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Old 02-25-2021, 10:27 PM   #1
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Suspension

Hello!
I'd like to level the bus, currently the rear is almost 3 inches higher (top of the wheel to the wheel-arch) than the front. Seen from the side, it looks the front suspension is sagging and should be given the right height back.
Any idea how I could do that? To have the leaf springs "re arched"? Adding a leaf? Air helpers? Timbrens? I don't want to put blocks between the springs and the axle.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and/or ideas!
S

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Old 02-25-2021, 11:20 PM   #2
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Suspension

Step one, weigh the bus, best if you can get corner weights. Second best is front axle and rear axle fully loaded.

William
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Old 02-25-2021, 11:28 PM   #3
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Do you know why the back is 3" higher?

I'd hate to do something to the front only to find it's really something going on in the back.

I've never heard of corner weights. I'll have to look that up.
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Old 02-25-2021, 11:42 PM   #4
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Do you know why the back is 3" higher?

I'd hate to do something to the front only to find it's really something going on in the back.

I've never heard of corner weights. I'll have to look that up.
Well, I may have wrote it the wrong way. It is not the rear being 3 inches higher, but the front being 3 inches lower

Rear has air suspension, and the "sensor" is calibrated as it should. I think the issue is in the front.

I'll weight it, but will not be able to change the weight repartition, so we'll be back on the first question
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Old 02-26-2021, 12:13 AM   #5
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What kind of bus?
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Old 02-26-2021, 07:48 AM   #6
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Well, I may have wrote it the wrong way. It is not the rear being 3 inches higher, but the front being 3 inches lower

Rear has air suspension, and the "sensor" is calibrated as it should. I think the issue is in the front.

I'll weight it, but will not be able to change the weight repartition, so we'll be back on the first question

You're on the right track. You have a good sense of the situation as you know to check the height of the rear axle per specification.
"Re-arching" front springs is looked at similar to putting re-cap tire on the front....frowned upon. Re-arching is a dying if not dead art that is very hard to come by with any good reputation anyway.



If your tire sizes are the same all around, and the front is leaf spring with no "Kneel" action like the mass transit buses where at the flip of a switch, the front end lowers to make boarding easier, then it very well could be the front springs simply need replacing.

If however, your springs are in good order otherwise, just sagging a bit, and you would like to have more control over the height, then an air system would be the direction I would start looking.
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Old 02-26-2021, 08:38 AM   #7
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If you want to "re arch" air suspension, you can adjust the rods on the leveling valve.
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Old 02-26-2021, 08:59 AM   #8
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Deezl Smoke, What kind of air system are you refering to? I'm assuming like ride rite units like used on pickups?
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Old 02-26-2021, 09:13 AM   #9
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Deezl Smoke, What kind of air system are you refering to? I'm assuming like ride rite units like used on pickups?

Similar. But manufacturers make front air kits for semi trucks etc. The buses are class 6-7 truck chassis. Just for example this one at 4 states. It is as you mention, like those used on pickups, but sized proper for the load of the model truck etc.
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Old 02-26-2021, 09:15 AM   #10
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I was being a bit lighthearted in my post, above (or below?). First, let's figure out and agree on what suspension you've got in the rear of your bus. You mentioned springs but also said you had air suspension in the rear. Do you have photos you can share? Air bags and spring suspensions are very different beasts and we'd approach the fixes differently. Photos of the front would be good, too.
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Old 02-26-2021, 10:58 AM   #11
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What kind of bus?
IC RE 40ft.
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Old 02-26-2021, 10:58 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by rossvtaylor View Post
If you want to "re arch" air suspension, you can adjust the rods on the leveling valve.
No air suspension on the front.
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:00 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by rossvtaylor View Post
I was being a bit lighthearted in my post, above (or below?). First, let's figure out and agree on what suspension you've got in the rear of your bus. You mentioned springs but also said you had air suspension in the rear. Do you have photos you can share? Air bags and spring suspensions are very different beasts and we'd approach the fixes differently. Photos of the front would be good, too.
Rear is air only with big bladders, no leaves. Front is leaves only, no air.
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Old 02-26-2021, 01:33 PM   #14
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you should measure frame to ground on front and back. do not go by wheel cut outs
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Old 02-26-2021, 01:45 PM   #15
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you should measure frame to ground on front and back. do not go by wheel cut outs
Frame to ground, front: 25 inches.
Frame to ground, back: 28.5 inches.
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Old 02-26-2021, 01:56 PM   #16
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Pictures:





There are no bump stops. Strange.

Edit: see how the shackles are at an angle on the second picture? I think there is room for a little lift. Maybe not the full 3.5 inches, but 2 would make the bus look less "nose heavy" and would improve the ground clearance on the front (the angle of the door it so low ...).
Add-a-leaf, new springs or air bags?
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Old 02-26-2021, 02:12 PM   #17
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it looks like you are missing the clips that hold the spring packs togetherand the single bottom spring is shouldering the weight.
and i dont recall seeing just two springs in a pack so that might be able to be improved upon.
look into the clips to hold the two springs together and see how that looks and feels to you
just adding helper springs will stiffen the suspension but then it gets into how stiff do you really want the suspension on the front.
that botttom spring right now is holding all the weight without the help of the top spring.
either way those springs look tired to me.
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Old 02-26-2021, 02:44 PM   #18
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Those air bag kits from 4 state look cool. I made my own for the front of a 1 ton Dodge power wagon that I shoe horned a Detroit 4-53 into back in 1981 and they worked real good. It also rode very nice. It was just a little bit front heavy. I wonder if the 4 state units would fit the OP's bus? It would more than likely ride better than having stiffer leaf springs made. But at 900 dollars it better. But then what would new springs cost? Also what condition are the spring bushings and shackels in. If I remember right it was a low mileage bus, so likely they are ok.
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Old 02-26-2021, 02:50 PM   #19
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ABBus, Have you weighed that thing yet. You ned to know the front and rear at the least. All 4 corners would be better. A truck stop will have scales.
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Old 02-26-2021, 03:02 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by s2mikon View Post
ABBus, Have you weighed that thing yet. You ned to know the front and rear at the least. All 4 corners would be better. A truck stop will have scales.
I'll weight it today (front and rear).
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