P38A Best AirBags - About to ditch the Coils

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Ok, had 435mm on 3 corners and 425 on one. I think I pumped up the fronts too much before the back, that's why it needed so much pressure to get the rear to rise.

Thanks for the help I will deflate all 4 and try again.
 
PastyMuncher83 said:
Ok, had 435mm on 3 corners and 425 on one. I think I pumped up the fronts too much before the back, that's why it needed so much pressure to get the rear to rise.

Thanks for the help I will deflate all 4 and try again.
Click to expand...

435 is 10 mm less than motorway setting. Access 405 mm, Motorway 445 mm, Standard 470 mm, High 510 mm. Lift and level rears first. Then lift and level fronts. Note bag pressures when at standard. All TPs must be good and car sat on level ground.
 
wammers said:
435 is 10 mm less than motorway setting. Access 405 mm, Motorway 445 mm, Standard 470 mm, High 510 mm. Lift and level rears first. Then lift and level fronts. Note bag pressures when at standard. All TPs must be good and car sat on level ground.
Click to expand...

Thanks Wammers I didn't inflate it anything like this?! I will deflate all bags and follow this method.
 
PastyMuncher83 said:
Thanks Wammers I didn't inflate it anything like this?! I will deflate all bags and follow this method.
Click to expand...

Put a little in each one moving round. As it stars to lift the centre of gravity shifts so small amounts. If you take a trace of the computer you'll see it is constantly making tiny adjustments. That's why the manual valves are just for emergencies to get you home.
 
Grrrrrr said:
Put a little in each one moving round. As it stars to lift the centre of gravity shifts so small amounts. If you take a trace of the computer you'll see it is constantly making tiny adjustments. That's why the manual valves are just for emergencies to get you home.
Click to expand...

Lift and level the rears first THEN the fronts.
 
Well clearly the valves are definitely a temporary measure. Spent an hour and a half last night trying to get it level. Did the backs first, it just doesn't correspond with what you would think.
One corner is slightly lower, the other bang on, so you pump up that corner a bit and find out it's still lower and now the other side is too high!!

Anyway, got it almost level to 470mm standard height eventually last night. Came out this morning to discover one of the rear quarters has no air in the bag.

Cue getting the compressor out deflate all bags and re-inflate again. Get to work late again, probably to finish work and have to go to the garage on one bump stop to inflate it again!
So either one of the brand new bags that's covered almost 25 miles is leaking, which I can't send back as I had to file the top in order for it to fit the f'@&n car, or one of the valves is leaking.
I know this won't make me very popular on here but I'm beggining to wish I had saved myself a lot of hassle and money and just left it on coils and put it up for sale and gone back to a classic.
 
PastyMuncher83 said:
Well clearly the valves are definitely a temporary measure. Spent an hour and a half last night trying to get it level. Did the backs first, it just doesn't correspond with what you would think.
One corner is slightly lower, the other bang on, so you pump up that corner a bit and find out it's still lower and now the other side is too high!!

Anyway, got it almost level to 470mm standard height eventually last night. Came out this morning to discover one of the rear quarters has no air in the bag.

Cue getting the compressor out deflate all bags and re-inflate again. Get to work late again, probably to finish work and have to go to the garage on one bump stop to inflate it again!
So either one of the brand new bags that's covered almost 25 miles is leaking, which I can't send back as I had to file the top in order for it to fit the f'@&n car, or one of the valves is leaking.
I know this won't make me very popular on here but I'm beggining to wish I had saved myself a lot of hassle and money and just left it on coils and put it up for sale and gone back to a classic.
Click to expand...

More than likely the pipe leaking in the connector to the bag, did you check pipe for marks and trim as needed then fit with vaseline and push in fully when inflated as advised? A little work will more than likely be needed to get it all up and running. Don't get despondent yet. There has to be a reason it was converted to coils in the first place. You have to find and eliminate it. It was never going to be a one weekend job.
 
Last edited:
A couple of other possibilities occur to me.

The emergency kit that came with my car leaked like hell. Chec your carefully with soapy water.

Did you get the emergency kit with straight connectors or the T that goes in the valve block? Could be the valve block, although I thought you had new?

If the bag wasn't quite straight when the weight went on the end-cap might have skewed slightly and be leaking air. The end-cap just pushes in. So take the bag out and leak test that but with VERY LITTLE pressure. Wammers can probably advise a safe amount. I believe Datatek did some tests on a bench to see how the bags worked so might be worth a PM to him.

Don't drive it on the bump-stops. Not unless you don't have fillings and have a very good back, and you still might end up with a bad back and no teeth at journey's end.
 
When I just a temporary measure I personally wouldn't bother trying to get it exactly level but just driveable
 
Grrrrrr said:
A couple of other possibilities occur to me.

The emergency kit that came with my car leaked like hell. Chec your carefully with soapy water.

Did you get the emergency kit with straight connectors or the T that goes in the valve block? Could be the valve block, although I thought you had new?

If the bag wasn't quite straight when the weight went on the end-cap might have skewed slightly and be leaking air. The end-cap just pushes in. So take the bag out and leak test that but with VERY LITTLE pressure. Wammers can probably advise a safe amount. I believe Datatek did some tests on a bench to see how the bags worked so might be worth a PM to him.

Don't drive it on the bump-stops. Not unless you don't have fillings and have a very good back, and you still might end up with a bad back and no teeth at journey's end.
Click to expand...

NEVER EVER put air in the bags unless they are fitted to the car. The bags are sealed to the caps located on the vehicle by pressure much the same as how a tyre is sealed to the rim. If the caps are not restrained the bag will fully extent and need refolding, and the caps will blow off. Standard height levelling with EAS working subject to sensor variabilities is 470 mm from centre of wheel to arch lip + or - 7 mm.
 
wammers said:
NEVER EVER put air in the bags unless they are fitted to the car. The bags are sealed to the caps located on the vehicle by pressure much the same as how a tyre is sealed to the rim. If the caps are not restrained the bag will fully extent and need refolding, and the caps will blow off. Standard height levelling with EAS working subject to sensor variabilities is 470 mm from centre of wheel to arch lip + or - 7 mm.
Click to expand...

It must be able to take a little, even if from a bike pump? Maybe hold in a vice?

If not then I guess a check by eye will have to do.
 
Be very careful compressed air is very dangerous. you could put them in a container of water, plug the ends and push the bellows down to increase the pressure and look for bubbles like they do with tyres
 
tarphenry said:
Be very careful compressed air is very dangerous. you could put them in a container of water, plug the ends and push the bellows down to increase the pressure and look for bubbles like they do with tyres
Click to expand...

Do you seriously think you could hold them and stop them expanding with your hand. Note how little pressure an air jack needs. The only danger would be when the end cap hit you under the chin. ;);)
 
wammers said:
Do you seriously think you could hold them and stop them expanding with your hand. Note how little pressure an air jack needs. The only danger would be when the end cap hit you under the chin. ;);)
Click to expand...

I think he was suggesting squeezing the bags rather than trying to hold the ends on?

As it happens I have an almost new bag in the shed with the end cap off. If I get a chance I'll try to reassemble it and then see how easily it pops off again.
 
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