Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Bennie wrote:In the Jan/Feb 2011 "Wegry" mag on pg 12, Mr van Heerde from Hopefield, wrote that he had "air helper springs" fitted to his Land Cruiser 60 Series. He said that he had the system installed with a t-piece between the 2 airbags so that when he do some serious 4x4ing the air could move freely between the 2 airbags, he did the "Road to hell" close to Goodhouse when he found that he is losing traction to such an extend that he had to completely deflate the airbags to get traction again. He eventually had the airbags taken out and the company who did the installation and the specific airbag company refunded him his money. He had no wheel articulation

I've taken what he said into consideration and that is the reason why I had 2 separate air valves put into my setup. I am planning on doing the Baviaanskloof on the week-end of 8-10 Apr where I will definitely do some of the 4x4 routes. I will then see what the airbags do and how they influence my PJ's traction. The reason for the 2 different air pressures I had after I received the car back was only because the guys who did the installation wanted the airbags to get properly into place.

Hi Bennie
Thought I would be a little controversial as the Wegry article appears to be getting a lot of air time on different forums.
I am not sure that the article on page 12 Jan/Feb "Wegry" gives the full details and as such unfair to talk about Air Helper Suspensions as a group when experiencing problems. There are a number of manufactures producing this kind of product. So what I am saying don't make any decisions based on what was in that article alone.
A friend of mine had the Firestone air spring system fitted to his Isuzu double cab and had only praise for the system. Two articles in the March "Drive Out" (#43) on page 12 one from someone who is using the system and what they experienced. The second from someone I would consider knowledgeable /expert in the field "The Managing Director AIR Spring Supply Company". If you want I will scan and paste a copy of the two articles.
I believe these two articles give a more balanced view.
Fitted Ironman suspension kit to my 2006 3.2 GLX on Friday as my suspension was shot. Will also fit Firestone air spring ( as soon as cashflow allows) to assist as I tow a heavy trailer, +- 1500KG when loaded.
Virgilio

Hi Virgilio

Yes I think that there are so many people with so many different opinions regarding so many different products . You are correct in saying that one does'nt know which product the guy installed in his vehicle, how it was done or who did the installation. So far I've only travelled tarred roads since installation, but between Groot Brakrivier and Mossselbay as you go over the river (travelling Groot Brakrivier-Mosselbay) there is a bad spot on the N2 where my PJ swayed quite badly, but I've went past that same spot now already 3 or 4 times, ave 100 - 120km/h and I must Aadmit my PJ feels much more stable going over the same spot. I can only think that the airbags , although only pumped to 0,5bar, must have an effect on stability

Thanks for the advice

Bennie

New roof rack, roof top tent, drawer system and National Luna aux. battery and dual controller gauge fitted to the LWB Padj :

I posted it elswhere, but what the heck. I fitted a Bashplate.

go some new rubber after I had a high speed steering wobble and discovered that it was egg shaped tyres.

steering wobble thread - https://www.pajeroclub.co.za/forum/view ... 66&start=0

Yesterday I had the headlights on my Gen3 converted from halogen lights to xenon HID lights. It cost me 1500 bucks installed and I'm really impressed.

My wife's Audi came with factory fitted xenon lights and I can say that the Paj's new aftermarket xenons are comparable.

Hi Superairborne

Please tell me more about the Xenon lights upgrade. I'm considering this upgrade as an alternative to spotlights. Or rather maybe to delay the spotlights a bit and do this sooner...

The best price I found was R1800 DIY.

Is the origonal light casings and reflectors compatable with Xenon Lights?

Skillie wrote:Hi Superairborne

Please tell me more about the Xenon lights upgrade. I'm considering this upgrade as an alternative to spotlights. Or rather maybe to delay the spotlights a bit and do this sooner...

The best price I found was R1800 DIY.

Is the origonal light casings and reflectors compatable with Xenon Lights?

Skillie, they don't replace casings or reflectors. They remove the normal light bulb, place a Xenon replacement in, connect the original bulb socket to the Xenon control box and connect the Xenon control box socket to the new Xenon bulb. The Xenon control box (balast) is then connected to the battery. Each light has its own control box. The whole procedure took about 20min.

I live in Windhoek, Namibia. Here's a guy who does the installation and gives a 1yr guarantee. But I know the DIY kits are available on http://www.autostyle.co.za for about R1800.

Bennie wrote:In the Jan/Feb 2011 "Wegry" mag on pg 12, Mr van Heerde from Hopefield, wrote that he had "air helper springs" fitted to his Land Cruiser 60 Series. He said that he had the system installed with a t-piece between the 2 airbags so that when he do some serious 4x4ing the air could move freely between the 2 airbags, he did the "Road to hell" close to Goodhouse when he found that he is losing traction to such an extend that he had to completely deflate the airbags to get traction again. He eventually had the airbags taken out and the company who did the installation and the specific airbag company refunded him his money. He had no wheel articulation

I've taken what he said into consideration and that is the reason why I had 2 separate air valves put into my setup. I am planning on doing the Baviaanskloof on the week-end of 8-10 Apr where I will definitely do some of the 4x4 routes. I will then see what the airbags do and how they influence my PJ's traction. The reason for the 2 different air pressures I had after I received the car back was only because the guys who did the installation wanted the airbags to get properly into place.

Hi Bennie,

I hear what you say, and about what was read in Drove-out, but in the follow up issue, it was pointed out that Air helpers will do you no good if they are over inflated for the task at hand, it was mentioned that the air springs should always be inflated to the point where your ride is level, i.e. more inflated when towing / heavily loaded, and less inflated when not under load.
Fact remains when you connect the 2, if your inflation level is right, it will help your articulation as I described further up, but IIRC the gentleman in the drive-out article overinflated his, and thus lost all articulation, as without enough upward travel (compression) on your one wheel, you'll get no downward travel on the other.
Remember, you can still have it either way, i.e. 2 separate inlet valves (one to pump each spring), AND you can connect them to each other with a cut-off valve, so that you can make use of the improved articulation that the springs CAN offer IF used correctly.
I would suggest speaking to 'is it Firestone that makes them?' They should be able to offer the advice you would require on them.

Hi there

I buy different 4x4 mags occationally and it just so happened that I bought the Jan/Feb edition where the supposedly problems with the "air helpers" were mentioned. I've actually over December decided that I am going to have the "air helpers" installed because of vehicle sagging when I've got trailer in tow.
This article was interesting reading for me so I've put it on the PJ club to get the feelings of other guys who have done this operation and what their experiences are about it. I've actually got mine installed and I got mine from Gremeltech in the Cape, got their nr from LA Sport George and they supply the "air helpers" for LAS George.
Installed mine the way they suggested, prescribed air pressure min 0,4bar max 2.4bar or in between depending on what you need to get vehicle level. Mine is actually down to 0.5bar at the moment since we are leaving for the Baviaans tomorrow morning and we will be 2 adults, 3kids, Engel 40l, clothes etc for 4 days and 3 nights. No trailer because we are going to use Makkedaat cave and 2 other nights in different houses. So I will see what he do on this trip and I will definately be doing some 4x4ing as well.