On board compressor for air shocks.
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 7:05 pm
I keep forgetting to inflate the air shocks when towing and only notice when I'm on the motorway. Also, when you get to the campsite and unhitch the caravan, it's a pain to air down the shocks for driving around, and then pump them up again when it's time to tow the 'van home.
So here's a fun little project: take a bunch of air fittings and a cheap(ish) 12V compressor, and build an onboard air system for the air shocks. Monroe's awful fittings didn't make it easy, but I got there in the end.
A bunch of random parts from the pneumatic fittings box. Compressor for inflating the shocks, a solenoid valve for deflating. But first, build a box to mount it all in. Folding stainless is a pain when you have the world's worst sheet metal folder. Peeling the plastic protective sheet off is the best bit. All the bits installed in the case, along with some sound deadener because that case was super resonant. Installed above the gearbox crossmember where it's dry. An outlet for pumping up tyres, if needed. The air shocks act as an air tank. Now the tricky part. Monroe shocks have this stupid, cheap, proprietary connector. Beneath the stupid Monroe fitting is a 7/16" - 20 thread. Almost an AN or JIC fitting, but without the tapered seat to form an airtight seal. Still, I can make an adapter that'll screw on. Adapters made from a chunk of aluminium. 7/16" - 20 threads on one end, a more normal air line thread of 1/8NPT on the other (with 4mm push-in fitting installed) Adapters installed. Threads sealed with anaerobic thread sealant. Dashboard control- a modified tailgate lock/unlock switch and a moderately accurate pressure gauge. Green is 20-90psi, the range the shocks are happy with for long-term use. They'll go to 150psi for short periods. Now I can do the lowrider hopping up and down thing- as long as you film it on timelapse. It takes about 30 seconds to go from 20 to 90psi.
So here's a fun little project: take a bunch of air fittings and a cheap(ish) 12V compressor, and build an onboard air system for the air shocks. Monroe's awful fittings didn't make it easy, but I got there in the end.
A bunch of random parts from the pneumatic fittings box. Compressor for inflating the shocks, a solenoid valve for deflating. But first, build a box to mount it all in. Folding stainless is a pain when you have the world's worst sheet metal folder. Peeling the plastic protective sheet off is the best bit. All the bits installed in the case, along with some sound deadener because that case was super resonant. Installed above the gearbox crossmember where it's dry. An outlet for pumping up tyres, if needed. The air shocks act as an air tank. Now the tricky part. Monroe shocks have this stupid, cheap, proprietary connector. Beneath the stupid Monroe fitting is a 7/16" - 20 thread. Almost an AN or JIC fitting, but without the tapered seat to form an airtight seal. Still, I can make an adapter that'll screw on. Adapters made from a chunk of aluminium. 7/16" - 20 threads on one end, a more normal air line thread of 1/8NPT on the other (with 4mm push-in fitting installed) Adapters installed. Threads sealed with anaerobic thread sealant. Dashboard control- a modified tailgate lock/unlock switch and a moderately accurate pressure gauge. Green is 20-90psi, the range the shocks are happy with for long-term use. They'll go to 150psi for short periods. Now I can do the lowrider hopping up and down thing- as long as you film it on timelapse. It takes about 30 seconds to go from 20 to 90psi.