| Author | Message | ||
     Hameed Mohamed Experienced User Username: hameednoor Post Number: 22 Registered: 12-2006 |
Is there a way that the auto ride can be converted to a regular suspension. Flying Spares sells a kit. Apparently replace with regular shocks. Any views. I recently replaced by rear shocks and front ones are shot and am investigating. Of course my auto ride is shot. | ||
| Hameed Mohamed Experienced User Username: hameednoor Post Number: 23 Registered: 12-2006 |
Any views on Auto Ride Diagnostic tool from FlyingSpares UD73741P. Seems cool | ||
| richard george yeaman Grand Master Username: richyrich Post Number: 411 Registered: 4-2012 |
Hello Hameed I just came across this post and wondered if you had any success rectifying your suspension if so you might want to share your conclusions. Richard. | ||
| Jim Walters Frequent User Username: jim_walters Post Number: 57 Registered: 1-2014 |
The Auto Ride diagnostic tool from SBI Electronic Engineering in Bolton is considerably less at £325. I have one and it works well. It is used to read error codes and also can re-calibrate the ECU. It will also allow you to select any mode while driving. SBI also rebuilds the ECU's. SRE22493 NAC-05370 www.bristolmotors.com | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 798 Registered: 5-2015 |
The struts have electric valves inside which open and close thus altering the damping from stiff to soft. This is controlled by an ecu Obviously. If the valves can be manually set by applying power to the valves then the damper can be set manually, as in older RRs. Soft medium sporty and hard If manual electric control is differcult then maybe the valve can be unscrewed and the appropriate bit locked off in soft or medium. I notice the strut has two bits on the side which is probably the valves. I think both valves off give say soft and both on give hard. And either valve on or off give medium and sporty. The first step is to find out how many volts the valves run at. Don't assume it's 12v. It probably is 12v but check first. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1407 Registered: 6-2006 |
no coils energised is sport, one does comfort, the other normal. So no power gives a constant Sport or Hard mode. The solenoids can not just be energised easily unfortunately. They use a high voltage to move the valve and them a much lower one to hold it. You can fit normal front shocks and change the valves that sit on on the top of the rear shock where the gas spring screws into. I'd have used ones of the early valve blocks (non active) Some people are happy with Bilstien front and rears in permanently in hard mode. But some find it too stiff for rear passengers. I always recommend having the ride ECU and PSU checked , serviced, and reprogrammed with a more comfortable set of ride parameters. | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 799 Registered: 5-2015 |
What a shame about the voltages it complicates things from the shed to a laboratory. I find at first stuff like this overwhelming. But with careful thought and inspection a solution is found. Also worth doing a wiring check. A few abs faults I have fixed have turned out to be wiring or sensors. Final thought. I assume PSU means power supply unit. If this is working correctly then the voltages will be available to work the valves electric manually. | ||
| David Towers Experienced User Username: xtriple Post Number: 17 Registered: 6-2010 |
I was faced with this dilemma recently when I was told my front suspension was 'shot'. The Bilstein kit came in at about £1000 ( plus VAT) and that was struts and springs. The original stuff was a tiny bit dearer - each strut over a £1000 (plus VAT) bare! I ummed and ahhed for a weekend and then spent the money on all new standard (active ride) stuff and had £4500 worth of bill for the pleasure! I was also offered 're-built' units for about £500 each but advised against them as the specialist had used them before and one failed in short order. I intend to keep the car so it was worth (?) the money to have all new. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1416 Registered: 6-2006 |
OUCH David.  Sounds painful . . what did they do for that? Most active ride faults are just 'silly' faults which can be repaired for much less. A diagnostics box must be used to locate the faults though. Any early cars with faults should also have the Active Ride Control unit refurnished and reprogrammed. | ||
| Ron Vale New User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2012 |
Just an update Spirit II 1990 33893 Had a rear spring and bottom holder replaced took it out last week and the ride is 'bouncy' to say the least No warning for auto ride going u/s shows up, and when i take the fuse out the warning shows on ign turn on Before i start dismantling/spending wads of cash on it. any thoughts on the reason why? spheres u/s ( at least 15 years old!!) needs re bleeding ECU gone any ideas welcome Thanks | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1678 Registered: 6-2006 |
Hi Ron, almost certainly a pair of rear gas springs. (Spheres). | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 912 Registered: 4-2009 |
Paul is right on the money. The spheres need changing. | ||
| Ron Vale New User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2012 |
Paul, would you know the Citreon part number that covers these? My ex employer will give me discount!! | ||
| Ron Vale New User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2012 |
Ignore my last message. further reading put me right!! | ||
| Ron Vale New User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2012 |
Before i part with hard earned cash. i have had spheres gone equals verd ride, and by that i would guess it rattles the fillings,and sphers gone bouncy ride and by that the rear seat passengers touch the roof going over small bumps. So what is correct? I have the bouncy castle symptoms | ||
| gary webb Yet to post message Username: webbgw Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2014 |
hi ron sorry my vin number for my car SCAZS000XBCH03067 regards gary | ||
| gary webb New User Username: webbgw Post Number: 2 Registered: 6-2014 |
hi ron yes spheres gone i have a 1981 spirit with 18000 miles getting ready to sell it has right rear sphere gone bounces over road ps i have good parts available for cars 80 / 04 available gary webb | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1679 Registered: 6-2006 |
Like "the bumps " when on a kids see saw? Or being pushed along IN a wheel barrow with a solid tyre? | ||
| Mark Aldridge Grand Master Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 363 Registered: 10-2008 |
Paul, I cant think of a better description ! Mark | ||
| Ron Vale New User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 8 Registered: 4-2012 |
Paul more the former! i had the bride and father really oscillating on Sat, and i wasnt too far behind them.It felt as though there was no resistance at all. If you can remember the 'good old days' on a Ford the test was push down once up and settle. Whilst i havent got the strength nowadays to do that on the Spirit it would be push down,release, go and have a cup of tea and then finally watch it stop!!!! It is like being in one of the early 60's US barges. On and while it is past midnight now, i am pretty sure that the rear hasnt 'settled' and is still at a very hight level. Am out all day tomorrow so will do a measure on Sun Morning. It used to settle so much that the wheel carrier would catch the ladder i had underneath, i then used to watch the rear rise up to its running position ( i wish i had kept the measurements!) | ||
| gordon le feuvre Prolific User Username: triumph Post Number: 141 Registered: 7-2012 |
Paul is correct. When active car stationary, no feed to either solenoid. This is so car does not "sit" on take off. Then when moving, changes from hard at low speed to comfort/sport depending on speed etc. If system fails/defaults designed to set dampers to hard by having no feed. This is for safety, so that an owner does not tear off into sunset on soft mode! Active really does work, remember the original training at Crewe. Was in active car following pre-active around Cheshire, could really see car in front rolling, where our car was flat. | ||
| Ron Vale New User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 9 Registered: 4-2012 |
Having been seconded on house duties for a few days, nothing hs been done on rectifying the problem. however just to cler any niggles i might have before setting about putting on new spheres a question Last year i had the LH spring and bottom bracket replaced. I would guess that in order to do this the system would have to be depressurised. If on completion the bleed nipple wasnt tightened up would that give the same symptons of a very bouncy ride? ( havent had a chance to check the fluid level in the front containers yet.) | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1690 Registered: 6-2006 |
I would guess that in order to do this the system would have to be depressurised. No. If on completion the bleed nipple wasnt tightened up would that give the same symptons of a very bouncy ride? ( havent had a chance to check the fluid level in the front containers yet.) No, it would leave a trail & puddles of fluid on the floor. It would also be sitting on it's arse. | ||
| Ron Vale New User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 10 Registered: 4-2012 |
Paul appreciate there is no such thing as a stupid question.. its only the person that asks it! lol Ron | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1691 Registered: 6-2006 |
Oh god Ron. Sorry if that sounded that way . that wasn't the tone I said it in. Best regards, Paul. | ||
| Ron Vale Experienced User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 11 Registered: 4-2012 |
Paul, I never even considered it! The written word does not have the inflection of the spoken word, and cannot convey a wink or a smile.! I just cannot get my head around the 'hard ride' if the spheres go phut. To me hard ride is like being pushed in a shopping trolley over Belgian pave, whereas a soft ride is rather like sitting on a jelly on springs ( which i the condition i have) bouncy bouncy bouncy. Oh to have Carol Vorderman in the back with the rear view mirror adjusted!!! | ||
| Ron Vale Experienced User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 12 Registered: 4-2012 |
OK, warm weather arrived,then rained. But typically RR technology, every video/instruction i have read, does not tell you about the two coils of tubing right in front of the spheres so you cannot get at them!!. Couple of pics attached, apologies if the appear 90 degrees to the left. So how do i get around this? | ||
| Ron Vale Experienced User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 13 Registered: 4-2012 |
Arrghhh no pics! | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1814 Registered: 6-2006 |
So how do i get around this? turn the camera through 90 degrees? Smileeey Face The spheres will come by them. Or take them off the connector to get more flexibility. | ||
| Charles Drakoulas Experienced User Username: free_spirit Post Number: 18 Registered: 1-2016 |
Ron, if you are talking about the two curly hydraulic lines right in front of the rear spheres, I had the same problem not to long ago.I figured that the offensive hydraulic line didn't grow there. It then dawned upon me to remove the top tray that holds the jack and tool kit. Unbelievable! Everything became accessible and I was able to remove the top fixing on both sides. | ||
| Ron Vale Experienced User Username: silverfoxcc Post Number: 14 Registered: 4-2012 |
Charles Have an internet pint. Will have another look at the weekend Thanks Ron | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 2306 Registered: 6-2009 |
Ron, The easiest way to include pictures is using the backslash image command documented on the Forum Formatting Instructions Page under the Images, Attachments, and Clipart section. While I try to use text description that's accurate, it can be quite simple, and some people just stick something like, "pic1", etc., inside the backslash image command. Maximum image size is limited to 640x640 pixels due to the age of this software. You will most likely need to size down any picture you've taken since most cameras, including those on smartphones, use a much higher resolution than this as their lowest resolution. Brian |
