#52. an d cars th at to w D ATA SH EET

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "#52. an d cars th at to w D ATA SH EET"

Mark Allison
5 years ago
Views:

D ATA SH EET #52 #52 Susp ensio n M o d ifi catio ns S u spen sio n m o dificatio n s fo r m o to rh o m es an d cars th at to w In th e past, it w as som etim es recom m en ded th at a car's rear su

H ow ever rear su spen sion produ cts are still available for th ose tow in g an d for m otorh om es th at su ffer w ith saggin g rear axles w h en u n der load.

B e fo re yo u unde rta ke a s us pe ns io n upgra de o n yo ur ca r o r m o to rho m e yo u s ho uld co nta ct yo ur ins ura nce pro vide r.

1 D ATA SH EET #52 #52 Susp ensio n M o d ifi catio ns S u spen sio n m o dificatio n s fo r m o to rh o m es an d cars th at to w In th e past, it w as som etim es recom m en ded th at a car's rear su spen sion sh ou ld be u pgraded if it w as to tow a caravan. T oday, th is is often n ot requ ired. H ow ever rear su spen sion produ cts are still available for th ose tow in g an d for m otorh om es th at su ffer w ith saggin g rear axles w h en u n der load. T h is Data Sh eet looks at a selection of th e afterm arket solu tion s available to h elp. B e fo re yo u unde rta ke a s us pe ns io n upgra de o n yo ur ca r o r m o to rho m e yo u s ho uld co nta ct yo ur ins ura nce pro vide r. Spring a nd da m pe r cha nge s fo r this purpo s e s ho uld no t cre a te a n incre a s e in pre m ium s but s o m e ins ure rs m a y no t a cce pt s uch a m o difica tio n. A ls o, upgra de d s prings a nd da m pe rs w ill no t incre a s e the a xle be a ring lim it no r w ill the s ta tic lo a d to le ra nce o n the hitch be incre a s e d. O r to put it a no the r w a y - it w ill no t incre a s e the lo a d yo u ca n ca rry in the ve hicle a nd a ny no s e w e ight w ill no t cha nge. The a im o f ins ta lling the s e pro ducts is to ke e p the ve hicle le ve l, ra the r tha n running w ith its fro nt highe r tha n its re a r. This is pa rticula rly im po rta nt in fro nt-w he e l-drive ve hicle s w he n a re duce d lo a d o n the fro nt w he e ls ca n m e a n a lo s s o f tra ctio n. A uto m o tive m a nufa cture rs ha ve s pe nt a gre a t de a l o f tim e a nd m o ne y o n the s us pe ns io n s ys te m s o f the ir cha s s is to give the ve hicle the drive cha ra cte ris tics to s uit the pro duct's ke y m a rke t. A ny cha nge s to the s prings, da m pe rs o r bus he s m a y ha ve a n e ffe ct o n the w a y the ve hicle the n be ha ve s o n the ro a d. If yo u cho o s e to ins ta ll s us pe ns io n s tiffe ne rs in a ca r the re is like ly to be a tra de o ff be tw e e n the s ta bility im pro ve m e nt w he n the ca r is ca rrying a lo a d a nd the s tiffne s s o f the ride w he n it is running w itho ut it.

A s a re s ult, yo u m a y like to co ns ide r a n upgra de to the s ta nda rd va n s us pe ns io n to give a m o re co m fo rta ble ride.

2 Ge ne ra lly, va ns a re de s igne d to ca rry a lo a d o cca s io na lly. W he n a va n is co nve rte d to a m o to rho m e, ho w e ve r, the w e ight o f the co nve rs io n ca n be co ns ide ra ble a nd it is in pla ce a ll the tim e. A s a re s ult, yo u m a y like to co ns ide r a n upgra de to the s ta nda rd va n s us pe ns io n to give a m o re co m fo rta ble ride. So m e m o to rho m e co nve rte rs ca n pro vide s us pe ns io n upgra de s a s pa rt o f the co nve rs io n. B efo re y o u u pgrade Suspe nsio n upgra de s w ill no t co rre ct a fa ult. Such cha nge s s ho uld no t be m a de to co rre ct a fa ult s o m e w he re e ls e w ithin the s us pe ns io n. Ide a lly a ll w o rn pa rts s ho uld be cha nge d a s pa rt o f the s a m e jo b to ge t the m a xim um be ne fit fro m the s us pe ns io n a id. So m e tim e s co m po ne nt w e a kne s s e s w ithin the s us pe ns io n m a nife s ts w ith a bno rm a l tyre w e a r a nd this s ho uld be inve s tiga te d furthe r to m a ke s ure it is co rre cte d be fo re yo u upgra de the s us pe ns io n. R ubbe r spring a ssiste rs The m o s t ba s ic co m po ne nts to upgra de a s us pe ns io n a re rubbe r s pring a s s is te rs. The s e ca n be ins e rte d w ithin the w inds o f a co il s pring. The y a re a ffo rda ble, re a dily a va ila ble a nd quite e a s y to fit. The y o ffe r a dditio na l s uppo rt fo r the s pring a nd re duce the e xte nt o f tra ve l, e ffe ctive ly be co m ing a n a dditio na l bum p s to p. Rubbe r s pring a s s is te rs ca n ha ve a m ino r a dve rs e e ffe ct o n ride co m fo rt w he n s o lo, w ith ca rs be co m ing a bit bo uncy o ve r s pe e d hum ps, fo r e xa m ple. The ins e rts co m e in a va rie ty o f thickne s s e s to s uit diffe re nt a pplica tio ns, but the y a re bro a dly a ge ne ric pro duct w he re a s m o s t o the r s ys te m s a re ve hicle s pe cific. C o il spring a ssiste rs A s s is te r s prings a re ins ta lle d in a nd a ro und the A ru b b er s p rin g as s is ter fro m G rays to n E n g in eerin g ve hicle 's s ta nda rd re a r s us pe ns io n co m po ne nts a nd w o rk in unis o n w ith the fa cto ry s pring. In a no rm a l s ta te the y a re ba re ly unde r lo a d a nd ha ve little e ffe ct o n the ca r's be ha vio ur. H o w e ve r, o nce a he a vy re a r lo a d is a pplie d, the y pro gre s s ive ly o ffe r a dditio na l s uppo rt to the fa cto ry s us pe ns io n re ducing the a m o unt it dro ps unde r this lo a d. This ca n he lp pre ve nt bo tto m ing o ut. Coil s pring a s s is te rs a re pa rticula rly us e ful w ith s o m e e s ta te ca rs tha t ha ve lo ng re a r o ve rha ngs. A huge ra nge o f fitm e nts a re a va ila ble fo r bo th ca rs a nd co m m e rcia l cha s s is. The de vice s o ffe r a co s t-e ffe ctive a lte rna tive to a djus ta ble -ride -he ight e quipm e nt.h e a vy duty s prings a re s o m e tim e s s upplie d by a s s is te r s pring m a nufa cture rs a s a n a lte rna tive to a s s is te rs w he re the re a re s pa ce lim ita tio ns ne a r the re a r a xle a s s e m bly. The re a re a ls o de dica te d m a nufa cture rs o f s uch s prings a nd the y a re a va ila ble fo r a va rie ty o f a pplica tio ns. A n as s is ter s p rin g in p o s itio n with th e veh icle s o wn s p rin g

Infla ta ble a ir a ssiste rs Infla ta ble a ir s ys te m s tha t fit in o r ne a r the s pring a re a a re a n o ptio n to co ns ide r.

3 Fitting s uch a dditio na l s prings is like ly to invo lve a ce rta in a m o unt o f s us pe ns io n dis m a ntling. A s the s prings o f a ve hicle ca n be unde r co ns ide ra ble te ns io n, this jo b is ge ne ra lly be s t le ft to a s kille d m e cha nic. Infla ta ble a ir a ssiste rs Infla ta ble a ir s ys te m s tha t fit in o r ne a r the s pring a re a a re a n o ptio n to co ns ide r. Many m o to rho m e s a nd pa ne l va n co nve rs io ns, w he re the ba s e ve hicle 's fa cto ry re a r a xle ha s be e n re ta ine d, co uld be ne fit fro m o ne o f the s e s ys te m s. The y a re de s igne d to co rre ct the ride he ight us ing co m pre s s e d a ir upo n lo a ding. The tre nd fo r m o to rho m e s to ha ve la rge re a r lo cke rs o r m o to rcycle ra cks be yo nd the re a r a xle ca n cre a te a A n A L-K O in flatab le air as s is ter, fo r fittin g o n a n o n - A L-K O ch as s is s tra in o n the re a r s us pe ns io n. A ltho ugh this m a y no t o ve rlo a d the a xle, ha ving the w e ight s o fa r ba ck m a y ge ne ra te po o r ro a d be ha vio ur a nd co uld ha ve a n a dve rs e e ffe ct o n the s te e ring. Corre cting the re a r ride he ight ca n m itiga te s o m e o f the s e pro ble m s. The a ir w ithin the rubbe r cha m be r in the s e a s s is te rs a ids the s pring a nd ca rrie s s o m e o f the lo a d. This e na ble s the ve hicle to ride le ve l. So m e s ys te m s ca n be fine tune d fro m le ft to right a s w e ll. The s e kits a re po pula r w ith m o to rho m e us e rs a nd ca n be e a s ily re tro fitte d to m o s t co m m o n fo rm s o f co m m e rcia l ba s e cha s s is. The A L-KO le is ure cha s s is is no t re a dily co nve rtible a nd if a ir s us pe ns io n is re quire d fo r this yo u w ill ne e d to s pe cify it a t the po int o f o rde r. H e ight-a djusta ble da m pe rs Monro e do m ina te s this a re a o f a fte r-m a rke t s us pe ns io n a ids w ith its Ride Le ve lle r kit. The s e da m pe rs ha ve a n a ir cha m be r inco rpo ra te d in the de s ign. The y a re infla te d w ith co m pre s s e d a ir a nd o ffe r s pring s uppo rt thro ugh the da m pe r m o unting po ints. The y a re a va ila ble fo r a la rge ra nge o f a pplica tio ns a nd a s w ith infla ta ble a ir a s s is te rs, the s e da m pe rs re quire trim m ing to co rre ct the ride he ight a fte r the lo a d ha s be e n a pplie d. A typica l a pplica tio n is fo r ca rs w he re the re is a high lo a d us a ge a nd a lo ng o ve rha ng a t the re a r. O nce the lo a d is ta ke n o ff the s e da m pe rs m us t ha ve the pre s s ure re duce d to re turn the ca r to its no rm a l s ta te. Com pre s s e d-a ir kits a re go o d a t re ta ining the ve hicle 's o rigina l driving cha ra cte ris tic but the y ne e d to be ins ta lle d w ith a va lve a t a n a cce s s ible po int (pe rha ps in the bo o t) a nd pipe w o rk thro ugh the ve hicle 's bo dyw o rk. The y a re a ls o no t m a inte na nce fre e. Re gula r web rem o te co n tro l cam p er V B Fu lla ir pre s s ure che cks a re e s s e ntia l a nd s o m e m e a ns o f infla ting w ill be re quire d. So m e ca n be co ntro lle d re m o te ly us ing a co ntro l unit s uch a s the o ne s ho w n.

4 So m e da m pe rs a djus t w itho ut input fro m the drive r. Sa chs A G m a ke s the N ivo m a t da m pe r, w hich is a ctiva te d by the ve hicle 's m o tio n. The ride he ight is co rre cte d a fte r a fe w hundre d m e tre s o f driving, bringing the ve hicle le ve l. O nce the lo a d is re m o ve d the ne xt drive co rre cts the le ve l a ga in a s the fluid is tra ns fe rre d ba ck w hile in m o tio n. N o t o nly do e s this s ys te m co ntinuo us ly co rre ct a nd e ns ure a le ve l ride, it is a djus tm e nt a nd m a inte na nce fre e. U nfo rtuna te ly N ivo m a t da m pe rs a re o nly a va ila ble fo r a lim ite d ra nge o f ve hicle s. If a ca r is be ing cha nge d to N ivo m a t, the s prings m us t a ls o be cha nge d a nd o the r fittings a nd m o unting po ints m a y ne e d to be a lte re d. If yo u a re inte re s te d in this o ptio n, dis cus s it w ith a fra nchis e de a le r. Y o u m a y a ls o find it m a y o nly be fitte d a t the fa cto ry s o m us t be s pe cifie d w he n the ve hicle is built. A fte rm a rke t m a nufa cture r Koni pro duce s a lim ite d ra nge o f re a r da m pe rs w ith a cho ice o f s pring s e a t po s itio n a nd a cho ice fo r s ta nda rd a nd ra is e d po s itio ns. The ra is e d po s itio n is s ugge s te d a s a n o ptio n fo r to w ing o r if the ve hicle ha s a pe rm a ne nt he a vy lo a d s uch a s a n LP G ga s ta nk a s pa rt o f a co nve rs io n. Such da m pe rs a re no t te chnica lly a djus ta ble but a t the po int o f ins ta lla tio n a cho ice ca n be m a de ba s e d o n ho w the ve hicle w ill s it. A n d fin ally A ny cha nge s to s pring cha ra cte ris tics w he n the y a re firs t ins ta lle d o r o ve r tim e w ill ha ve a n e ffe ct o n the pitching o f a n o utfit a t the hitch. This is ge ne ra lly le s s pro no unce d w ith rubbe r ins e rt a s s is te rs a nd a ir s us pe ns io n pro ducts a s the s e, due to the na ture o f the m a te ria l, ha ve a s m a ll inhe re nt da m ping e ffe ct. Spring a s s is te r a nd he a vy duty s prings o n the o the r ha nd a re to ta lly re lia nt o n the s ho ck a bs o rbe rs to co ntro l the m. Sho ck a bs o rbe rs tha t s e e m a de qua te a t o ne MO T Te s t o r a t a ve hicle 's s e rvice m a y no t pa s s m us te r w he n w o rke d tha t bit ha rde r w ith highe r ra te s prings. Y o u m a y the re fo re ne e d to ins ta ll he a vy-duty o r a djus ta ble -ra te s ho ck a bs o rbe rs a t the s a m e tim e. O ve ra ll, if yo u a re uns ure a bo ut a ny s us pe ns io n m o difica tio n, s e e k o ut a n e xpe rie nce d te chnicia n fo r a dvice. If yo u ha ve fe e dba ck o n o ur ne w fo rm a t D a ta she e t, ple a se le t us kno w, using o ur sho rt Fe e dba ck Fo rm.

5 C o ntacts Gra ys to n Engine e ring Rubbe r S pring A ssist e rs Tel: Gra ys to n Engine e ring Coil S pring A ssist e rs Tel: MAD Sus pe ns io n Sys te m s (Eko llo n) Coil S pring A ssist e rs Tel: V -B A irs us pe ns io n U K Tel: A irride Tel: A L-KO MAD Sus pe ns io n Sys te m s (Eko llo n) Tel: V -B A irs us pe ns io n U K Tel: Monro e Euro pe (Lo a d Le ve lle r) Dampe rs Tel: Z F Tra ding U K Ltd (N ivo m a t) Dampe rs Tel: The Ca m ping a nd Ca ra va nning Club T he Camping a nd Cara v a nning Club Gre e nfie lds House, W e st w ood W a y Cov e nt ry CV4 8JH W e use cookies for a number of reasons; w ebsite reliability and security, personalising content and ads, providing Tel: social media features 024 and 7647 to analyse 5442how our w ebsite is being used. You can manage your Cookie Preferences or view our Cookie Policy. Accept & Close

Grain Reserves, Volatility and the WTO

Grain Reserves, Volatility and the WTO Sophia Murphy Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy www.iatp.org Is v o la tility a b a d th in g? De pe n d s o n w h e re yo u s it (pro d uc e r, tra d e