Grande lift warning

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

Now you guys have me worried!
Are all the failures associated with carrying and towing heavy loads?
Craig, Andrew, do you guys do much towing?

When I get an SST and do the spacers, I might just weld up the mounts anyway.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Now you guys have me worried!
Are all the failures associated with carrying and towing heavy loads?
Craig, Andrew, do you guys do much towing?

When I get an SST and do the spacers, I might just weld up the mounts anyway.

Haven't towed anything in over 12mths. I did however work the rear end a couple of weeks ago with some very rocky, downhill terrain, so the airbags would have been extended a fair bit... I will be definitely be strengthening up the drivers side airbag mount when I get the chance

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Craig do you have access to a MIG? If not you are welcome to borrow my 240V Kempii and gas.

EDIT needs a 15A socket though.

Michael

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Thanks Michael.
Not a welder, never have been... I will most likely call upon the guy who knocks up my TraxRax to fabricate the gussett for me.

Thanks for the kind offer though!

[Guest Close Guest]

Marc,
Haven't towed either. Don't know if it is old age or the slight rotation of the axle causing the airbags to form an angle.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

OK so I've had a crack at repairing my Airbag today, which I'm hoping will buy me sometime until I can replace the Airbag with a new unit. First thing I did was grabbed some RapidFix adhesive from BCF. My local Browns Plains store had plenty on the shelf. I did a test run on an old wheelbarrow inner tube by putting a nick in the tube and then using the adhesive. I pumped up the tube nice and tight and it held OK. But as soon as I flexed the tube at the repaired area, it split. I also tried using the Solvent and the welding powder which hardened instantly, but this just peeled off the rubber when flexed as the glue was now hard and the tube, (obviously) was flexible. I wasnt confident that the RapidFix would hold on it's own, so I broke out the Good Ole Rescue tape that I got suckered into buying a couple of years ago at the 4WD show. This Tape is a self amalgamating/Fusing tape which apparently is good for up to 700psi.

Rapid Fix & Recue Tape




The area where the airbag is split is at the very edge of the bag where it meets with the lower steel mounting case airbag (the bottom part).The airbag has small cracks all the way around the base so utilizing the Rescue tape should help. I spread the split in the bag and used some RapidFix the area then closed it up, holding it tight for approx 30 secs. Releasing it showed that it had bonded OK(ish), but wasn't prepared to flex it at this time. I then stretched and tightly wrapped the Rescue Tape around the airbag a number of times. I let it sit for a couple of hours before reinstalling the airbag for the big test.

Airbag Glued and Taped up ready for fitting


Pumping it up and releasing a few times, taking it for a drive up and over the suburbs traffic calming islands, putting it up on a ramp to flex the rear and it is holding.


I've now pumped the rear up to High (870mm Bottom of Rim to guard) and will leave O/Night to see if it holds. Fingers crossed....

[Guest Close Guest]

Will hunt for that tape tomorrow. Going to Robe on Sunday - eeek!

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

If you cant find any, let me know and I can send a roll down to you. What you don't use you can send back....

[Guest Close Guest]

Thanks for the offer Craig. Don't think it will be in time for Sunday.

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

I reckon you have better chances with the rescue tape than the miracle glue!
Ive used rescue tape on radiator hoses and has held up well.

Im sure SCA sells similar stuff but call it something different, SOS Tape, Chinese knock off Im guessing
Whether its as good or not I dont know.

http://catalogue.supercheapauto.com....logue#pageNo=4

Bottom right corner of the page.

[Rodolinski Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rodolinski]

Andrew.
From Craig's photo it would appear that the tape is very similar to, if not the same as, "Tommy Tape", a silicone rubber wrap that you should be able to get from most places. I get it from Bunnings.
The packaging states it is good for pressures over 700PSI and it comes in a range of colours.
From memory it's about $10 per roll.
Cheers.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Just be sure to streeeeetch the tape as its applied Andrew. I started the tape on the opposite side of the airbag to ensure it was well stretched before I got to the split and probably went around the bag half a dozen times ensuring there was no room for leakage


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Guest Close Guest]

Got the tape, Marc. Thanks for the lead. Another useful item to add to the glove box.

Thank you also to Rodolinski and Craig.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Airbag Patch still holding. (touch wood!) Took the Prado for another little drive over some bumps and hollows. Nothing too stressful of course. Just wanted to be sure the temp fix will hold for a couple of weeks until I can get replacements... It's good to know at least that a temp fix can be done if required and the car can be driven for a period. Obviously like Andrew, I was lucky that the bag split where it did, as being at the base, it made it easy to apply the rescue tape to patch it up.. Hopefully it'll hold for a couple of day trips over the Xmas break (Bribie & Double Island Point.)

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

Good luck with that Craig, I reckon youll be fine.
Dont let it mess with your head

Have a great new year!