Air suspension recommendations please (1 Viewer)

Apr 23, 2008
193
68
chelmsford Essex
Funster No
2,257
MH
Swift BESSACAR 597
Exp
22
hi guys & girls

I'm thinking of getting air suspension

For my swift bolero

Would like to buy the kit and do it myself, where's the best/cheapest place to get one?

Tia
 

TheBig1

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Nov 27, 2011
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The best is not the cheapest. I recommend the Dunlop system sold by Marcle eisure. The cheap system sold on ebay works but the quality of the airbags is poor

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Ber090

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Dec 12, 2012
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AS air suspension based in Warrington did ours and it is the best thing we have fitted. Quality is top drawer but don't expect it to be cheap. They have a website.
Cheers
Bernie
 
Mar 31, 2014
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BUCCANEER CARAVEL
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Have fitted air assist suspension to my Ford Transit.got the kit of eBay!Made a great difference.Made it in my opinion safer as less body roll when overtaking Lorries on motorways and I can pump it up when I tow my race car.cost me about £300 if I remember rightly.That and a remap were my best two upgrades to an already good vehicle.
 
Aug 27, 2014
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A big difference between air suspension and air assisted suspension - I presume you mean the latter, i.e. airbags fitted replacing the bumpstops above the rear leaf springs?

I've got the Dunlop kit sold by Marcle Leisure. Very pleased with it, fitted it myself with a gauge and air fill valve in the driver's footwell, an easy enough job. Good quality kit, makes my van handle a *lot* better, especially when cornering or being overtaken by / overtaking trucks on the motorway.

My van is both heavy and tall, it's an essential mod in my opinion for a van like mine. Also enabled an uprating to 4000kg - rather than 3850kg without - in my case.

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Sep 26, 2013
4,146
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You need to check what your chassis is before you buy, it could be ALKO which is different to the standard Fiat/Peugeot one.
 

Northernraider

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I'm sure Dave newell does Diy kits, I bought replacement bags from him a few years back for the mobilvetta I had at the time
 

dave newell

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Oct 31, 2008
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I'm sure Dave newell does Diy kits, I bought replacement bags from him a few years back for the mobilvetta I had at the time

Sorry but no we don't do diy kits, we can supply and fit the Dunlop system for a standard Fiat chassis but Marcle (our supplier) no longer support the Dunlop kit for AlKo chassis and therefore we no longer offer air assist for AlKo chassis vehicles. Not certain but fairly sure the Bolero uses an AlKo chassis. Try AS at Warrington.

D.

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Oct 8, 2014
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I bel
Sorry but no we don't do diy kits, we can supply and fit the Dunlop system for a standard Fiat chassis but Marcle (our supplier) no longer support the Dunlop kit for AlKo chassis and therefore we no longer offer air assist for AlKo chassis vehicles. Not certain but fairly sure the Bolero uses an AlKo chassis. Try AS at Warrington.

D.

You are indeed correct the Bolero is based on the ALKO chassis.(y)
 

SandraL

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Jan 24, 2012
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I could not find a supplier for self fit for the alko rear axle air assist.
We recently had glide-rite fit rear air assist. Have done few miles but was impressed with their approach and ability to let me discuss with engineer on day of fitting. Am pleased with their installation.
System has plated brackets for the firestone air bags, a compressor mounted under van in our case, guages and switches mounted on dash.
Cost now is, I believe £1450 Inc vat but check with CarlLeake 07764 271445. Their office number is 01428 751675 and they can fit at their premises in liphook Hampshire or Liverpool.
 
Aug 27, 2014
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Wow - I'm sure that's a quality system but I think mine was about £350, fitted by myself though. No compressor but for the amount of times I need to change the pressure it's no problem - I just carry a cheap 12v plug-in compressor, the air inlet is on the gauge in the driver's step, so easy to plug it into the cigarette lighter socket and connect it up. If you can find anyone who will let you buy just the kit then fitting on mine at least was an easy job.

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SandraL

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Jan 24, 2012
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Wow - I'm sure that's a quality system but I think mine was about £350, fitted by myself though. No compressor but for the amount of times I need to change the pressure it's no problem - I just carry a cheap 12v plug-in compressor, the air inlet is on the gauge in the driver's step, so easy to plug it into the cigarette lighter socket and connect it up. If you can find anyone who will let you buy just the kit then fitting on mine at least was an easy job.

But was it for an Alko chassis? They are very different from the leaf spring standard fiat type.
 
Aug 27, 2014
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No, not for Alko, hence the "If you can find anyone who will let you buy just the kit" comment. I appreciate it'll be different from the standard Fiat chassis.
 

Xabia

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Jan 20, 2011
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I recently had VB full air suspension fitted by SAP in Doncaster and am very impressed with the fitting and the ride improvement. They do rear only but not sure of the cost.

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Lenny HB

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Oct 18, 2007
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If it is an Al-Ko chassis you can't get di
Wow - I'm sure that's a quality system but I think mine was about £350, fitted by myself though. No compressor but for the amount of times I need to change the pressure it's no problem - I just carry a cheap 12v plug-in compressor, the air inlet is on the gauge in the driver's step, so easy to plug it into the cigarette lighter socket and connect it up. If you can find anyone who will let you buy just the kit then fitting on mine at least was an easy job.
For the Al-Ko chassis you can not get a DIY kit. Only Glide-Rite, VP, Goldsmitt & Al-Ko do systems for Al-Ko and Glide-Rite are the cheapest.
Also it's not an easy job you have to replace the suspenion arms.
 

SandraL

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@Lenny HB
On my van the hubs were removed to fit longer bolts to enable the air bag bracket to be mounted on the swinging arm.
Goldshmitt go furthur, remove the swing arms and replace the torsion bars with weaker ones, meaning if an airbag loses pressure you need lowloader to recover you.
This of course makes Goldsmitt somewhat dearer.
 

DigglyDog

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Jan 25, 2016
207
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Bailey Approach 620 SE
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2015
Another vote for AS in Warrington. As said, not cheap, but excellent service ands after all, why skimp on cost and putting yourself at risk.
Do a proper job !!
:)

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OP
OP
RollingRog
Apr 23, 2008
193
68
chelmsford Essex
Funster No
2,257
MH
Swift BESSACAR 597
Exp
22
So I'm just going to check my chassis and if it's the Alko as stated earlier then by all accounts I can get AS of Warrington or glide rite or VP to supply and fit air assist system?
 

DigglyDog

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Jan 25, 2016
207
194
Milton Keynes
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Bailey Approach 620 SE
Exp
2015
Sounds like it - there's usually a label somewhere - my Bailey has a label with Al-Ko AMC on it.
Give AS a ring - they've seen most types so will no doubt give you the definitive answer.
They're very friendly people too !

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