Air-Ride nubee

[PeteinSF]

So, my bus have air-ride (very happy about that) but I know nothing about air ride.


Is there a good tutorial?



How does is maintain the correct height?



Are there adjustments?



Can it be used to level the bus when parked?



Do air ride buses sway a lot? (sway bar needed?)


As you see this will 100% new...

[magnakansas]

I am keeping stock anti sway bars for now, I will decide later if I change anything.

The slippery the conditions, the supple a suspension works better for grip than "stiff" or "tied down"

there should be ride height sensors at each air bag position. they can be mechanical or electrical. If you have the correct "know how" you can use either for leveling, but they were never intended to do that. In my opinion, the electronic system is easier to use as leveling.

in the mechanical system there is a dump/inflate/ close off valve that is adjustable, the ride height is adjusted - in my case to preset value roughly 4 inches of bump travel, leaving about 31/2 inches of rebound.

electronic height sensors could be manipulated from the cockpit.

[cadillackid]

most school busses have a single valve that controls air to both air springs.. it doesnt level each position. it is a simple lever valve with the body mounted to the top part of the suspension (in ehich the body is attached). and a lever going to the "axle" the adjustment is made by slipping the vertical rod up or down in a rubber clamped sleeve.. the idea being that the books usually call for it to be adjusted to maintain level "rake" or sometimes slightly lifted "rake". back higher than front. as you bounce down the road air is constantly pushed and exhaused as that lever controls the valve.. the more you load the bus you lower the rear goes and so the system pumps more air in..



those springs seem to me to be too soft to use as stabilizers when parked.. if motion ofthe bus while parked is an issue id still want jacks under it.. also since there is usually only one valve for both springs it wont level one side higher than the other..





the transit and coach busses usually have 4 separate levelling valves one for each bag on all 4 corners of the bus..

-Christopher

[magnakansas]

One valve on the axle,..... first new thing I learned today.

thanks, william

[cadillackid]

as simplistic as these systems are, it wouldnt be hard to divide it up and install a separate valve for each bag. the lever arm is just a bolt through a hole in the axle-frame. could move the existing valve from center to side. and Y over to a second valve from the tank..

-Christopher