Hydraulic/Air bag lift kit

[mrmule]

I did a quick search on this in the Syncro section to see if it had been discussed but didnt find much.

Has anyone fitted suck a kit, to give a little more versatility to the Syncro? I have been thinking of putting and airbag kit on my MV, but I think the money would be better invested in the Doka; hunkered down for the motorway, jacked up for the difficult access areas.

I suspect a hydraulic kit is better for the Symcro; it gives more range in lift, but an airbag kit may suffice. Need to chat to someone who installs to decide, but I think the underpinnings of the idea are sound...

[toomanytoys]

AIr bags for rear is possible.. front on a 2wd is doable.. but not on a syncro..

Here's a link to a co.. but I think the same system is available in the uk.. (I cant find the link in my favourites at the mo)
http://www.airliftcompany.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hydraulic.. lots of hasstle and weight.. plus the actuator would see some serous abuse under everyday condiditon..

[syncropaddy]

I remember something about it on the Samba all right. Some guy there did it but there seemed to be a load of work and special parts needed. Special parts = big expense and no help if it breaks. I understand the systems available as my young lad and I looked at it for his Passat. The only thing I find hard to understand is what advantages would get over a standard set up? Its going to add weight, complexity, possible reliability issues and you wont get furthur down a lane than any other Syncro

[..lee..]

i`ve thought a lot about doing something similar but not persued it further. as far as reliability goes i think its a big no no. lot more to go wrong as has been said but if its not going to be tested to the limit i can see advantages. i`m running around in a empty panel van syncro atm with low profile wide tyres and it handles like a go cart compared to my lifted camper. how much is down to weight and how much is down to height i can`t answer but being able to firm up and drop a few inches out of the camper would be very appealing for road work.

that said would the cost be worth it. if your going to look in to it further consider the c i t r o e n xara set up. has height controll and damping controll as well as self levelling. could run from hydrolic p/s pump but front spheres would be a fabrication job to get them under the seat box.

lee.

[jed the spread]

I think the Tishcer (or what ever they are called) demountable conversions have airbags on the rears.

jed

[toomanytoys]

The ones I cant find the link for, fit inside the std spring and assist.. not a total replacement of the spring.. just look at the trouble the Range rovers and Disco's have with the air suspension.. no thanks..

[syncropaddy]

Try this lot ... American I know (shipping costs) but should be reasonable enough with quite a good range

http://www.arnottairsuspension.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jebiga41]

Considered this aswell but as the others have stated looked v complicated and another thing to go wrong, Syncro's are bad enough as it is. Might be worth having a look at Vw-Tristar.com at the Air ride project only 2wd but interesting all the same http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... EDEN/page2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and I'm sure Patrik would be more than willing to advise

[mrmule]

Thanks for comments. Belated response as I had all this removed from my ankle last week:





I am surprised no one has mentioned articulation when off road? As far as I know, you control height by means of choosing a pressure in Bar or PSI. High number = lots of lift. However, off road, each wheel needs to react independently of each other. I don't know if either air bags or hydraulics are built with lateral level sensors built in so the whole systems works to correct balance i.e. if NS front is on a crest and OS front is hanging in mid air because there's a trough underneath, will it pump up the OS front until the wheel makes contact and raises the OS front corner until the cab is level? If it worked like this, how rad would that be?? Its seems a bit brainy and may be beyond their design spec at the moment.

I've been looking at using these guys. They were recently featured in January edition of Ultra VW, and have been doing lift kits for 20 years, plus their only a 2 hour drive. He recently fitted hydraulics to his Doka:



Hydraulics were the only choice back then, but things have moved on to airbags; they're familiar with both, that's the important thing.

Airbags are very reliable, quiet and light. In fact, if you bin the springs for airbags, the gross vehicle weight is arguably lighter. I'd like to think the Tristar is a keeper, so cost doesn't really come in to it; I'm not calculating to get the money back at some point. Airbags are a very simple system, and I doubt have many niggles. Conventional set ups aren't without their faults wither.

I want to lift the Tristar, but just wanted to do it a bit different.

[Sebastian S]

Seen Patriks air bag Tristar? Also 2wd though.

http://vw-tristar.web.surftown.se/vw-tristar5.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

E D I T: Oops, sorry, missed jebiga41's comment on the same car earlier.

[mrmule]

Yep its awesome, and makes me want in on my syncro even more

[syncropaddy]

So you'll have four levers on the dash to raise and lower each wheel indivually. So how will you determine when to raise or lower and by how much cuz you wont be able to see where each wheel actually is or what its doing? Just a thought.

[mrmule]

So you'll have four levers on the dash to raise and lower each wheel indivually. So how will you determine when to raise or lower and by how much cuz you wont be able to see where each wheel actually is or what its doing? Just a thought.

That's what I'm saying. It'd be nice if it was smart enough to do it automatically with level sensors on a feedback mech.

[syncropaddy]

So you'll have four levers on the dash to raise and lower each wheel indivually. So how will you determine when to raise or lower and by how much cuz you wont be able to see where each wheel actually is or what its doing? Just a thought.

That's what I'm saying. It'd be nice if it was smart enough to do it automatically with level sensors on a feedback mech.

Now you are getting complicated ...... and expensive. All possible and everything you need is available. I know of hardware and software that is readily available that will do the job. The programming will be possible but difficult and its all from a hydraulic system used on Remote Control tunnelling drill rigs. Its fitted as an option and reliability wont be an issue as its designed specifically for hostile conditions.

Budget for about £100,000 !!

[silverbullet]

Samuel, the x-rays were OK but that shot of your sunday roast...yuk!

My old '02 Audi Allroad has a transponder for each wheel mounted on the body, with a grp/composite link to each lower wishbone to give feedback for the air springs. There's a pitch/yaw sensor bolted to the floor under the back seat (middle of the wheelbase, near enough) so it stays level and there's an ecu that works with the EMS so you can't lift/drop above a certain speed and controls the headlamp levelling. An expensive (£400 aftermarket) compressor in the boot well, valve block by the rear diff that are known to sieze up if not regularly used...

Very very complicated, all in the name of making it work reliably and safely under all conditions.

Which it does, really well