AmboVan Restarted

[/dev/ram]

I've vote for the top one, but with the water the lowest of the peaks like it would be between mountains.

 

[New River KTM]

OK if we are voting then the middle is my vote........

 

[McZippie]

Just been catching up on some of my favorite threads...
Wow! Like! Two thumbs up! Bravo!

Nice seeing pictures of your Fantastic Rig while it's been used.

 

[bonomonster]

I like the middle one but I would darken the bottom grey stripe a little and paint everything below it a lighter grey... Just something to break up all the white above and below the graphic

 

[hobietony]

Number one looks pretty close to me

 

[mk216v]

Tony your fab skills are very impressive. Looking forward to what's next.

 

[hobietony]

Nearly a month since anything useful got posted by me...
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So, after I popped the airbags, I needed a bit of beefing up in back.
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Original - Lower portion of the airbag floated on the platform on the spring -

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Popped out under load -

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Added some lateral support to Chris' lower 'floating' airbag platform

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Used the Daystar bases, and on Chris' recommendation, a single bellow bag this time for capacity and clearance

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Back feels solidly supported again, not wallowly. All the spring back there, though, kinda overwhelms the single shock - takes a couple cycles to settle down a good bounce. I have the second set of shocks on my shelf, and when I swap the rear axle for a disc brake axle (next project), the double shocks will get installed then. Otherwise, big improvement.

 

[java]

Looking great as always!

 

[hobietony]

Working on the steering issues.

While on the trip to Galveston, the thing was getting harder and harder to keep in the road. Wouldn't return to center, felt 'notchy' when the wheel crossed center, wouldn't track straight. I tried getting an alignment in Texas, but they said it was already in spec - dammit!.
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The spring bushings looked cracked, and I imagined that ruined spring bushings could cause the symptoms I was having, so I pressed them out and installed urethane bushings - not only were the old ones fine, but the new urethane bushing were stiff enough that the front was binding when I finished - felt worse than before. I was getting frustrated - the Dream Van was getting impossible to drive.
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A couple calls to Chris, and we decided to install the high-steer kit, and update the springs to match the current weight as the next course of action.
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Pieces

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I go to take off the wheels, spacers, and discs, and get to the unit bearings - Metal shavings and signs of thrown grease!

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Seals at the knuckle - ground off.

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These were new when the Chris put the axle in 25k miles ago, we are both a bit stumped. Is it the weight? Hopefully just a bad set of bearings? Hate to do this every 25k... I'll keep an eye on it.
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Good news is that this also helps explain the decline in steering performance...
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New unit bearings, and crossover steering arm with spacer block - Added a couple stainless clips to keep the ABS wire out of the way

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Clearance to the disc

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New springs - two more leafs in the new spring pack

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Installed, crossover steering linkage looking good, parallel with the axle

 

[hobietony]

And of course, had to go out and bounce it around a bit to make sure everything's ok - Felt fantastic! Flogged it for around 30 miles on some pretty rough roads, and both the rear and the front felt up to the task.
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Poser shots

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New rescue dog - Meet Delilah! She seems to be a cross between a pit bull and an antelope - Rangy, lean, and the sweetest girl ever.

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That's all for now...

 

[flightcancled]

What psi are you running the bags? I have bags in the back I have to start messing with but I have no idea how much air I should be running with or how to find out


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[java]

How's the bouncyness of the springs? Do you remember the rough eye to eye length of them?

 

[hobietony]

What psi are you running the bags? I have bags in the back I have to start messing with but I have no idea how much air I should be running with or how to find out


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The 'bellows' type I've seen have a range up to about 120-150 lbs. I'm running about 55 lbs, and lots of capacity to add more when the van is loaded. You can go to the firestone website, find one that looks like yours, and see what is listed... the 'skinny' types I've seen go up to about 100lbs. Hope this helps a bit...

How's the bouncyness of the springs? Do you remember the rough eye to eye length of them?

Not sure I understand the question... front springs feel great now, well controlled with the dual shocks, they are the standard length that come with Chris' kit - Is that the length you are looking for? I'll have to look at my paperwork, but my 'old' springs are sized for about a 4k load. The air bags in the back, pumped up enough to support the rear load, are making the back end 'bouncy', since the single rear shock is getting overwhelmed. Dual shocks in the back should help this.

 

[flightcancled]

Yeah that's a place to start which is what I needed. Thanks!


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[java]

The 'bellows' type I've seen have a range up to about 120-150 lbs. I'm running about 55 lbs, and lots of capacity to add more when the van is loaded. You can go to the firestone website, find one that looks like yours, and see what is listed... the 'skinny' types I've seen go up to about 100lbs. Hope this helps a bit...



Not sure I understand the question... front springs feel great now, well controlled with the dual shocks, they are the standard length that come with Chris' kit - Is that the length you are looking for? I'll have to look at my paperwork, but my 'old' springs are sized for about a 4k load. The air bags in the back, pumped up enough to support the rear load, are making the back end 'bouncy', since the single rear shock is getting overwhelmed. Dual shocks in the back should help this.

Ah forgot you had the Ujoint front end. Mine is just really stiff, and about the same weight truck.