Hydraulic Lift Kits For Coilovers

[SS8_Gohan]

I thought this might be the best place to ask this...

looking quite seriously at getting some sort of hydraulic kit installed in the R, but the options available are quite $$.

KW have their "HLS" system; theirs is a universal kit but it's almost as much as buying a full set of their coilovers with the HLS already included it seems.

JRi shocks do some, but you have to get their suspension, no universal kits.

The one i'm looking at the closest is http://www.ramliftpro.com/index.html, universal kit and the cheapest option (but still not that cheap).

So my question to the SAU community is how hard does it look to fab something like this up? Anyone interested in developing a kit? Local options are always nice and if done properly can obviously be used for almost any coilover application, so it won't be a "Skyline" thing.

It doesn't "seem" that complicated from the pictures, but then again i have no technical background in this area so could be way off the mark about it's ability to be developed locally.

thanks all.

[scotty nm35]

You already have a hydraulic pack in the rear, use the Attessa pump and run some lines to the coilovers. Simple.

[SS8_Gohan]

*not sure if srs*

do you think it's possible Scotty? all i know is that if i want to change the ride height, i have to (or more accurately, get someone to) loosen this metal sheath thing on the shock and manually screw it down or up. I'm thinking that it has to be screwed up and down and could that be controlled by the Attessa pump? would it have enough power to handle the job?

aware this could be some very newb comments

[scotty nm35]

As the entire suspension geometry changes with the height adjustment, I would say not to bother, as it will upset the way the car drives having variable height coilovers.

There are adjustable height setups out there, but nothing that screws on to standard coilovers that I know of.

Lowering the car so the driveshaft is past level when the car is on the ground will ruin the handling. If you like the tucked wheel look just get oversized tyres to fill the guards.

[SS8_Gohan]

KW make a universal kit, this ramliftpro mob have their kit and JRi have a full setup, which i don't want.

It would ONLY be used for clearance situations, ie, driveways, car parks etc. Once on road, it will return to the normal heigh and geometry setup.

So it's more to allow me to setup the car as best as possible, not necessarily worrying about legalities of height, and raise when the time requires, ie purely very low speed manoeuvring and times when it needs to go to a workshop (to help with getting it on a hoist, Trent's dyno etc).

[Michael's R33]

I have seen an air bagged coilover setup before a company called Casa Suspension https://www.facebook.com/pages/Casa-suspension-Taiwan/324081934445143?fref=photo

[GTRPSI]

If your looking at air bags try the mob below, ive got one of their kits in the back of my ute, flick of a switch to raise or lower as needed, aircompressor pump and tank is under the vehicle....

http://www.airide.com.au/main.php

They do air struts, i will be adding them to the front of mine next time i need to change the shockers.

[StretchGSK]

This would be a great thing if we could make up a locally manufactured option.

I have had the Aragosta "Roberuta" Cup Kit on my wish list forever.

But it is really hard to justify at that price.

http://www.nengun.com/aragosta/aragosta-cup

[MozzMann]

Many forget that there is a minimum ride height requirement and that is the minimum clearance under the vehicle.
This is measured without any bag inflation, in other words if you have an air system failure your car can still pass the minimum height requirement under the Law - what this means in reality is you car will be illegal and potentially unsafe if bagged. Sorry guys but I simply do not see the point as it has no mechanical or handling advantage on the highway because you alignment and other suspension parameter's will be way off optimal by dropping the car.

There are vehicles around here that have bags and one blocked the main street a while ago as it's air system failed and thus dropped on it's belly in the middle of the street, HOW it passed the regular machinery inspection I have no idea.

Now you mention hydraulic lift kit ?? so you can raise the car when needed or what , just trying to get an idea of what and why (Old fart here trying to understand the younger generation)

Edited April 10, 2015 by MozzMann

[StretchGSK]

Hey MozzMann

this is nothing to do with lowering the car and noting to do with air bag suspension.

Its all about raising the front suspension to allow extra clearance for driveways, speed bumps etc.

In non-activated state the car will be at its regular ride hight

[R-GT]

http://www.airrexsuspension.com.au/index.php/

This in reverse, give them a call in AUS.

regards,

R

[SS8_Gohan]

yeah, purely would be installed for clearance situations ONLY, otherwise it would return to the height where the geometry had been set.

as for air, i was under the impression that hydraulic in a performance setting is more favourable to air, less chance of variation?

plus, this ram lift kit appears to be a retro fit option as well, so i can maintain my current setup (although spring change is a possibility it seems).

i'm sure someone has the skills locally, whether or not it's worth their time and effort though...

thanks for the replies!

[Dan_J]

Many forget that there is a minimum ride height requirement and that is the minimum clearance under the vehicle.

This is measured without any bag inflation, in other words if you have an air system failure your car can still pass the minimum height requirement under the Law - what this means in reality is you car will be illegal and potentially unsafe if bagged. Sorry guys but I simply do not see the point as it has no mechanical or handling advantage on the highway because you alignment and other suspension parameter's will be way off optimal by dropping the car.

There are vehicles around here that have bags and one blocked the main street a while ago as it's air system failed and thus dropped on it's belly in the middle of the street, HOW it passed the regular machinery inspection I have no idea.

Now you mention hydraulic lift kit ?? so you can raise the car when needed or what , just trying to get an idea of what and why (Old fart here trying to understand the younger generation)

isn't it argued that our cars are unsafe if we run a FMIC and a POD filter ?

but yes air bags can be engineered and mod plated

on a similar topic, does anyone know if coilover sturts can be modified to insert longer stroke shocks?

Edited April 18, 2015 by Dan_J

[Trex]

Many forget that there is a minimum ride height requirement and that is the minimum clearance under the vehicle.

This is measured without any bag inflation, in other words if you have an air system failure your car can still pass the minimum height requirement under the Law - what this means in reality is you car will be illegal and potentially unsafe if bagged. Sorry guys but I simply do not see the point as it has no mechanical or handling advantage on the highway because you alignment and other suspension parameter's will be way off optimal by dropping the car.

There are vehicles around here that have bags and one blocked the main street a while ago as it's air system failed and thus dropped on it's belly in the middle of the street, HOW it passed the regular machinery inspection I have no idea.

Now you mention hydraulic lift kit ?? so you can raise the car when needed or what , just trying to get an idea of what and why (Old fart here trying to understand the younger generation)

incorrect. Airbags, laying frame, pinch, door are legal. And you can't put one persons cheap arbags and or lines etc into the same basket as someone who has done it correctly with quality gear that lasts and is regularly checked for splits kinks etc