Load leveling system

[JabbaTHutt]

Hope someone can help me. I have still been looking for the control unit at the wrecking yards for my 2003 load leveling, hard part is its a 2004 control unit. I don't want to drop 500 bucks on one if I end up replacing the shocks, they don't leak yet but the whole system still works fine. Is there a way to make it pump up higher than what is does now? I know I can put it in test mode and it pumps up fine and I can cancel it and it lets the air out, I would like to put more in it and have it stay. Or am I looking at taking the line off the pump and trying to hook it up to a tire type connection? I would like to figure this out in the next day or 2 as I need to pick up 4 people and luggage at the airport in 2 days. Thanks

[roadrunner2]

Originally Posted by JabbaTHutt

Hope someone can help me. I have still been looking for the control unit at the wrecking yards for my 2003 load leveling, hard part is its a 2004 control unit. I don't want to drop 500 bucks on one if I end up replacing the shocks, they don't leak yet but the whole system still works fine. Is there a way to make it pump up higher than what is does now? I know I can put it in test mode and it pumps up fine and I can cancel it and it lets the air out, I would like to put more in it and have it stay. Or am I looking at taking the line off the pump and trying to hook it up to a tire type connection? I would like to figure this out in the next day or 2 as I need to pick up 4 people and luggage at the airport in 2 days. Thanks

I can't figure why you think you need to overfill the load leveler.

If the leveler activates as you load the van and it raises to level that's all you need for safe operation.

I've had six adults besides myself with luggage from the airport in my 2000 Silhouette.

Never had one issue with it.

[JabbaTHutt]

I guess I wasn't clear on it.

The sensor arm is broken off so it only has the minimal amout of air in it.

I put 2 people in the back of it and it bottoms out.

I can force air into the system but the computer lets it all out.

One shock is leaking oil.

$150-200 bucks for new shocks.

$427 for the new sensor.

You do the math.

I jury rigged it today, installed an air shock kit on it and hooked the outputs to each shock to each other.

I plan now to replace the shocks with regular ones and replace the springs with a set from a wreking yard from a van just like this but without the load leveling, I have been told that there is a differance in the springs.

I can now go to the airport tonight and pick up 4 adults and luggage without having it bottom out.

[JabbaTHutt]

Now this is really weird, I had posted earlier what I had done and was planing to do and when I hit submit it told me I that the post was too short.

1. The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 3 characters.

So when it did that I lost the entire post, now this was in FF I posted it so I switched over to IE and am now able to post again.

[spike88]

Originally Posted by JabbaTHutt

I guess I wasn't clear on it. The sensor arm is broken off so it only has the minimal amout of air in it. I put 2 people in the back of it and it bottoms out. I can force air into the system but the computer lets it all out. One shock is leaking oil. $150-200 bucks for new shocks. $427 for the new sensor. You do the math. I jury rigged it today, installed an air shock kit on it and hooked the outputs to each shock to each other. I plan now to replace the shocks with regular ones and replace the springs with a set from a wreking yard from a van just like this but without the load leveling, I have been told that there is a differance in the springs. I can now go to the airport tonight and pick up 4 adults and luggage without having it bottom out.

As a suggestion, surf the many different posts within:

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:...&hl=en&ct=clnk

Might be the proper Part number and 3rd party re-seller (in the above URL) you are looking for.

------------

Also... Do investigate Timbrens SES units instead. Timbren SES units is like Air Bags without pressurized air inside them. I have SES units on my 2001 Safari van and love them. Instead of buying the Montana Air Compressor / Air shocks system for factory $650, I'm going to buy Timbren SES units for $350ish instead. For more details, surf: http://www.timbren.com/ses-van-suv.htm


Hope this helps...

.

[JabbaTHutt]

I checked out that post and no one mentions the sensor in it so.

I also checked out the SES units and at $350ish it is still way to costly.

There is no reason that I shouldn't be able to new shocks from a normal van and used springs from one well under the $350 for the SES units.

Thanks for the info

Originally Posted by spike88

As a suggestion, surf the many different posts within:

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:...&hl=en&ct=clnk

Might be the proper Part number and 3rd party re-seller (in the above URL) you are looking for.

------------

Also... Do investigate Timbrens SES units instead. Timbren SES units is like Air Bags without pressurized air inside them. I have SES units on my 2001 Safari van and love them. Instead of buying the Montana Air Compressor / Air shocks system for factory $650, I'm going to buy Timbren SES units for $350ish instead. For more details, surf: http://www.timbren.com/ses-van-suv.htm


Hope this helps...

.

[spike88]

.

Unknown to many, steel solution upgrades (like stronger coil springs) create more `upward rebound` effect. This creates "road hop". Especially when going around rough corners in the winter time. To reduce upward rebound effect, one needs to install higher quality / more expensive shocks. Add costs of better shocks and stronger leaf springs and yes, the price gets expensive. Often, the same cost as "rubber" based solutions - which do NOT create upper rebound effect (when properly adjusted).

In the above URL (Montana shocks search string), you'll notice that many people posting problems with their factory Air Shock / Air Compressor systems. Concerns from shock breakage, to air leaks, to other problems. And, GM setting extreme high cost replacement parts as well. Thus, why many different 3rd party replacement part numbers - from different "lower cost" sources.

Personally, I don't like "air shocks". Over time, they leak and do put "too much" pressure on the shock mounts. Mounts NOT made to support the long term up/down weight. For me, I like Timbrens SES units or Air Bags. Air bags (Coil-Right design for Uplander / Montrana van). For example: http://www.firestoneindustrial.com/r...ri=97&rrk=4155

Pick which system you feel is right for you (and your hauling / towing needs).

If wondering, do shop around. Prices do vary for any non-GM part you pick. And remember to use "before & after 13% taxes" for your OR region.

.

[JabbaTHutt]

Well I am not planning to put a stonger spring in unless that is what GM used in the no air shock models.

I am just going to get the factory srpings from a wrecking yard for the model without airshocks and out them in my van then put the shocks on it that it would have besides the air shocks.

[merc81]

The front struts mount to the body on a different angle on the vans with load leveling compared to the vans without. You can see the change if you look at both mount plates that Napa carries. The model without load leveling system has less forward angle than the model with load leveling. Its not much, and I don't see where it makes a big change, but just so you know, there is a change in the front suspension between the two setups.

[rockwood84]

why don't you just fix an arm on the leveler since you can't find one.you just need to get something that will work as an arm. or just go with a closed air shock system that you put air in and let out yourself.

[JabbaTHutt]

Well what I did when we had it up on the hoist last year is look at the arm and nope, no way was it going back on. The part that holds the arm on to the sensor, now the part sticking out of the sensor that the arm connects to has a slot in it so we figured it was a variable resistor so poped out what we thought was a hunk of plastic that held the fastener that held the arm on. Well guess what? It wasn't, it was some kind of transistor or something as it was ceramic with hair thin wires comming out of it and also it doesn't turn so it doesn't work, and no way to reapair it.

Now if you read back that is what I did, turned it into a blow it up system.

Thanks

Originally Posted by rockwood84

why don't you just fix an arm on the leveler since you can't find one.you just need to get something that will work as an arm. or just go with a closed air shock system that you put air in and let out yourself.