

| Subject: | To unite, or separate (the air bags) |
| From: | radish150 |
| Date: | Wed, 14 Mar 2001 10:27:57 +0000 |
> Chris, > How did you install Air Lift shocks into your Van? > I went through the Gabriel shock book 4 times, and measured and fit, but > to no avail---the shocks were to big in diameter to fit between the > mounts and the inner fender well. > Another question--- > How could air shift from side to side, when they are both holding the > same air pressure? > Been using air shocks,& air bags for years, and they have always been > connected together, so they would be exactly equal, in pressure. > Cadillac Fleetwood's have been using a load levelling air shock for > years, and they are always tied together to keep the rear end of the car > level. > Interesting concept, but bizarre. > I tied my air lines to my bags together, and they work fine. > Later, > With the units tied together "so they would be exactly equal in pressure", the issue becomes one of "system pressure pre load" and how this relates to the rolling forces. If the pressure is already pre loaded to be relatively high as compared to the rolling force, then the system would work fine even though they are connected and some of the rolling force is transferred to the "high side". This seems like something Cadillac would do since they are not known for being extremely interested in cars that corner flat (to say the least). Though it would be very easy though for the system to be of a low enough pressure so that when the rolling force pushed down on the one bag, the pre load would be so inconsequential as to render the whole system useless. Independent pressures is without a doubt more effective. That way almost any pre load pressure, even a low one, will have some affect on the rolling of the vehicle, because it is not being bled off to the high side where a vacuum is being created because of bladder expansion. Being tied together NECESSARILY contributes to less stability, not more. Sorry, I don't have a degree in engineering, so I can't say this in such a way that no one understands what I'm saying ;). mark...
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