Replaced Watts Link, now air suspension is screwed up

[Mebot]

Hi guys, I am looking for some troubleshooting here. Here's a quick backstory on my issue and the steps i've already taken:

We swapped out my old watts links and replaced with Sparta's link. My car was on Gordon's four post lift. We didn't turn the suspension off until trying to remove the passenger side OEM watts link bolt.

Watts link is replaced with the new one from Sparta but now my car is sitting way low. We checked the air ride sensor and it seems the lever arm is not completely in the same place as my OEM link. Thus the lever arm is actually extending a little farther out and my air bags deflate.

I took the lever off, and pushed it up and I can hear my compressor turn on and the air bags inflate. But once the lever is dropped, we can hear the air escaping and the bags deflate again.

We loosened the air ride sensor (on the watts link) and moved it all the way to the passenger side but the lever still is not long enough and the bags keep deflating. The next thing i did is loosen the nut on the sensor and turned the screw 1/4 turn thinking that would be enough to "trick" the compressor into thinking that lever was fully extended over. Now the air bags inflate and raises the rear sky high. I am happy that my air bags are holding air now, but need to find the happy medium here.

I've been searching the forums here and can't really find anything that fits my problem. I don't think my compressor is shot and I don't think my air ride sensor is bad.

Any feedback or suggestions is welcome.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-01-12184027.jpg

[MMBLUE]

That sensor can be very sensitive. Be sure you put it back in the old spot first. Then, move small increments to get dersired height. Of course, check entire system, wires connections etc. 1 cm of adjustment could be 5 inches of height up or down.

[fastblackmerc]

Hi guys, I am looking for some troubleshooting here. Here's a quick backstory on my issue and the steps i've already taken:

We swapped out my old watts links and replaced with Sparta's link. My car was on Gordon's four post lift. We didn't turn the suspension off until trying to remove the passenger side OEM watts link bolt.

Watts link is replaced with the new one from Sparta but now my car is sitting way low. We checked the air ride sensor and it seems the lever arm is not completely in the same place as my OEM link. Thus the lever arm is actually extending a little farther out and my air bags deflate.

I took the lever off, and pushed it up and I can hear my compressor turn on and the air bags inflate. But once the lever is dropped, we can hear the air escaping and the bags deflate again.

We loosened the air ride sensor (on the watts link) and moved it all the way to the passenger side but the lever still is not long enough and the bags keep deflating. The next thing i did is loosen the nut on the sensor and turned the screw 1/4 turn thinking that would be enough to "trick" the compressor into thinking that lever was fully extended over. Now the air bags inflate and raises the rear sky high. I am happy that my air bags are holding air now, but need to find the happy medium here.

I've been searching the forums here and can't really find anything that fits my problem. I don't think my compressor is shot and I don't think my air ride sensor is bad.

Any feedback or suggestions is welcome.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-01-12184027.jpg

:dunno: Maybe the WATTS link is not installed correctly??

I replaced mine with one from Metco and had no problems, although I did turn off the air ride before doing any work and I made sure the air ride parts were installed before reinstalling the WATTS link.

Did you match up the parts before replacing them?

Did the arms on the new WATTS link match the old ones?

[Mebot]

That sensor can be very sensitive. Be sure you put it back in the old spot first. Then, move small increments to get dersired height. Of course, check entire system, wires connections etc. 1 cm of adjustment could be 5 inches of height up or down.

Yes, I heard the sensor can be sensitive.


:dunno: Maybe the WATTS link is not installed correctly??

I replaced mine with one from Metco and had no problems, although I did turn off the air ride before doing any work and I made sure the air ride parts were installed before reinstalling the WATTS link.

Did you match up the parts before replacing them?

Did the arms on the new WATTS link match the old ones?

Yes before we installed the new Watts link we put the old ones on top to make sure all the holes and everything matched up. We were hoping to get the watts link installed and then make the adjustments on the air ride sensor. I was not expecting this fiasco!

Anyways, appreciate the comments. I am heading back over to Gordon's place today. Hopefully we can figure it out.

[RF Overlord]

The reason for the recommendation to shut off the RAS when lifting is primarily to prevent the system from engaging and either raising or lowering while it's up on the factory-supplied jack, such as when changing a flat tire. It's less important when on a lift, especially the 4-post kind.

Mebot, I suggest you contact Tommy at Sparta to see if there are any special instructions concerning the ride-height sensor when using his Watts link. If not, then maybe one of the mounting brackets got bent?

[SpartaPerformance]

http://www.spartaperformance.com/wattsinstall.htm

[Mebot]

thanks for the link Tommy. Gordon & I were following these instructions yesterday (hell of a time to torque that pivot nut to 184 ft lbs!)



Sent from my handheld Zack Morris iShoe 4S.

[SpartaPerformance]

PITA isn't it? I had dinner with Paul and Voula last night and they told me of your concern. Were you able to get everything working?

[Mr. Man]

Not sure if it matters or can even be done but are the arms on the correct sides and are they installed on the pivot point exactly like the factory?

Sounds like you didn't puncture a bag so that is good. If all is installed in the correct order and the wire for the AB sensor is good it seems like you may just need to play with the ride height till you get it right.

Can't think of anything else that would cause your problem. Watt's links aren't that complicated of a design.

[Haggis]

The arms of the Watts link are not symmetrical, the holes for the adjusment lever are offset. Simple solution, turn watts link around, move driver's side bushing to center; center bushing to driver's side.

:stupid: :banghead:

[Blackened300a]

On a positive note, now people will know what to do if they run into this issue and you will never forget when you do Chris car. :D

[Mebot]

Yes, Gordon is correct the watts arm on the driver side just needed to be turned around. Simple solution. I was going to post this accomplishment when I got home last night but MM.net was down.

Big kudos to Paul (Blackened300a) who took time out of his busy Saturday and Sunday afternoons to speak with us over the phone and provide some helpful tips. I appreciate that man! thanks

Here are some quick pictures I took with my phone:
This is the passenger side. You can see the Watts Link is bowed down. No issue here
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-01-13150318.jpg

This is the driver side after we reversed the Watts Link. Driver side is bow up and the bracket is the air ride sensor (this is picture facing the rear of the car
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-01-13145817.jpg

This picture is from the passenger side facing the driver side. Again you can see the bracket attached to the watts link and the lever that attaches to the air ride sensor. As you can see the lever pushes up to the left. When my watts link was reveresed the arm didn't reach as high. And thus the air bags deflated
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-01-13145839.jpg

After we got everything smoothed out here is what my car looked like:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-01-13150334.jpg

And one day later (this morning). It does look a little higher on the driver side, but I am just happy that the air bags are still inflated and I am not experiencing any suspension issues. I'll keep monitoring it the rest of the week. Now that I've installed my Watts link and troubleshooted my air suspension issue, I won't have any problem adjusting the ride height now! Two simple bolts (8mm and 11mm) are all that is required to move that bracket. Just 1 CM is a big difference.

Thanks again everyone!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-01-14072628.jpg

[Blackened300a]

Glad it worked out, Im sure these pics look a lot clearer here then on a cell phone when you are aggravated!
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/CBAD778F-C134-469A-B3A0-BD442060568A-490-00000059974DC09A_zps473bd1f4.j pg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/88573724-03C2-4862-BAB8-61012CE87044-490-0000005993EA7A81_zps779466f6.j pg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/55EDEC90-5537-424A-ADC7-41BEF6DA7A58-490-00000059903E2BFF_zps9200fdbe.j pg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/D9A28551-2C2A-4429-AC79-A8F822891294-490-000000598D2A1077_zps260d3a6a.j pg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/157A8BC1-A847-4860-81AC-23A88B0D869C-490-0000005989C4336B_zps2395c433.j pg

[1stMerc]

Glad I stumbled on this thread.
Went to install my Sparta links yesterday, but alas discovered didn't have wrench to fit nuts. Guess never needed that size. What size are the nuts/bolts or wrench?

Thanks,

[Blackened300a]

Glad I stumbled on this thread.
Went to install my Sparta links yesterday, but alas discovered didn't have wrench to fit nuts. Guess never needed that size. What size are the nuts/bolts or wrench?

Thanks,

I believe 8 or 7mm. It's been a while since I pulled it off. Maybe Ryan can chime in.

[Mebot]

honestly, can't remember off top of my head but I think Paul is correct. there were 2 different sizes. look on sparta's website, I believe there is FAQ pdf you can follow

sent from space

[1stMerc]

I mean the frame and pivot mounting bolts.

I already have those two little ones set aside from previous adjustements.

[Mebot]

i want to say 18 or 19 mm

sent from space

[1stMerc]

Thanks,
Has to be 18 since 17, 19 and 11/16 and 3/4 didn't fit. Never had any bolts that required an 18mm. Just wanted to make sure before i went and bought a new wrench.

[Mebot]

also look at post #6 for the link on the watts install. make sure you have a torque wrench

sent from space

[1stMerc]

Had already printed out the instructions prior to install attempt. Yesterday had car up on jack stands and an assortment of wrenches from past car work, none of which fit. Already have a torque wrench and pipes for the breaker bar. The proper size wrench for the bolts is the only thing I didn't have.

Thanks,