Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

Hydraulic height adjust Leones


Tom0
 Share

Recommended Posts

Instead of cluttering a useful thread, I thought I would make another for a bit of information on these,

http://puu.sh/bKmHR.jpg

http://puu.sh/bKmJ3.jpg

http://puu.sh/bKmIs.jpg

http://puu.sh/bKmJQ.jpg

 

Hydraulic lift suspension that sits on top of springs/shocks

 

Both of the 1984 Leones I have (Wagon that I drive and spare sedan parts car) Have these on them. Note the really low spring perch mount, (Shock Subaru#21007GA280 made by SHOWA #90801) I presume the second # is SHOWA
 

The pump sits in the left front guard
http://puu.sh/bLIBV/af686db895.jpg  Then seen through bumper http://puu.sh/bLIAX/b0b46e54ee.jpg

 

Has a filler that bolts above and to left of radiator

http://puu.sh/bLIBp/5ada10ac91.jpg Bolt on filler has a small air bleed hole in it.

One line comes out of pump from here
http://puu.sh/bLIzc/9f19657560.jpg Which runs to front left strut and splits off.

So, if anyone has more information on these that would be cool, or questions that I might (not likely) be able to answer.
No obvious marks on pump unit but i haven't had time to clean it down yet, so there may be.

 

Cheers, Tom
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So these use conventional coil springs and shock with the height adjustable pneumatic bit at the bottom? Pretty cool design. If my old wagon had had these and a sunroof it would've been complete with 80s options and probably worth keeping. There's a cool cutaway drawing of a red on grey sedan with this suspension from a JDM sales brochure somewhere, Jeszek will know... I though I had it but can't find it.

 

I know they also fitted these (or a similar version) to the 1st gen Legacy, my Dad had an '89 imported JDM Legacy VZ with these. He used it offroad a bit but the lack of low range on the JDM model wasn't ideal... He also had to replace the pump as it was worn out by 1997. Turns out that whoever installed the seatbelts at the Subaru factory had put the bolt through the hose for the suspension so it was continually being pumped up! It must have been a rare option though as I look in all the 1st-gens I come across but I've never seen another with the height-adjusties. The Legacy version was also a true air suspension I think, with a compressor and air hoses, not a mixed version like the L series. Unfortunately Dad sold the car 15 years ago so I only have this picture...11l3loy.jpg

 

There's also this thread of mine from last year about some NZ-designed custom air suspension.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/142616-interesting-custom-glleoneloyale-suspension/?do=findComment&comment=1198348

Edited by KiwiGL
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, conventional shock/spring but this piece sits above spring tophat and below mount. Also oil filled not pneumatic. Wish i could find some subaru info on these. Looked through that custom suspension thread ages ago too, was well worth the read.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice! I don't think that was an option available over here. Do you think it was a dealer option? If so, there might be a way to look them up.

 

 

There are a few aftermarket makers of the system here but they are awfully expensive.  Now when you NZers talk of a Leone, its our Loyale, right?

Edited by Hsoj
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw once a hydraulic unit like you're describing some 15 years ago. Never seen another since.

 

Always wondered what happened to the ride height with these sitting on top of the suspension. It'd be a good way to do a lift by installing normal height shocks/struts.

 

All of the Gen 1 GX Liberty (Legacy) AWD wagons here had the air suspension. But for the price of 1 replacement unit, you go out & buy 4 conventional aftermarket ones, so these get ditched. The air units are really only a gimmick. And the low range wasn't much use tho.

 

Leone can mean anything from 73 to 94. It was the proper Japanese name for this sized car. Tho in Aus, the Leone was really only the sedan. I think the Loyale is 90 - 94.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice! I don't think that was an option available over here. Do you think it was a dealer option? If so, there might be a way to look them up.

 

 

There are a few aftermarket makers of the system here but they are awfully expensive.  Now when you NZers talk of a Leone, its our Loyale, right?

The Leone was the US GL. The Omega was your Loyale. But we tend to call Omegas Leones too as it just saves confusion. With the odd mix of Japanese imports and NZ-new cars we have here and the various things Subaru called them over the years, we just group them all under 'Leone'. Apart from the Brumby (BRAT).

 

In NZ I've seen Leone badges on Touring Wagons too, even NZ-new ones. Although my old wagon didn't have a Leone badge on it anywhere. Subaru's naming made no sense back then anyway.

 

The suspension was available in the US, I've seen threads about it.

Edited by KiwiGL
Link to comment
Share on other sites

All the threads I could ever find were about the full pneumatic system on some (unsure which, think it was pre legacy) cars? And about how to replace them with standard. Can't remember now, this was 6months or so ago. Second what kiwigl said about model names.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is some kind of retrofit.  Or it's a system we never got here in the US.  it's not the factory subaru height adjustable suspension that we got.

 

Those systems we got here......In GL-10 model L series and XT's in the 80's......and in Legacies in the 90's.......were entirely air based.

 

All of them, the air compressor is mounted in the left side (US drivers) under fender area (above the plastic skirt)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would think it was retrofit if i didn't have 2 cars with the same system, and the shocks have subaru on them. Could be dealer installed I suppose. So the compressor and hydraulic pump are mounted in the same position, least something is similar.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was looking up the system here and all I could find was systems for Porsche and lamborgini....starting a $4000+ish. I would think if there was a system used, we could find info on it. Would a NZ fsm have any info? Or a NZ dealer?  I'm sure there is more of a market out there than what my fast search came up with. Companies that make these style of parts for small limited markets dont seem to last too long though...

 

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/novitec-hydraulic-height-adjustment-with-sport-spring-set-ferrari-california-0812-p-87329.html

http://rpmware.com/data-product-lines/kw-press-release-universal-hydraulic-lift-system-hls

 

or google "KW Hydraulic Lift System" for a brand...

Edited by Hsoj
Link to comment
Share on other sites

...There's a cool cutaway drawing of a red on grey sedan with this suspension from a JDM sales brochure somewhere, Jeszek will know... I though I had it but can't find it....

 

The Height Adjustable Suspensions were Banned in the United States from 1974 to 1981, due to the Stringent interpretation of Passenger vehicle bumper height regulations by the U.S. government agency NHTSA.

 

Subaru was one of a few manufacturers who offered such feature in the United States, after the ban was lifted, on the Subaru XT, the gen III Subaru Leone wagon (EA82), and the Subaru Legacy for a short time, but instead of Hydraulic, those newer suspension controls, were Electro-Pneumatic.

 

I knew that Subaru offered Suspensions with some sort of "Height" Control, on certain "Top of the Line" pre 1985 models in some markets of the World except USA, due to said Ban; BUT those older suspension controls were Hydraulic instead.

 

But as far as I know, it was Not Exactly a Height Control, but a Load control, in which by a Switch on the Dash, the Ride became a little higher but Harder, like in "Sport" mode of the old toyota celicas, with the Hydraulic system aid / Pressure; or the Ride becomes Softer and lower when the Hydraulic assistance is turned off. 

 

I never saw any hydraulic assisted suspension "in Person" but I heard about that in Honduras long years ago, the old Subaru Mechanics from the local Subaru dealer's repair shop, told me about such feature which came in few "Fully Optioned" Wagons.

 

The Part Number you Provided: 21007GA280 Indeed belongs to a Third gen Leone, and is part of this List I have for such models:

 

 

OlderHydraulicHeightControl.jpg

 

 

Thank you for sharing the actual parts' Photos, you're so Kind. Thumbup.jpg

 

Best Regards.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now, that is some information! Thank you Jezek! Now as for it being hydraulic assistance/ road control, if i remember correctly from when i last used it, it switches itself off/ de-pressures at ~80km. Would that make sense?

Thank you again!
-Tom

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, that makes sense, if you consider that the Hydraulic assisted Suspension was intended for levelingLoaded Wagon.

 

So if your Wagon is carrying some Load, Usually you don't want to go faster than 50 MPH / 80 KPH... otherwise the system switch off automatically after that speed limit is reached, in order to prevent Damages to the Hydraulic suspension Components if you hit a pot hole with the extra load. The Hydraulic assistance was intended for temporary use only, unlike the electro-pneumatic system which does Not have coil springs.

 

Kind Regards.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not quite sure I'd agree, but only by my logic, not Subaru's :P

Only because more modern self levelling suspensions for extra loads like you've mentioned are normally only fitted to the rear.

Yet this is for all 4 corners.

 

All of the Subaru height adjustments are only meant for getting over rough terrain in the short term, hence the reason they lower themsevles when going over 80km/h.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

I have a Subaru 1986 1.8 Turbo Station Wagoon with the original electropneumatic high control system . The last year I have noted a small leakage from the right front air suspension. Anyone who know where I can get at new?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Electropneumatic and Hydraulic suspensions are Different.

 

For new parts for your Subie, try with your nearest Subaru Dealer.

 

Maybe you're Lucky and find what you Want, otherwise try e-Bay.

 

People with worn / problematic Electropneumatic suspension, 

 

usually retrofits Standard suspension components, instead.

 

Kind Regards.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

That is them indeed, any idea if they use the same springs as standard shocks? No trouble if you're not sure I could stop being lazy and measure some but if you knew through part numbers haha.

 

Cheers, Tom

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It looks like the rear springs are a similar length. The lower seats are way lower than they are on a standard shock.

 

The fronts I'm not sure. As the lower seat sits out above the tyre, you can't lower that seat like you can do with the rears.

 

Nice pics of the system though. Would love to get hold of a setup. Little chance that's going to wear out like the pneumatic version.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 years later...
On 9/29/2014 at 11:16 PM, Loyale 2.7 Turbo said:

... I knew that Subaru offered Suspensions with some sort of "Height" Control, on certain "Top of the Line" pre 1985 models in some markets of the World except USA, due to said Ban; BUT those older suspension controls were Hydraulic instead...

 

IKjs8bQ.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...