Outer Limits 4x4 Board

i have spent ages searching to no avail.. has anyone ever put a normal pressure gauge on the rancho system to work out what pressure corresponds to the 9 stages of adjustability in the shock.

im not interested in anyones opinion of them being crap etc. etc. but this information would make it simple to setup a diy incab system for less than $480. especially when a compressor is already in the vehicle.

any help would be great,
cheers
cam

ARB compressor or anything limited to 110ish psi won;t cut it, need around 200psi, if my memory serves me correctly

bigcam wrote: im not interested in anyones opinion of them being crap

Damn!

cloughy wrote:ARB compressor or anything limited to 110ish psi won;t cut it, need around 200psi, if my memory serves me correctly

200 psi ??????????................Have you seen the size of the compressors that run these systems, i dont think they could produce 20 psi

I've got a full kit sitting in the garage no longer being used.....PM me an offer if you interested (Older 5 setting one but)

Let me know if you need a pressure gauge - I have access to plenty, at a variety of ratings, and they are only the size of a 10 cent piece...

Gwagensteve wrote:

bigcam wrote: im not interested in anyones opinion of them being crap

Damn!

don't worry after searching for a few hours im very well versed in the myriad of opinions on them, but i have the shocks and want to play..they were the right price and worst case i put my other ones back in...i can be the only judge of me liking them or not...

i have read differing things about "how much they run" but what im looking for is the pressure for each setting.. i.e..

1 - 0psi
2- 30psi
3-60psi
4-
5-
6-
7, 8, 9 and so on....

this would be easy to do with a pressure gauge and a normal rancho system, it just looks like no one has ever done it..

next step is to measure compressive force required at each setting them replicate it with pressure on the valve to work it out but probably not overly accurate.

the small pumps could push 200psi, just with no volume but as its only force needed not flow and the piston is very small in diameter its possible it may need a significant pressure to get to setting "9"

thanks for the offer twisty.. pm sent...

taps wrote:

cloughy wrote:ARB compressor or anything limited to 110ish psi won;t cut it, need around 200psi, if my memory serves me correctly

200 psi ??????????................Have you seen the size of the compressors that run these systems, i dont think they could produce 20 psi

Your spatial ability is limited?

High pressure, low volume

cloughy wrote:

taps wrote:

cloughy wrote:ARB compressor or anything limited to 110ish psi won;t cut it, need around 200psi, if my memory serves me correctly

200 psi ??????????................Have you seen the size of the compressors that run these systems, i dont think they could produce 20 psi

Your spatial ability is limited?

High pressure, low volume

Yeah.......he is trying to adjust a shock, not blow a tyre onto a rim

This is something that's been bugging me for a while too. I've got an in cab kit but it's not fitted yet. I'm also running a Twin Tongue compressor.

However, I've just this morning cobbled together a few parts to check the pressures. I'm amazed.

1 - 20psi
2 - 40psi
3 - 60psi
4 - 80psi
5 - 100psi
...... I stopped at 5 (I have a 9 setting gauge) I was worried that I'd blow a fitting.

So it's sounds fair that 9 - is 200psi...! It was fairly linear the whole way up. The pressure was when the Rancho gauge was pointing at the middle of the number.

Good luck. I think I'll put my Rancho compressor in.

Interesting. I've been wondering about this too.

I've been wondering if the piston/mechanism in the shock would handle constantly varying pressures? Thinking about connecting them directly to my airbag suspension. Heavier load > higher airbag pressure > stiffer shock to suit.

DJR96 wrote:Interesting. I've been wondering about this too.

I've been wondering if the piston/mechanism in the shock would handle constantly varying pressures? Thinking about connecting them directly to my airbag suspension. Heavier load > higher airbag pressure > stiffer shock to suit.

Neat idea!

But - Wouldn't you then have problems when (for instance) going over bumps or under articulation, when the bag compresses the pressure goes up and then down again quite quickly?

...and I seriously doubt the airbags could handle 200PSI!!!

But still, means that the additional (small volume high pressure) compressor for the control of shocks would likely be required...

if that is the psi req for the shocks

how dose a little switch on the bottom of the shock adjust so much and create such a large pressure change?

chris

bigcam

I can see where you’re coming from but keep in mind that the adjustment available in these shocks isn’t just restricted to precisely 1,2 3, 4 etc when using the normal Rancho air adjustment. There is now infinite adjustment between each set figure.

Manually you are restricted to the actual 1,2 3 etc as the knob clicks into these settings but with the air adjustment they can be set anywhere and there is a difference, between say 3 and 3 ¼, 3 ½ etc etc.

Having the proper gauge means this can be utilised and it would be worthwhile taking advantage of this. I have twin gauges, controls and pumps so the front and rear can easily be adjusted independently

.

ozrunner wrote:bigcam

I can see where you’re coming from but keep in mind that the adjustment available in these shocks isn’t just restricted to precisely 1,2 3, 4 etc when using the normal Rancho air adjustment. There is now infinite adjustment between each set figure.

Manually you are restricted to the actual 1,2 3 etc as the knob clicks into these settings but with the air adjustment they can be set anywhere and there is a difference, between say 3 and 3 ¼, 3 ½ etc etc.

Having the proper gauge means this can be utilised and it would be worthwhile taking advantage of this. I have twin gauges, controls and pumps so the front and rear can easily be adjusted independently

.

Great info,

But you can also have infinite adjustment if you have a small pressure regulator (or two) in the cab to accompany the guages.

For sure, but you don't want to get too complicated otherwise you might run off the road while turning various knobs etc to adjust them

In my case it's simple to reach up and push either the add or release air button to do an adjustment on either front or rear without even having to look

The two switches control electric front and rear swaybar releases connected to the warning lights above and also to the VDO speed sensor to audibly warn they are disconnected if I go over 75kph etc.

The blue switch is for gauge lights

physh wrote:

DJR96 wrote:Interesting. I've been wondering about this too.

I've been wondering if the piston/mechanism in the shock would handle constantly varying pressures? Thinking about connecting them directly to my airbag suspension. Heavier load > higher airbag pressure > stiffer shock to suit.

Neat idea!

But - Wouldn't you then have problems when (for instance) going over bumps or under articulation, when the bag compresses the pressure goes up and then down again quite quickly?

...and I seriously doubt the airbags could handle 200PSI!!!

But still, means that the additional (small volume high pressure) compressor for the control of shocks would likely be required...

Whilst an air bag is rated at 80 - 120psi (static pressure), jounce (weird word that...) pressure can reach 200psi.

Big bumps is when some extra rebound dampening might be a good thing? And I had cross connected airbags in mind so articulation is no problem.

Dunno. Just an idea I had. I probably won't do it because you would lose the manual adjustability of them.

ozrunner wrote: The two switches control electric front and rear swaybar releases connected to the warning lights above and also to the VDO speed sensor to audibly warn they are disconnected if I go over 75kph etc.

Very clever and sensible!

The standard knobs on the Rachos have a screw type mechanism to them. As you rotate the knob it pushes the needle valve in for the adjustment. The air pressure system replaces the screw mechanism to push the needle valve.

i understand that you can infinitely adjust the pressures, i just needed a reference for each pressure and to determine if the increase was exponential or linear, and a maximum required pressure, i just dont see $400 in a shitty little compressor a few meters of hose and some gauges! especially when i have most of these parts kicking about the shed....will do some tests see how i go.. thanks for the info guys.. if anyone cares to plat the whole range im sure you would win much interweb popularity!!!
cheers
am.

how would you apply the pressure to the shocks ??? , some sort of thin piston ?

same way their kit does, air fitting that uses air pressure to move the piston instead of thumb screw.