Rear Boge Unit Mods

[ARangie]

I've seen a few threads, suggesting the removal of the unit, but I was wondering.

If I lower the top mount to suit the suspension lift, and then modify the unit to accept 2 airline inputs, 1 at the bottom, 1 at the top. Could the unit be then used as a kinda air height adjuster.

Adjust up when doing extra tricky bits, where the rear end is likely to get a clout, or to just set the ride height the way I want it.

Or am I totaly in my dreams, I'm feeling a bit crook at the moment and too damn tired to work on the rangie, but my mind is still busy.

[fnukle]

ive been thinking along the same lines lately.
more tho replacing it with a small hydrolic ram.
problem with that is of course having to having a hrydro setup which is more bother than its worth.

so an air ram is the obveous choice tho i hadnt thought of airing straight into the boige unit itself. i have no idea on the boige unit to know if it'd work or not. someone will tho :)

i had in mind using some air ram already availible to match/bodgy inplace.

[ARangie]

I guess a Air Ram would work but it would need a decent shaft size some thing like the boge unit, and it would need to be at least the same diameter as the boge or it would not enough force, I think even a second hand unit would be pricey, that why I was thinking bout modifing the boge..

Though I think with long travel suspension the boge will not have the travel...

Wait and see what other replys we get,

[HSV Rangie]

AIR BAG.

[zen]

if you have fitted +2 or so springs and they are stiffer than originals.(ie like mine) then you get a better ride without it..but then the rear saggs when adding weight,and on acceleration...

so i have just extended the leveller(using the ram bitty of an old one,just cut if off and get end turned down and threaded,use this bit to extend ..)

when i get access to big enough jacks to raise back of car up will be refitting..

will let you know how it goes..

[ARangie]

Well I got lazy, and had 4wd service centre do some work.
fitted disco pitman arm, radius rod, now I can just change the ball not the whole pitman arm.
Finally fitted the new ball joint, and upper a frame bushes, and fitted caster bushes. and wheel alignment.

Removed the Boge unit. Can't say there is any difference. Though the guy did tell me why I had cracked the rear diff mount, say it was to do with the boge being too short.

So I will proberly sell the boge. It's in good nick, just need to get the ball out of the bottom.

[POD]

so i have just extended the leveller(using the ram bitty of an old one,just cut if off and get end turned down and threaded,use this bit to extend ..)

when i get access to big enough jacks to raise back of car up will be refitting..

will let you know how it goes..

I got a machine shop to make up a 40mm extension for the boge ram- had a helluva job fitting it but the suspension now works properly at the 2" lift height. The 40mm was pretty much a guess, but seems about right.

I've experimented with an airbag- not enough room between the a-frame arms to fit a bag big enough to do the job. The axle has a fair bit of mechanical advantage over the boge unit, so very high forces are required- putting air into the Boge, like an airbag, I think you'd find that you need to put somewhere around 200psi into it.

Fitting a hydraulic ram would give the height adjustment, but the ride might be a bit stiff! (about the same as a block of wood). Some kind of hydraulic-over-coil arrangement might be feasible, but space is limited.

[ARangie]

I've left mine out, seems to have dropped about 5 to 10mm.
I've undone the big lower nut on the and cleaned it filled it with mastic, and screwed it back on. Latter if change my mind, I can reinstall. The removal is reversable.

[swamp]

Unless you have extended shock mounts the rear boige unit cannot be too short as you have to remove both rear shocks to remove it.
I am interested to know how the extension is holding up as the unit is now working with a reduced compression but extended travel length.
I have tossed up a few ideas on the subject.
Light coil spring with poly air bag.
twin pump up shocks side by side.
firestone airbag in cannister.
When you have one on the bench the force needed to compress it in its unenergised state is huge, and the travel off the unit is very small , if someone can make a manually adjustable unit or equivillant then well done.
cheers

[ARangie]

When I get a chance, I may build a jig and compress the boge unit in a press, to measure the stroke. The jig will make this a safe experiment.

At the moment apart from a little less ride height, I can't tell any differance.

I have a few other projects on the go, so don't hold your breath.