Air inflatable shocks to adjust ride height ?

About 15 - 20 years ago, someone like Monroe produced some shock absorbers
which had a rubber skirt/bellow around it. This could be inflated with a
compressor or foot pump to raise the suspension. They were intended for the
backs of cars, to lift the rear end when towing or heavy loads in the boot.
But some of the guys who built 4x4 specials for trials used them with a
degree of success.

Can anyone give me a uk link to any shock absorbers that can be pumped up
please?

TIA

y'awl might wanna think about air springs as fitted to some range rovers. the septics now use them instead of hybollocks for them there low riders.

"johnh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> About 15 - 20 years ago, someone like Monroe produced some shock absorbers
> which had a rubber skirt/bellow around it. This could be inflated with a
> compressor or foot pump to raise the suspension. They were intended for
> the
> backs of cars, to lift the rear end when towing or heavy loads in the
> boot.
> But some of the guys who built 4x4 specials for trials used them with a
> degree of success.
>
> Can anyone give me a uk link to any shock absorbers that can be pumped up
> please?
>
> TIA
>

Do you mean these?
http://www.monroe.com/products/mp_detail.asp?cat=0&detail=Max Air
If you want to do it on the cheap you'll find some in the scrappies on the
back of Vauxhall Carlton estates. Well, I had a K reg Carlton estate that
had them as standard, anyway...

Simon H

"Simon H" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "johnh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > About 15 - 20 years ago, someone like Monroe produced some shock
absorbers
> > which had a rubber skirt/bellow around it. This could be inflated with a
> > compressor or foot pump to raise the suspension. They were intended for
> > the
> > backs of cars, to lift the rear end when towing or heavy loads in the
> > boot.
> > But some of the guys who built 4x4 specials for trials used them with a
> > degree of success.
> >
> > Can anyone give me a uk link to any shock absorbers that can be pumped
up
> > please?
> >
> > TIA
> >
>
> Do you mean these?
> http://www.monroe.com/products/mp_detail.asp?cat=0&detail=Max Air
> If you want to do it on the cheap you'll find some in the scrappies on the
> back of Vauxhall Carlton estates. Well, I had a K reg Carlton estate that
> had them as standard, anyway...
>
> Simon H
>
Same idea, but I remember them as being more chunky and definitely not
white, probably blue.

On your Carlton, how did you pump them up?

Thanks,
John.

"johnh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Simon H" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "johnh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > About 15 - 20 years ago, someone like Monroe produced some shock
> absorbers
>> > which had a rubber skirt/bellow around it. This could be inflated with
>> > a
>> > compressor or foot pump to raise the suspension. They were intended for
>> > the
>> > backs of cars, to lift the rear end when towing or heavy loads in the
>> > boot.
>> > But some of the guys who built 4x4 specials for trials used them with a
>> > degree of success.
>> >
>> > Can anyone give me a uk link to any shock absorbers that can be pumped
> up
>> > please?
>> >
>> > TIA
>> >
>>
>> Do you mean these?
>> http://www.monroe.com/products/mp_detail.asp?cat=0&detail=Max Air
>> If you want to do it on the cheap you'll find some in the scrappies on
>> the
>> back of Vauxhall Carlton estates. Well, I had a K reg Carlton estate that
>> had them as standard, anyway...
>>
>> Simon H
>>
> Same idea, but I remember them as being more chunky and definitely not
> white, probably blue.
>
> On your Carlton, how did you pump them up?
>
> Thanks,
> John.
>

John,
The ones on my Carlton were blue. Prior to that I had a Y reg Rang Rover
that had similar Monroe on the back - the Boge strut thing was aparantly U/S
and the previous owner had fitted the Monroes as a cheaper alternative. And
they were blue, too.
The Carlton had a valve hidden under the carpet in the corner of the boot
area, just inside the O/S rear lights. The valve was just like a tyre valve
and any forecourt airline (or foot pump) could be used. The Rangey was a
similar arrangement with the addition of a pressure guage. Monroe used to
sell an onboard compressor with a dash mounted switch to inflate/deflate the
shocks.
My current Ford Explorer has a very similar set up. Dunno if it's by Monroe
but the system is fully automatic - ride height is maintained regardless of
load. If you are interested I have a spare set of Explorer hardware -
shocks, compressor, ride height sensor, some valves and other gubbins. Note:
The Carlton shocks have much more 'travel' than the Explorer shocks. In fact
IIRC the Carlton rears have more travel than Rangey rears.
Thing is, I don't see how this type of shocker can help a serious trials
machine. OK, they can be used to raise the ride height - but in that case
you'd have them pumped up to the max all the time so you might as well just
fit longer spring hangers or parabolic leaves or longer coils or whatever is
cheaper.
If you are anywhere near Cleckheaton, West Yorks you are more than welcome
to see the Carlton and Explorer shocks in the flesh...

Simon H

"Simon H" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "johnh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Simon H" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >>
> >> "johnh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > About 15 - 20 years ago, someone like Monroe produced some shock
> > absorbers
> >> > which had a rubber skirt/bellow around it. This could be inflated
with
> >> > a
> >> > compressor or foot pump to raise the suspension. They were intended
for
> >> > the
> >> > backs of cars, to lift the rear end when towing or heavy loads in the
> >> > boot.
> >> > But some of the guys who built 4x4 specials for trials used them with
a
> >> > degree of success.
> >> >
> >> > Can anyone give me a uk link to any shock absorbers that can be
pumped
> > up
> >> > please?
> >> >
> >> > TIA
> >> >
> >>
> >> Do you mean these?
> >> http://www.monroe.com/products/mp_detail.asp?cat=0&detail=Max Air
> >> If you want to do it on the cheap you'll find some in the scrappies on
> >> the
> >> back of Vauxhall Carlton estates. Well, I had a K reg Carlton estate
that
> >> had them as standard, anyway...
> >>
> >> Simon H
> >>
> > Same idea, but I remember them as being more chunky and definitely not
> > white, probably blue.
> >
> > On your Carlton, how did you pump them up?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > John.
> >
>
> John,
> The ones on my Carlton were blue. Prior to that I had a Y reg Rang Rover
> that had similar Monroe on the back - the Boge strut thing was aparantly
U/S
> and the previous owner had fitted the Monroes as a cheaper alternative.
And
> they were blue, too.
> The Carlton had a valve hidden under the carpet in the corner of the boot
> area, just inside the O/S rear lights. The valve was just like a tyre
valve
> and any forecourt airline (or foot pump) could be used. The Rangey was a
> similar arrangement with the addition of a pressure guage. Monroe used to
> sell an onboard compressor with a dash mounted switch to inflate/deflate
the
> shocks.
> My current Ford Explorer has a very similar set up. Dunno if it's by
Monroe
> but the system is fully automatic - ride height is maintained regardless
of
> load. If you are interested I have a spare set of Explorer hardware -
> shocks, compressor, ride height sensor, some valves and other gubbins.
Note:
> The Carlton shocks have much more 'travel' than the Explorer shocks. In
fact
> IIRC the Carlton rears have more travel than Rangey rears.
> Thing is, I don't see how this type of shocker can help a serious trials
> machine. OK, they can be used to raise the ride height - but in that case
> you'd have them pumped up to the max all the time so you might as well
just
> fit longer spring hangers or parabolic leaves or longer coils or whatever
is
> cheaper.
> If you are anywhere near Cleckheaton, West Yorks you are more than welcome
> to see the Carlton and Explorer shocks in the flesh...
>
> Simon H
>
Thanks for the offer, I'm down in Gloucestershire, so not exactly on your
door step.

When they were used on trialers, they were only pumped up when fording or if
you wanted the vehicle to lean one way or the other. Having them pumped up
all the time would defeat the object of low centre of gravities!

At least I know they are still about, just a bit strange I can't find a
website showing the blue ones, let alone a uk site.

Thanks for your help )

>
> When they were used on trialers, they were only pumped up when fording or
if
> you wanted the vehicle to lean one way or the other. Having them pumped up
> all the time would defeat the object of low centre of gravities!
>
Why not fit airbags from a rangie?

i said that