Can I tap off air suspension tank for tyre inflation?
Discussion
I could, yes.
It seems so obvious, and so simple, that I thought I must be missing something.
I’ll have a look for some suitable components although I suspect I will need to flare the ends of the pipes to securely fit the T piece. Not done that before and as the pipes look to be steel, I’m not sure how easy that will be.
It seems so obvious, and so simple, that I thought I must be missing something.
I’ll have a look for some suitable components although I suspect I will need to flare the ends of the pipes to securely fit the T piece. Not done that before and as the pipes look to be steel, I’m not sure how easy that will be.
I've done some research... i.e. I've read other opinions on the internet.
Apparently the pressure in airbag suspension is pretty much compatible with tyre pressures however the compressor is not best suited for extended use. It is designed to only top-up the air suspension reservoir which, in a normally functioning system, results in nothing more than a brief spurt when. The car is started.
That said, mine has off road height adjustability so I would expect my compressor to be able to give a little more however having just paid £700-ish to replace the compressor (it's a front end off job) a 70 quid ARB twin cylinder jobbie might be the sensible move.
Apparently the pressure in airbag suspension is pretty much compatible with tyre pressures however the compressor is not best suited for extended use. It is designed to only top-up the air suspension reservoir which, in a normally functioning system, results in nothing more than a brief spurt when. The car is started.
That said, mine has off road height adjustability so I would expect my compressor to be able to give a little more however having just paid £700-ish to replace the compressor (it's a front end off job) a 70 quid ARB twin cylinder jobbie might be the sensible move.
I'm not sure what your car is, so you experience may differ. I have a 2008 Cayenne, which has air suspension, and I looked into this very topic. In fact the cayenne comes with the attachments already fitted for tyre inflation.
the issues is the compressor will overheat with prolonged use, so you cant inflate 4 tyres in a decent amount of time. The compressor has a temp cut out on it.
As a result I carry and ARB compressor. The choices are upgraded the cars compressor, and fit additional cooling to allow it to do the tyres and suspension, or run a separate compressor. For many of the in-car mounted solutions the challenge is locating it in a place where it wont over heat.
Otherwise the solution will work. I'd be tempted to carry a portable compressor, or find a cool location to mount a separate compressor.
the issues is the compressor will overheat with prolonged use, so you cant inflate 4 tyres in a decent amount of time. The compressor has a temp cut out on it.
As a result I carry and ARB compressor. The choices are upgraded the cars compressor, and fit additional cooling to allow it to do the tyres and suspension, or run a separate compressor. For many of the in-car mounted solutions the challenge is locating it in a place where it wont over heat.
Otherwise the solution will work. I'd be tempted to carry a portable compressor, or find a cool location to mount a separate compressor.
Thanks. Car is a Merc GL and my understanding of the system has improved since my OP to coincide with your advice.
I had the compressor replaced which is why I thought it ought to be sufficient to pump up the tyres too however I have also recently seen one of the twin cylinder ARB tyre pumps which seems more substantial than my suspension pump.
It's probably easier just to go with a separate pump, as you say.
I had the compressor replaced which is why I thought it ought to be sufficient to pump up the tyres too however I have also recently seen one of the twin cylinder ARB tyre pumps which seems more substantial than my suspension pump.
It's probably easier just to go with a separate pump, as you say.
Watchman said:
I've done some research... i.e. I've read other opinions on the internet.
Apparently the pressure in airbag suspension is pretty much compatible with tyre pressures however the compressor is not best suited for extended use. It is designed to only top-up the air suspension reservoir which, in a normally functioning system, results in nothing more than a brief spurt when. The car is started.
That said, mine has off road height adjustability so I would expect my compressor to be able to give a little more however having just paid £700-ish to replace the compressor (it's a front end off job) a 70 quid ARB twin cylinder jobbie might be the sensible move.
Sounds like you'd have been better off doing it the other way around - using the ARB for the suspension, as well as inflating tyres! I have no idea of the practicality of this in reality, but it's insane that air suspension compressors seem to be made of chocolate and expensive to replace, when there's far cheaper more robust compressors available.Apparently the pressure in airbag suspension is pretty much compatible with tyre pressures however the compressor is not best suited for extended use. It is designed to only top-up the air suspension reservoir which, in a normally functioning system, results in nothing more than a brief spurt when. The car is started.
That said, mine has off road height adjustability so I would expect my compressor to be able to give a little more however having just paid £700-ish to replace the compressor (it's a front end off job) a 70 quid ARB twin cylinder jobbie might be the sensible move.
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