Ride height

Topic: Ride height (Read 1064 times) previous topic - next topic

Ride height

January 21, 2024, 04:55:54 pm

anyone know the ride height and where to measure from. 1996 u280 thanks

Re: Ride height

Reply #1 – January 21, 2024, 05:52:45 pm

Ride height 8.5" top and bottom mounting plates included, obviously photo is not in ride height.

Re: Ride height

Reply #2 – January 21, 2024, 06:20:41 pm

Yup, take a scrap of wood (a piece of 1/4 round works well) and drive two nails-- exactly 8.5" apart. Your new (low cost) Ride Height Measurement Tool.

It should fit from on top of the top plate to below the bottom plate.

Re: Ride height

Reply #3 – January 21, 2024, 06:24:44 pm

thank you

Re: Ride height

Reply #4 – January 24, 2024, 10:39:26 pm

I'm guessing not all coaches use the same right height. If true, do we have a list of ride height by year/model?

Re: Ride height

Reply #5 – January 25, 2024, 12:30:02 am

I would imagine all are the same at least up to 2005.

Re: Ride height

Reply #6 – January 25, 2024, 12:57:20 am

Keith, they were the same for our 1997 U320 as our 2003 U320.

Re: Ride height

Reply #7 – January 25, 2024, 08:02:46 am

The same except for U225, U240 and ORED's for all Foretravel 8 outboard air bag suspensions.

Re: Ride height

Reply #8 – January 25, 2024, 10:34:08 am

Y'all say all the same up to 2005. A placard inside my coach that has my build #, toe in specs, and a few other specs. Says ride ht 8"

Re: Ride height

Reply #9 – January 25, 2024, 11:13:33 am

That is for the bag itself, it is easier to measure on the outside of the plates.

Re: Ride height

Reply #10 – January 25, 2024, 11:40:18 am

8" bags with a 1/4" plate on top and bottom.

Re: Ride height

Reply #11 – January 25, 2024, 12:41:29 pm

And if you want to go by the "Book", it's "from the top of the bottom plate to the bottom of the top plate" which is 8 1/4".

Re: Ride height

Reply #12 – January 25, 2024, 02:29:03 pm

Quote from: craneman – January 25, 2024, 11:13:33 am

That is for the bag itself, it is easier to measure on the outside of the plates.

Good to know.

And as i have never done it, i assume this measurement is taken when the coach is running, flat ground and in travel mode ready to roll?

Re: Ride height

Reply #13 – January 25, 2024, 04:03:21 pm

Quote from: mkc1962 – January 25, 2024, 02:29:03 pm

And as i have never done it, i assume this measurement is taken when the coach is running, flat ground and in travel mode ready to roll?

Correct.... what you said, coach in neutral and parking brake set (so it won't roll away). THEN check ride height.

Re: Ride height

Reply #14 – January 25, 2024, 11:38:27 pm

Looks like mine are sitting around 8.5" to 9". Any reason to fret over 1/2" high?

Re: Ride height

Reply #15 – January 25, 2024, 11:40:29 pm

Nope, I keep mine set 1/2" high due to bottoming out on some of our fine roads and bridges.

Re: Ride height

Reply #16 – January 25, 2024, 11:54:43 pm

I checked mine while at Q a found my rears were more than an inch low. There was evidence of my wheels hitting the inside top of the wheel wells. Some fellow foretravelers, with the magic 8 1/2 in. measuring stick, showed me how to adjust my valves and no longer hitting inside wheel wells. Front was about a 1/4 in. low. Left this for now until I can make some safety blocks to hold up coach to reach valve. Rears were easily accessed thru rear hatches...

Re: Ride height

Reply #17 – January 26, 2024, 10:54:33 am

Un fortunately to set the ride height you have to be in travel mode. The front on is nearly impossible to access in travel mode.

Re: Ride height

Reply #18 – January 26, 2024, 11:08:17 am

Quote from: bbeane – January 26, 2024, 10:54:33 am

Un fortunately to set the ride height you have to be in travel mode. The front on is nearly impossible to access in travel mode.

I was thinking about that. An adjuster in the wheel well would be nice - adjust up, adjust down, double-check - done!

Instead... measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height, measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height, measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height, measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height, measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height, measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height...

Seriously, it took me three tries to get it right, starting from an unadjusted new ride height valve. Maybe fifteen minutes!

Re: Ride height

Reply #19 – January 26, 2024, 11:15:53 am

Quote from: oldmattb – January 26, 2024, 11:08:17 am

I was thinking about that. An adjuster in the wheel well would be nice - adjust up, adjust down, double-check - done!

Instead... measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height, measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height, measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height, measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height, measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height, measure, air-lift the chassis, block, crawl under, adjust, crawl out, unblock, return to ride height...

Seriously, it took me three tries to get it right, starting from an unadjusted new ride height valve. Maybe fifteen minutes!

I drove the front end up on ramps (enough lift so I couldn't be crushed if bags deflated) and adjusted with the coach running. Still scary as hell though

Re: Ride height

Reply #20 – January 26, 2024, 11:49:48 am

Roll the bus fronts up onto 2 x12. Pull brake , chock 4 rear tires. leave running , Check for not rolling, .
Make your check after the air dryer purges.

Measure ride height at a place that you have data for. Some are at the fender , after transferring the bag plate dimensions to the fender lip gaps.
Moving the rear ride height up or down a tiny bit may extend the drive shaft U joints' life . or reduce any drive line vibration, or magnify a vibration .
Moving the front up or down may change the steering wheel position a tiny bit .

Re: Ride height

Reply #21 – January 26, 2024, 05:29:54 pm

Quote from: WS6_Keith – January 25, 2024, 11:38:27 pm

Looks like mine are sitting around 8.5" to 9". Any reason to fret over 1/2" high?

I don't know the max delta from specs that you can get away with.

Two points of failure if straying from specs:
The short driveshaft can change angles between transmission and rear axle quite a bit with just small changes in ride height.
Shocks have a "collapsed" and "extended" length. If ride height too low, shocks can crush on compression. If too long, they can pull apart on extension.

Re: Ride height

Reply #22 – January 28, 2024, 10:45:25 am

For those of you that have adjusted ride height, which way do you turn the adjustment to provide more height?
I haven't looked up close on the adjusters yet....assuming there's some sort of locking nut before you can adjust?

Re: Ride height

Reply #23 – January 28, 2024, 10:55:15 am

Quote from: dlkj07 – January 28, 2024, 10:45:25 am

For those of you that have adjusted ride height, which way do you turn the adjustment to provide more height?
I haven't looked up close on the adjusters yet....assuming there's some sort of locking nut before you can adjust?

There's a metal rod that sits in two rubber sleeves with a band clamp around each. You undo the clamp and slide the rod in or out of that sleeve to adjust height

Re: Ride height

Reply #24 – January 28, 2024, 11:06:35 am

Thanks, which way do you slide it for height? Am I assuming correctly that if you shorten the rod it gains you height?

Affiliate Notice