Lovely lovely AIR JACKS!!!
Discussion
Hi fellas,
I've just got back from my mechanic's garage where my 993 RS is having new discs and pads etc.
They demonstrated my cars air jacks to me and I was just bowled over. Man oh man, it was the coolest thing I have ever seen. All you do is pop the (front obviously) luggage compartment open, connect a compressed air pipe to the receiver just next to the strut brace, pull the trigger....
AND UP SHE GOES!!!
Fabulous. You can see the 3 shiney jacks come down from the car, 1 at the front and 2 at the back of the car.
I will need a bit more than 150 PSI though. I am told that 300 PSI will make the thing fly up in the air more convincingly.
My mechanic says they have been installed beautifully. I dread to think how much they cost to buy and install. Does anyone know?
I've just got back from my mechanic's garage where my 993 RS is having new discs and pads etc.
They demonstrated my cars air jacks to me and I was just bowled over. Man oh man, it was the coolest thing I have ever seen. All you do is pop the (front obviously) luggage compartment open, connect a compressed air pipe to the receiver just next to the strut brace, pull the trigger....
AND UP SHE GOES!!!
Fabulous. You can see the 3 shiney jacks come down from the car, 1 at the front and 2 at the back of the car.
I will need a bit more than 150 PSI though. I am told that 300 PSI will make the thing fly up in the air more convincingly.
My mechanic says they have been installed beautifully. I dread to think how much they cost to buy and install. Does anyone know?
GreigM said:
Just an idea - wonder how easy it would be to get the whole system built into the car - the engine must surely be able to compress air -then just press a button on the dash and up you go? Obviously weight is an issue, but for production cars?
I think those comedy American rap-video cars have a similar system, to bounce the car up and down whilst stationary.
Or it could be because the drivers are very fat and they're scratching their arse
cyberface said:
I think those comedy American rap-video cars have a similar system, to bounce the car up and down whilst stationary.
Or it could be because the drivers are very fat and they're scratching their arse
They're lowriders and work on a combination of hydraulics and compressed air. Normally they have a massive array of batteries filling the boot so not ideal for an RS methinks!
GreigM said:
Just an idea - wonder how easy it would be to get the whole system built into the car - the engine must surely be able to compress air -then just press a button on the dash and up you go? Obviously weight is an issue, but for production cars?
Dunno, but my intention is to get a bottle of compressed air (like a scuba diver) with a regulator on top and some high pressure hosing and adaptor. This will all fit in the luggage compartment no bother. The real snag of course is where do I put 4 spare 18" wheels/tyres? I will have to select which tyres I'm using for a track day before I set off.
johnny senna said:
Just an idea - wonder how easy it would be to get the whole system built into the car - the engine must surely be able to compress air -then just press a button on the dash and up you go? Obviously weight is an issue, but for production cars?
Dunno, but my intention is to get a bottle of compressed air (like a scuba diver) with a regulator on top and some high pressure hosing and adaptor. This will all fit in the luggage compartment no bother. The real snag of course is where do I put 4 spare 18" wheels/tyres? I will have to select which tyres I'm using for a track day before I set off.
Sounds like you need a tow hook and trailer Johnny - that'll look very cool won't it?
If the air jacks operated off a button in the car you'd need a serious safety interlock or isolator under the bonnet - imagine hitting the wrong button while steaming down the Mway....
nel said:
GreigM said:
Just an idea - wonder how easy it would be to get the whole system built into the car - the engine must surely be able to compress air -then just press a button on the dash and up you go? Obviously weight is an issue, but for production cars?
Dunno, but my intention is to get a bottle of compressed air (like a scuba diver) with a regulator on top and some high pressure hosing and adaptor. This will all fit in the luggage compartment no bother. The real snag of course is where do I put 4 spare 18" wheels/tyres? I will have to select which tyres I'm using for a track day before I set off.
Sounds like you need a tow hook and trailer Johnny - that'll look very cool won't it?
If the air jacks operated off a button in the car you'd need a serious safety interlock or isolator under the bonnet - imagine hitting the wrong button while steaming down the Mway....
Exactly!!
nel said:
GreigM said:
Just an idea - wonder how easy it would be to get the whole system built into the car - the engine must surely be able to compress air -then just press a button on the dash and up you go? Obviously weight is an issue, but for production cars?
Dunno, but my intention is to get a bottle of compressed air (like a scuba diver) with a regulator on top and some high pressure hosing and adaptor. This will all fit in the luggage compartment no bother. The real snag of course is where do I put 4 spare 18" wheels/tyres? I will have to select which tyres I'm using for a track day before I set off.
Sounds like you need a tow hook and trailer Johnny - that'll look very cool won't it?
If the air jacks operated off a button in the car you'd need a serious safety interlock or isolator under the bonnet - imagine hitting the wrong button while steaming down the Mway....
Well if the guy in the BMW ahead won't get out of the way.... jump over him
johnny senna said:
Dunno, but my intention is to get a bottle of compressed air (like a scuba diver) with a regulator on top and some high pressure hosing and adaptor.
some very very very high pressure line & adaptors will be needed tho if you take direct off the tank & not via a dive reg 1st stage, as dive cyls can be pumped as high as about 300 bar (about 4400psi by my cackmaths)
iguana said:
Dunno, but my intention is to get a bottle of compressed air (like a scuba diver) with a regulator on top and some high pressure hosing and adaptor.
some very very very high pressure line & adaptors will be needed tho if you take direct off the tank & not via a dive reg 1st stage, as dive cyls can be pumped as high as about 300 bar (about 4400psi by my cackmaths)
Obviously I have decided I will need a regulator fixed to the top of the air cylinder. I am trying to find a place to get one from.
iguana said:
Dunno, but my intention is to get a bottle of compressed air (like a scuba diver) with a regulator on top and some high pressure hosing and adaptor.
some very very very high pressure line & adaptors will be needed tho if you take direct off the tank & not via a dive reg 1st stage, as dive cyls can be pumped as high as about 300 bar (about 4400psi by my cackmaths)
Note also that diving bottles have to be recertified annually (I think) to check that they're pressure safe and not suffering from internal corrosion. Worth the hassle to have such a cool jacking system though!
iguana said:
Johnny- I've got loads of old dive gear & could do ya a good deal on a US divers 1st stage, reg, octo, gauge etc etc, if its any good for ya.
I'll even throw in a set of fins & a dry suit for a good deal, for those wet tracks days oop north too
That is a very kind offer, thanks. I have got 2 lads looking for stuff for me here in Newcastle, but I will keep your offer in mind iguana. Does your regulator go up to 400 PSI? I will need 300 PSI to lift the car, so a 400 PSI regulator will be necessary.
I have just spoken to a mate up here who has an E30 M3 ETC touring car which has air jacks. He leases a bottle of ?nitrogen (or some mixture of gases with no O2 in it anyway) from BOC. He pays a small fee for a refill. I'll ring them and ask about this. He had to pay £150 for a regulator though and a few quid for some pipes. I already have an adaptor/connector.
You can also use a nitrogen bottle from boc or similar, they also do the regulator, hoses etc.
Nitrogen is dry, as is scuba air. Important to have no moisture in side the air jacks for maintance etc.
Best to also allow the air jacks to go up and down slowly, by regulating the supply to fully open and closed, which is normally around 350psi,with a fuelled up car.
The reason to open/close slowly is encase you have a leak/problem, so that you do not dump the car on the ground, it also puts less stress on the joints of the pipes etc, by letting the pressure in & out slower.
A fellow racer had a union blow off the top of a air jack, and it litterly went through the roof of the car.
only use air jack or axle stands with it up, don’t rely on the Jacks only. They are great things, but to be treated with respect at all times.
I know you see the racers in the pits at leman etc dumping the car up and down, but they have big budgets, and well-practiced teams.
Does look cool, and very useful when you need to change tyres/wheels or brake pads in a hurry.
Nitrogen is dry, as is scuba air. Important to have no moisture in side the air jacks for maintance etc.
Best to also allow the air jacks to go up and down slowly, by regulating the supply to fully open and closed, which is normally around 350psi,with a fuelled up car.
The reason to open/close slowly is encase you have a leak/problem, so that you do not dump the car on the ground, it also puts less stress on the joints of the pipes etc, by letting the pressure in & out slower.
A fellow racer had a union blow off the top of a air jack, and it litterly went through the roof of the car.
only use air jack or axle stands with it up, don’t rely on the Jacks only. They are great things, but to be treated with respect at all times.
I know you see the racers in the pits at leman etc dumping the car up and down, but they have big budgets, and well-practiced teams.
Does look cool, and very useful when you need to change tyres/wheels or brake pads in a hurry.
burzel said:
You can also use a nitrogen bottle from boc or similar, they also do the regulator, hoses etc.
Nitrogen is dry, as is scuba air. Important to have no moisture in side the air jacks for maintance etc.
Best to also allow the air jacks to go up and down slowly, by regulating the supply to fully open and closed, which is normally around 350psi,with a fuelled up car.
The reason to open/close slowly is encase you have a leak/problem, so that you do not dump the car on the ground, it also puts less stress on the joints of the pipes etc, by letting the pressure in & out slower.
A fellow racer had a union blow off the top of a air jack, and it litterly went through the roof of the car.
only use air jack or axle stands with it up, don’t rely on the Jacks only. They are great things, but to be treated with respect at all times.
I know you see the racers in the pits at leman etc dumping the car up and down, but they have big budgets, and well-practiced teams.
Does look cool, and very useful when you need to change tyres/wheels or brake pads in a hurry.
Thanks Paul. I will use the air jacks to raise and lower the car slowly now you have said that.
Imagine a fault causing part of a jack to fire throught the roof!!!!!!!
I would never get under the car with just the air jacks in use, I would use axle stands.
Axle stands are not the way to go - where do you put them and not damage the underside of the car? All professional teams use air jack stops which clip around the extended jack and lock it up. Have a look at the AP Racing site. (Sorry don't have the url)
Oh by the way... Hi there. I'm new here and am close-ish to buying a 993RS. I've very much enjoyed reading about your great new toy - the one I'm after is a similar spec (but no air jacks!) and your clear enthusiasm is winding me up to follow suit! Is there a cure???
Oh by the way... Hi there. I'm new here and am close-ish to buying a 993RS. I've very much enjoyed reading about your great new toy - the one I'm after is a similar spec (but no air jacks!) and your clear enthusiasm is winding me up to follow suit! Is there a cure???
NIgelJ said:
Axle stands are not the way to go - where do you put them and not damage the underside of the car? All professional teams use air jack stops which clip around the extended jack and lock it up. Have a look at the AP Racing site. (Sorry don't have the url)
Oh by the way... Hi there. I'm new here and am close-ish to buying a 993RS. I've very much enjoyed reading about your great new toy - the one I'm after is a similar spec (but no air jacks!) and your clear enthusiasm is winding me up to follow suit! Is there a cure???
NIgelJ,
Thanks mate, I will look out for some jack stops.
Good luck with your search for the ideal 993 RS. Please keep us informed.
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