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[feeutfo]

Indeed, if those bladders work, and are available...might suit my purposes as well. 

Even though mines a saloon....

[Cliffo B]

Have you any thoughts on how the s/l shocks would  function minus the air feed?shortly I'm going to install the bladders into the springs,and with your help I now see the options as:-
transfer the airlines from the shocks to feed the bladders under the same controls as was the shocks,and possibly install alternative springs or shocks or both.

Install the original pump up system on a stand alone basis and pump up the bladders to a known preset pressure to support the suspension yet allow it to function as if unloaded when a caravan is hitched.
If your interested in some bladders I think I can remember where the firm is located in Leeds I'll take the bladders in to them before I fit them to miggy and find out if there still available

[Cliffo B]

Now have the bladders installed inside the springs with their relative tubing so have been able to do a road test,did it at 30psi as in the instructions it gives this as the max unladen pressure (max when laden is 40psi) this lifted the rear end of miggy by 2" and firmed up the the springing considerably,although she still was a good drive, of course the best way is per the instructions to pump up 1st then release when loaded to achieve the correct level, this allows the bladders to mesh proper with the springs. I'm going to run the system as a stand alone system alongside miggy's s/l shocks. I think if I disconect the airlines off the shocks then hitch on the loaded caravan and note the pressure needed to level the outfit that should give me the status quo air pressure reading required with the s/l system operational and  working also.I must say that the test drive (about 5 mls) has re-awakened my enthusiasm for this bladder system as it actually seems to compliment miggy's s/l shocks,the system also has a minimum working pressure of 5psi and a warning pressure switch and buzzer that operates at 0.2bar. Luckily When I dug out the kit I was very surprised to find the instructions there also must have been one of my tidyer packing away days! Took some pics of the kit and going to take some of the install and try and do a guide if anyone's interested  

 

[Cliffo B]

Now been running with the bladders installed for about 200 mls at minimum recommended air pressure of 5 psi.
I think there is a slightly stiffer feel to the rear end,as opposed to the std Elite and I'm well pleased
Also one that may or may not please the suspension purist mods:-
The rear end wheelarch to ground clearance appears to have  increased by 15mm.
On Weds we're off to North Wales for about 2 wks and will have the Pikey wagon with a full load in tow so this should be a good test

[feeutfo]

Sounds promising Cliffo. 

Do you have a link on where we can get the kit?

[Cliffo B]

Yes Chris,I think so will get back shortly

[Cliffo B]

sorry can't yet do the proper links but if you google

www.mad-suspension.co.uk

then scroll down from the yellow section to blue then to the red section your there.

Chris if you PM me your address I'll be happy to post you photocopies of the instructions their fairly comprehensive

[Cliffo B]

Just tried it from the forum it's not the correct one!!

Google it then pick up www.mad-suspension frmm the webpage

[feeutfo]

Are these the ones Cliffo?
http://www.mad-suspension.co.uk/Progressive.php
Red things at the bottom?

[Cliffo B]

yes Chris they are the suppliers the red things are the bladders 
Although the website layout would appear to have been changed
 

[feeutfo]

Excellent, thanks Cliffo, your a star. 

[Cliffo B]

Hello all, just a few words on how things went with Miggy's suspension update
With the outfit fully loaded and on level ground I deflated miggy's S/l system by disconnecting the air line to a shocker
I then pumped up the bladders to 25psi this raised up miggy' loaded rear end with the caravan hitched on
I then deflated the air bladders to lower miggy's rear end to the standard unloaded 27" to the center of the wheel arch
I then read the pressure of the bladders on the inline dial gauge which was 12psi
This is to be the bladders operating pressure defined by the extra weight/load
I then reconnected the airline to miggy's shocker to bring her self leveling system fully operational
So now all that is required on unhitching the van and restoreing miggy to unladen mode is to deflate the bladders to 3psi
This is done in about 30secs, Incidently I now know it takes less than a minute to reinflate the bladders when hitching back up.
We did  journeys to a site in North Wales and back home, then to North Yorks and back home,and another to North Yorks and back all loaded with the caravan in tow
After this I can only say that we found the bladder mod to be a huge success I say we because Winifred noticed the considerable improvement
I did try out miggy for a few miles with the bladders deflated considering she was towing an 18ft van with Winifreds buggy in the back and of course the lpg tank,aquaroll and wastemaster,it was an acceptable tow but I was well aware she was towing.
With the bladders inflated apart from the autobox working a little harder it was easy to forget the load Miggy was pulling
It seems to me the installed inflated bladders allow miggy's suspension to perform as if there is no extra load,this includes the springs and S/L shocks,they can carry on doing their job as if without extra load,as the bladders inflated to the pressure determined by the extra load take that extra load  away from the rest of the suspension         

[feeutfo]

On re reading it seems there is an answer missing to one of your questions Cliffo.
Sadly i dont think the oe shocks will take kindly to lack of air. If the oe bladders are deflated for any reason, the outer membrane sits tightly against the inner membrane and the shock body. Hence if suspension movement is introduced, the oe bladder will chafe.

[Cliffo B]

Hmm thanks Chris
Food for thought
Just been to check rear wheel suspension it is presently 261/2"
I think possibly the 1/2"differance from 27" could be the winter wheels recently fitted on
Or Winifred's buggy which is on board
Must say in all the mileage done with the spring bladders inflated to 12 psi and loaded with van in tow the shockers were certainly operateing in proper restrain mode no sign of any up and down motion
Tommorow I'll check out the s/l system and come back
Must go as my grandkids are here for a visit

[Cliffo B]

I am about to hopefully post some pics of the bladders installed
and as a new topic needs info I hope I am correct in adding this post to bring it forward