Wonder if anyone is running a max load p1 air ride kit and would mind answering some of my questions ?
Thank you
Thank you
Max load air ride questions
- Thread starter lukethompson86
- Start date
hazio123
Member
@lukethompson86 I have this system fitted, unsure if I'll know the answers mind you! (...and I'm a bit late).
Feel free to message, I'm also just 1 mimute around the corner from you by the looks of things!
H
Feel free to message, I'm also just 1 mimute around the corner from you by the looks of things!
H
Apart from it dumping the entire system on a blind hill while towing a trailer, because they didnt include or have instructions to say a non-return value was needed between the tank and bags.
I blew a line on the tank and it dumped everything including the bags doing 50mph, was lucky I was going straight and hit the breaks instantly before it had completely aired out thinking id got a flat tyre, otherwise id have no wings left, no split wheels left and maybe not even stayed on the road. Nearly had to have it police craned off the road if it wasnt for some good friends coming to the rescue and getting us up and limped to the side of the road before the crane turned up.
I'd put money on it that many maxload kits still out there that have been fitted a number of years, have no non-return values still to stop air leaving the bags if a tank line blows. I know of a few others since mine happened. Max load have since hearing of mine put that value in their kit apparently but I don't know for sure.
But apart from that, front end nose diving down on the slightest of road undulations and bumps, was crashy and horrible ride, was ripping off splitters almost every few months. When i striped the conversion out, it was better with basically van weight in it, but a full conversion it was horrible, even with dampening adjustments.
Since then with Solows I've got a lower splitter ( LVR on 6.1 frontend) and its been on 18 months and touch wood, I've not had to put the spare on yet, same bumps etc , same roads and riding lower and it doesnt touch the road.
Pic of us aired out on a blind hill, looks cool. But scary as *****
Lovely van and Those wheels are literally 
I've had maxload for while now the ride is terrible feels like towing a trailer when not towing anything jurking bumpy ride lucky a bucking bronco.
I seem to have shares in micro fuses because the compressors keep blowing them and I've had a constant knocking since install and have been chasing the knocking around components thinking it was van related this ended up with me changing top mounts 3 times, 4 sets of drop links including 2 longer sets, h&r antirollbars, track rod ends and polybushed engine mounts gearbox mounts everything still persists to knock some days are better than others and have been in and out of my mechanics now that much that he knows my greggs go to order, conclusion was finally made weekend just passed where we drove 70 miles everything was reasonable "for the suspension" knocking there but liveable pulled into a bus stop to make phone call no change to suspension settings didn't air out or increase/decrease pressures pulled off OMG the continual knocking was horrendous drove 5-10miles pulled over 3 times in this time thought something was hanging off air up and down while stationary could hear this knocking whilst cycling the suspension after 4 cycles up down up down the knocking went back to its slight knock what we now call the liveable knock its not ideal and have concluded the struts and shocks are knackered as theres nothing left to change everything has been checked multiple times and torqued and torqued and torqued.
I've had maxload for while now the ride is terrible feels like towing a trailer when not towing anything jurking bumpy ride lucky a bucking bronco. I seem to have shares in micro fuses because the compressors keep blowing them and I've had a constant knocking since install and have been chasing the knocking around components thinking it was van related this ended up with me changing top mounts 3 times, 4 sets of drop links including 2 longer sets, h&r antirollbars, track rod ends and polybushed engine mounts gearbox mounts everything still persists to knock some days are better than others and have been in and out of my mechanics now that much that he knows my greggs go to order, conclusion was finally made weekend just passed where we drove 70 miles everything was reasonable "for the suspension" knocking there but liveable pulled into a bus stop to make phone call no change to suspension settings didn't air out or increase/decrease pressures pulled off OMG the continual knocking was horrendous drove 5-10miles pulled over 3 times in this time thought something was hanging off air up and down while stationary could hear this knocking whilst cycling the suspension after 4 cycles up down up down the knocking went back to its slight knock what we now call the liveable knock its not ideal and have concluded the struts and shocks are knackered as theres nothing left to change everything has been checked multiple times and torqued and torqued and torqued.
Yeah I feel your pain mate, had similar knocks, everyone kept telling me it was top mounts but no matter what everyone done there was a noise somewhere, had all the bushes done as well to powerflex as the knock was when breaking and pulling away more than anything else. The relay went 3 times, manifold went once ( litterally in the first week which max load replaced ), the fixings were changed twice as well as i didnt trust the maxload fixings in the end.
It was the ride quality that done it for me though and that constant feeling that somethings not right even though it was checked over so many times. Id say that kit ended up costing me double because of the amount of times it was looked at by different people and parts replaced like bushes, top mounts, droplinks, trying to narrow the problem and in the end, I sold it for peanuts as I told the guy how bad it was and i wouldnt trust it and he insisted he wanted it lol. I was prepared to leave it in a box in the garage because i didnt want anyone having the same problems i had.
Solows have been excellent in comparison, dispite some other issues but those were down to fitting and not the kit.
It was the ride quality that done it for me though and that constant feeling that somethings not right even though it was checked over so many times. Id say that kit ended up costing me double because of the amount of times it was looked at by different people and parts replaced like bushes, top mounts, droplinks, trying to narrow the problem and in the end, I sold it for peanuts as I told the guy how bad it was and i wouldnt trust it and he insisted he wanted it lol. I was prepared to leave it in a box in the garage because i didnt want anyone having the same problems i had.
Solows have been excellent in comparison, dispite some other issues but those were down to fitting and not the kit.
hazio123
Member
I've also had/having a similar experience.
Definitely bouncy on the rear, despite dampers being adjusted.
I've had a value leak on one of the bags and a compressor casing crack which resulted in a leak.
I currently have a slow leak on the tank, which after about a week means the rear is sitting on the floor.
Also thinking of shopping it in for something else. Never feel comfortable going on a long trip in case something goes wrong...
Definitely bouncy on the rear, despite dampers being adjusted.
I've had a value leak on one of the bags and a compressor casing crack which resulted in a leak.
I currently have a slow leak on the tank, which after about a week means the rear is sitting on the floor.
Also thinking of shopping it in for something else. Never feel comfortable going on a long trip in case something goes wrong...
Good to hear that im not the only one with issues not enough information prepurchase regarding issues in my opinion hopefully this thread will help people going forward as I wouldn't have made this mistake knowing what I know now and whats been discussed here again.
Just an update for anyone reading going forward. So i claimed on my maxload warranty for new shocks all round bare in mind this was shock only claim no bags and was a bit of agro to get through wanting pictures of the items fitted before sending replacements but this is a rant for another time. So this weekend me and a unsuspecting friend tackled the situation which is no mean feat removing shocks from van and then bags from front legs as they are a threaded set up. Upon removing the rear shocks rubbers ripped to bits so water has been getting there for sure making them useless but never had issues at the rear funnily enough then moving to the front bearing in mind the kit is 12 months old exactly the front shocks where completely shot upon pushing down shocks expecting a slow gradual rise oh no shot straight back up as fast as you could push down absolutely knackered.
Obviously upon doing this we cut air lines and funnily enough only lost air to subsequent cut line.
Conclusion if You have a weird knocking it will probably be the shocks themselves and if you tried the usual suspects top mounts drop links bushes you will drive yourself mad but God's honest truth my van has no knocking now and the ride is so much better not perfect by any means but compared to what I been getting to date its night and day its actually like driving on a cloud now I might of been just unlucky and my shocks were faulty from factory as my kit knocked from day one and i messed about for a long time thinking it was other parts I hope it lasts and it was just a defect I will keep this thread updated in 6 and 12 months for future member help because this system nearly got me selling this van as its such a shame because price is on point there app connectivity is good and responsive and the controller easy and well laid out.
Im aware other brands abp and solow are better but I was at the start of my journey with this van and air was new to me knew nothing about it and i was on a budget and didnt want to break the bank trying something I've never tried and i find people dont talk about it enough they just say abp are great and solow are great.
Would I recommend maxload to anyone probably not based on my experience but had I got the ride out the box I have now I probably would of, if this is your budget and you want to try like me before getting into a deeper whole maybe. Remember you get what you pay for I think I paid £3200 t32 full kit 5 gallon tank 3/8th lines twin compressors brand new i fitted myself so free fitting minus some finger nails and cut knuckles.
Obviously upon doing this we cut air lines and funnily enough only lost air to subsequent cut line.
Conclusion if You have a weird knocking it will probably be the shocks themselves and if you tried the usual suspects top mounts drop links bushes you will drive yourself mad but God's honest truth my van has no knocking now and the ride is so much better not perfect by any means but compared to what I been getting to date its night and day its actually like driving on a cloud now I might of been just unlucky and my shocks were faulty from factory as my kit knocked from day one and i messed about for a long time thinking it was other parts I hope it lasts and it was just a defect I will keep this thread updated in 6 and 12 months for future member help because this system nearly got me selling this van as its such a shame because price is on point there app connectivity is good and responsive and the controller easy and well laid out.
Im aware other brands abp and solow are better but I was at the start of my journey with this van and air was new to me knew nothing about it and i was on a budget and didnt want to break the bank trying something I've never tried and i find people dont talk about it enough they just say abp are great and solow are great.
Would I recommend maxload to anyone probably not based on my experience but had I got the ride out the box I have now I probably would of, if this is your budget and you want to try like me before getting into a deeper whole maybe. Remember you get what you pay for I think I paid £3200 t32 full kit 5 gallon tank 3/8th lines twin compressors brand new i fitted myself so free fitting minus some finger nails and cut knuckles.
