How does Vito rear air suspension work? For my Jeep!!??
Discussion
Hi Folks!
Wasn't quite sure where to post this so I'm starting in 'Mercedes'.
I have a 1997 XJ Jeep Cherokee diesel which has reliably towed my car transporter trailer + various classic cars from one end of UK to the other.
Whilst the old Jeep is still going strong and has paid for itself a dozen times over (love it!), the rear suspension (simple leaf springs) has started to sag and the poor thing needs some attention.
I wondered about adding some sort of helper springs and also searched for any air suspension kits. Seems they do exist but are too expensive for my old bus.
Now, Dave being Dave, I wondered if I could adapt an existing sysyem and have just bought a second hand 'kit' off EBay. It's from a Vito but I haven't actually picked it up yet. Consists of the 2 air bag 'springs' plus what looks like the complete compressor unit (maybe with valves? dunno yet).
I'm not even sure if they will physically fit but thought I'd do some homework and ask you guys how the system is supposed to work and if I need any other bits to achieve my aim which is to pump up the rear suspension when necessary. I'd be quite happy with a DIY manual control system rather than some fancy ecu set-up.
Any ideas or experience please?
Wasn't quite sure where to post this so I'm starting in 'Mercedes'.
I have a 1997 XJ Jeep Cherokee diesel which has reliably towed my car transporter trailer + various classic cars from one end of UK to the other.
Whilst the old Jeep is still going strong and has paid for itself a dozen times over (love it!), the rear suspension (simple leaf springs) has started to sag and the poor thing needs some attention.
I wondered about adding some sort of helper springs and also searched for any air suspension kits. Seems they do exist but are too expensive for my old bus.
Now, Dave being Dave, I wondered if I could adapt an existing sysyem and have just bought a second hand 'kit' off EBay. It's from a Vito but I haven't actually picked it up yet. Consists of the 2 air bag 'springs' plus what looks like the complete compressor unit (maybe with valves? dunno yet).
I'm not even sure if they will physically fit but thought I'd do some homework and ask you guys how the system is supposed to work and if I need any other bits to achieve my aim which is to pump up the rear suspension when necessary. I'd be quite happy with a DIY manual control system rather than some fancy ecu set-up.
Any ideas or experience please?
Edited by dave de roxby on Saturday 9th June 17:27
bolide said:
The Vito system is unreliable so many owners throw it away and fit plain springs
Wouldn't the simplest answer to your predicament be to fit new Jeep springs at the rear?
Nick Froome
Hi Nick,Wouldn't the simplest answer to your predicament be to fit new Jeep springs at the rear?
Nick Froome
Yep, I sorta gathered that! But what is it that's unreliable? Maybe the total system in the Merc breaks down - but surely the air bags either work or they don't. I'm looking to make a simple installation in a very simple (ancient) application - with maybe a couple of switches on the dashboard.
But thanks for your thoughts!
I shall be replacing the existing leaf springs as a matter of course but would like a system that copes with the occasional extra nose weight of a heavily loaded trailer. See what I mean!
Edited by dave de roxby on Sunday 10th June 12:39
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