Even more so if you want it work REALLY well! I guess Chris Wilson is your man for suspension issues, but I have a funny feeling that I know what he's going to say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syed Shah Posted January 6, 2002 Author Share Posted January 6, 2002 Well, Chris, what do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 6, 2002 Share Posted January 6, 2002 Christ - how negative does everyone want to be!!! Come on guys lets not shoot ideas down before we have fully investigated them. I'm sure Syed knows that it won't be easy and it is likely to be very expensive but hey he could have one the lottery for all we know...as this is a forum for discussion of idea's lets use it to gain knowledge about different ways to get the best out of our cars. TOYOTA AND EVERY OTHER MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD BUILDS THEIR CARS TO A COST. THEY DO NOT MAKE PERFECT CARS..... WE DO!! Oh and manufacturers get it wrong some times look at the Ford empire and the Mk1 Mondeo, how quickly did they have to roll out an upgraded version??!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam W Posted January 6, 2002 Share Posted January 6, 2002 Point taken Alex. Syed - best of luck to ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 6, 2002 Share Posted January 6, 2002 Cheers Adam, glad you could see my point - I was a bit blunt as usual!! Sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam W Posted January 7, 2002 Share Posted January 7, 2002 Perhaps you need something like . . .. THIS! (TaDaaaah!!!) http://www.artmorrison.com/F_AirSpring.htm Best I could find at any rate. FYI, pneumatic suspension is also fitted to some of the new audis, lots of old citroens (surprise), and certain baby prams and electric wheelchairs Christ I'm bored . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syed Shah Posted January 7, 2002 Author Share Posted January 7, 2002 Thanks for the info guys, I also heard the new Range Rover is going to have air suspension (along with pretty much every other gadget in the world). I haven't won the lottery ..........But maybe next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrboost Posted January 10, 2002 Share Posted January 10, 2002 I too wanted this for my MKIII as you could not even get a mobile phone under the front bumper, when broke down like I did it wa a real problem getting the car home. At Max live I met the lads at MAX hydraulics, they made a KIT for the MKIII Supra after I was interested. They can make kits or any car and the price at bad. You can have like just up and down like the Range Rover Etc or the mental american gangster style. www.maxhydraulics.com phone 01886 833253 mobile 07771 628319 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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