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Hydraulic coilovers, any engineers out there?
nitram38 - 2/4/10 at 01:36 PM

I'm toying with changing the MotaLeira suspension to coilovers to give me more adjustability.
I'd still like to be able to run low and raise the car if necessary.
I found these but their prices are a bit steep.
Anyone know where to get the rams made or buy? I'm sure the pump is easy to source.



blakep82 - 2/4/10 at 01:40 PM

have a look at rayvern hydraulics. i seem to remember their prices were pretty good

nitram38 - 2/4/10 at 01:50 PM

Just got this email reply from them :
A 4 ram system kit will be $2356.96. I believe shipping is about $85.00 plus insurance

At todays rate thats about £1700 and I'd still need to buy shocks and springs.

plentywahalla - 2/4/10 at 02:31 PM

If you can source the rams ok. Look into trim tab sets for boats. 'Insta Trim' and 'Bennetts'. Both are american made, designed for harsh marine environments.

They use almost identical 12 volt hydraulic power packs switches solenoids etc. The complete kits retail in this country for about £500.

The rams are conventional hydraulic rams, 2 or 4 per set that deliver about 1/4 ton of thrust.

nitram38 - 2/4/10 at 04:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by plentywahalla
If you can source the rams ok. Look into trim tab sets for boats. 'Insta Trim' and 'Bennetts'. Both are american made, designed for harsh marine environments.

They use almost identical 12 volt hydraulic power packs switches solenoids etc. The complete kits retail in this country for about £500.

The rams are conventional hydraulic rams, 2 or 4 per set that deliver about 1/4 ton of thrust.


The rams need to go on the spring seat

plentywahalla - 2/4/10 at 05:33 PM

yeah ... that why I said if you could source the rams ok....the rest of the kit can come much cheaper.

You could always convert the top coilover mounts to rockers and fit the conventional style rams on the other arm.

paulf - 2/4/10 at 07:51 PM

I would have thought that it would be quite easy to make or have made the rams.They could be made from alloy with a stainless inner and maybe use brake caliper seals or hydraulic release bearing parts.
They are not going to be that heavily loaded and would probably only have to carry the cars weight when elevated at lowish speeds.
Paul.

nitram38 - 3/4/10 at 11:06 AM

Anyone on here make the rams?

Ignore the ring its an adapter from 2.5" springs to 2.25" ones


Description
Description

[Edited on 4/4/2010 by nitram38]

Badger_McLetcher - 4/4/10 at 10:50 AM

So if I understand correctly, when you extend the ram you lose all your droop?
Not good for use whilst driving but a very intriguing proposition for getting over speed bumps.
If you've got a lathe you could probably make them yourself mate.

nitram38 - 4/4/10 at 11:18 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Badger_McLetcher
So if I understand correctly, when you extend the ram you lose all your droop?
Not good for use whilst driving but a very intriguing proposition for getting over speed bumps.
If you've got a lathe you could probably make them yourself mate.


No lathe or lathe skills but I know what I'm after. I've even seen where to buy the seals. As for droop, it depends on how long your shocks will extend.
I want to run my car as low as posible, about 3 1/2".
Using coilovers will enable me to have a consistant ride and shock adjustment. At present my air shocks have a sweet spot depending on weight and height, which is variable.
The rams really are for low speed speed bumps and low ground dips, so they are not going to be used in anger.
I want to set the suspension up for the lowest setting.

[Edited on 4/4/2010 by nitram38]

nitram38 - 9/4/10 at 05:11 AM

Costing them out seems buying the rams from ramliftpro is the easiest and cheapest for me. £700 for the rams.
Rayvern Hydraulics provides a cheaper pump at half the price of ramlift pro at £320.
I'll be talking to Russ Bost about the braided hoses!
Aluminium shocks ordered from Gaz (sorry didn't read the post on protech etc) but gaz have swapped out a dodgy shock after 1 year FOC for me before. £95 each plus vat.
I'll buy the springs once I have the shocks and rams in my hands..
Looking at £1600-1700 for the lot.
Anyone want to buy some 15" airshocks and pump?

nitram38 - 13/4/10 at 04:49 PM

Well I've come a cropper already.
Rayvern sold me a pump after I gave him my specs and he sent me a pump that is so big I won't even be able to mount it in the motaleira.
It's so big it would operate a tipper lorry!
It is powered by main battery leads.
I'm annoyed because he would not give me any dimensions or spec when I asked.
I've emailed him to see what he intends to do to sort it.

nitram38 - 21/4/10 at 12:55 PM

Well Rayvern has done nothing at all.
Another business to add to the list of unhelpful people in the world.
He's only interested in taking money.

Still I've sourced the pumps and looks like I may be producing my own lift kits for coilovers soon.

andkilde - 21/4/10 at 10:05 PM

Nitram, bit late to the party but, could you adapt a power steering pump (belt or electric) to drive your rams?

You could control a mechanical pump from a three way switch on the dashboard with a 12v solenoid-activated hydraulic valve, plumbed to recirculate the fluid when you're not lifting. An electric P/S pump out of a VW or similar might be even easier.

Cheers, Ted

nitram38 - 22/4/10 at 05:05 AM

I've sourced the exact pump ramlift pro use. And it doesn't require anything more than a rocker switch to operate.
There is nothing stopping people just buying the rams (if I can get them made cheap enough) and trying their own system, but I'm going to stick to something that works.