| [GMCnet] Wireless air controller - air bag extenders.... part next [message #156431] |
Wed, 11 January 2012 22:42 |
glwgmc
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
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I could title this post a lot of different ways. I will use the air bag extender tag line to hopefully keep it in thread with other info on the wireless air bag controller. I finally had a chance today to get out of my studio and test the air bag extenders with the wireless air bag controller. Wow, do they ever work well together! For those of you who have followed this thread, I said I wanted to find a way to lower the air bag pressure so I could use the 100 psi max pressure available with the wireless air bag controller to provide uplift for leveling our coach. We have the original one air bag rear suspension. Previously we had to keep 93psi in the bags to maintain proper rear ride height. That only left 7psi of head room to raise the rear for leveling. I purchased two different air bag lifters to see if they would allow lower pressures for proper ride height without introducing undesirable consequences. The two lifters I purchased both had the same geometry. I se
nt pics and a dimensioned sketch to Gene Fisher to store wherever on any GMC web site that would benefit from this info. It turns out that with the air bag extenders in place I now only need 73 psi to maintain proper rear ride height. That is quite a difference from the 93 psi required with the stock air bag mounting points. This now gives me over 25 psi head room for leveling so the whole system is now quite functional in all situations. What I did not expect was a significantly improved ride and handling. I thought the coach might wallow, but it does not. The ride is softer, more forgiving and more pleasant, but not at all bloated. Part of this is due to really good rear shocks thanks to Jim K.
Another thing I changed before this test drive was to install the Silent Running undercoating material that Chuck Botts recommended under the floorboards above the engine compartment. That made far more of a difference than I expected so thanks, Chuck! As I drove south towards the OR-CAL border, I kept thinking to myself what a monumental change we have been able to make in our old girls. The one-ton front end brings not only available contemporary components, but more importantly brakes that really work. The difference is amazing. Our coach has always been a very good driving coach - testimony to the many thousands of miles we drive it each year. But, the brakes were always the weak link. No longer. The much larger one ton front rotors and calipers make it stop like it should. Add in the wireless air bag controller and you can say goodby to all the leaky stock parts. I use a 120vac compressor (a Senco unit available at any big box store in the country) powered from
one of my two 1000 watt inverters so air up time is greatly reduced from GMC stock. My system does not leak down. Period. I leave it in my garage for weeks at a time and see no change in ride height. Now with the lower pressure required with the air bag lifters I also have a full range of up/down leveling available and an unexpectedly better ride quality.
These are all most worthwhile improvements. No downside I can find at this point to any of them. Highly recommended.
Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
Visitors always welcome!
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
541-592-5360
www.southernoregonguild.org
www.siskiyouguild.org
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
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