Vito air suspension for my Jeep!!??
Discussion
Hi Folks!
Wasn't quite sure where to post this so thought I'd try you guys in 4 X 4.
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 thought I'd try you guys in 4 X 4.
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?
The Vito air suspension system is unreliable crap in my experience. We usually rip it off and fit coil springs.
You can get 5 leaf heavy duty springs for the Cherokee. Ask a local motor factors if they deal with a company called AMK. They supply them. Last pair I bought was around 120 quid I think.
We still have our Cherokee, bought in 1997, and its great.
You can get 5 leaf heavy duty springs for the Cherokee. Ask a local motor factors if they deal with a company called AMK. They supply them. Last pair I bought was around 120 quid I think.
We still have our Cherokee, bought in 1997, and its great.
davieboy said:
The Vito air suspension system is unreliable crap in my experience. We usually rip it off and fit coil springs.
You can get 5 leaf heavy duty springs for the Cherokee. Ask a local motor factors if they deal with a company called AMK. They supply them. Last pair I bought was around 120 quid I think.
We still have our Cherokee, bought in 1997, and its great.
Thanks Davieboy,You can get 5 leaf heavy duty springs for the Cherokee. Ask a local motor factors if they deal with a company called AMK. They supply them. Last pair I bought was around 120 quid I think.
We still have our Cherokee, bought in 1997, and its great.
I'll certainly try AMK. I've heard nothing but bad reports about the Vito system but I'd still like to know what part of it fails. I fancy rigging up a fully adjustable system on my Cherokee to pump up the back end for the occasional trips when I tow a heavily loaded trailer in connection with my passion for classic cars (see pic below which well illustrates what happens!)
I just thought the Vito air springs might provided a cheap solution.
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