Rear Suspension...KNOB?

[Rider90]

Is anyone familiar enough with the rear air bag setup, or could put me in the right direction - I may be interested in "Squatting" my car at speeds around 70 MPH on the highway. Is this possible? I know we have rear air bags, is there a remote way to control the level?

The only way I thought of was using an RC-Car Servo to adjust the sensor position. I was hoping for other ideas...

[cyclone03]

You may want to raise the rear not lower it.
Lowering the rear raises the front so you'll trap or catch more air under the front raising the C/D. Raising the rear drops the front helping prevent air from going under the car.

[Wires]

I'll have to look at the schematic to know for sure, but if the sensor is a variable resistor it may be possible to switch in a series or shunt resistor to change the "setpoint."

If it's a simple switch, then it would be more difficult - you'd have to manually operate the "up" or "down" switch, and then disconect the existing switch to keep it from going back after you set the height where you wanted it. Plus, the time to change would differ according to load, air temp, etc.

[grampaws]

Not sure how to mod the suspension but as stated..the front should always

be lower than the back to reduce air getting trapped under the car
and causing stability problems at higher speeds...
There are electric solenoids that could be adapted to between the axle
and the levelling switch..with a power on off switch.shortening the rod
would lower the car lengthing would raise it.Actually application
I have not figured out..and Safety in mind car should be jacked high up
or on hoist..before making any changes..it is possible to get trapped under
the vehicle if the bags suddenly deflate...

[Warpath]

You may want to raise the rear not lower it.
Lowering the rear raises the front so you'll trap or catch more air under the front raising the C/D. Raising the rear drops the front helping prevent air from going under the car.

Raise the front how? Do you mean the bumper or suspension? I can understand the bumper but the front suspension won't change.

[torinodan]

Raise the front how? Do you mean the bumper or suspension? I can understand the bumper but the front suspension won't change.Ever seen an old Lincoln Town Car that had bad rear air bags? The front end sets higher in the air because the pivot of the rear axle and trunk going down.

[cyclone03]

Ever seen an old Lincoln Town Car that had bad rear air bags? The front end sets higher in the air because the pivot of the rear axle and trunk going down.


Yea thats what I was trying to say.
All that overhang under the front bumper will just start scooping air at speed.

[HookedOnCV]

I'll have to look at the schematic to know for sure, but if the sensor is a variable resistor it may be possible to switch in a series or shunt resistor to change the "setpoint."

If it's a simple switch, then it would be more difficult - you'd have to manually operate the "up" or "down" switch, and then disconect the existing switch to keep it from going back after you set the height where you wanted it. Plus, the time to change would differ according to load, air temp, etc.

The air compressor stops when a proximety sensor makes the switch. It is a simple on/off switch. Use a 10mm socket to adjust the prox switch up or down for the suspension.

http://www.crownvic.net/liquid/airsusp1.jpg

[Slowpoke]

wouldn't it be cool if you could adjust the car's computer to raise/lower the back end under different speeds? I just wish EVERY system on the car would be hooked to a central computer. The possibilities boggle the mind and are, indeed, endless.

[Wires]

It can't be one on-off switch, as it is either "too high," "too low" or "correct." That's three states, and an on-off switch has only 2.

I see three wires on the wiring diagram for this rear sensor.

Judging from the limited information on the schematic, it looks like it is a variable voltage sensor - but now I'll have to crawl under my car and see for sure.

[Captain Steve]

Looks like a 3 postion switch to me too.. 3 wires, red-green-blue. I'm guessing it's hot-red, green-ground, and blue-sky.

The way to go might be to buy two new sensors, and instal them in the changed ride height you want.

Then you'd have to rig it up so that dis-engaging the "low" sensors, while engaging the "high" sensors.

[Wires]

I think adding a series resistor to either the power or ground wire would alter the height as much as it should be. I'd wire the switch to either short out the added resitor, or not short it out- this way, it would "fail safe."

I was on vacation this last week, so I haven't had the chance to do anything with this other than crawl under the car and verify that there are three wires. My connector wouldn't budge - from age and maybe dirt/etc.

If we know the resistance of the sensor, then we would know a starting value to try. Guessing that the system keeps it at the halfway point on the sensor, then I'd say we wouldn't want to add more than about 10 percent of that resistance to raise or lower the rear of the car.