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FW1 Computer controlled suspension question

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Old 01-15-2011, 01:52 AM
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I ended up grabbing one from a junkyard. Everything seems to be good. Not sure how it drove before, but it handles highway speeds, and cornering didn't feel like an amusement park ride. Would have rather replaced them all, but I'm not paying for it either, so cheap was the route. Thanks for the help and explanations, it'* a big help.
Old 01-15-2011, 09:07 AM
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Same here, always cool to find info "under a rock" or a Bonne rear. Don't be a stranger.
Old 01-16-2011, 09:54 PM
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Do you have a switch on the console that says sport ride or touring ride? If you have this feature you have a valve at the top of all four struts that controls the shock fluid that moves thru it. A smaller orafix for a firmer ride and a larger orafix for the softer ride. The valve is controled by a small servo, it makes sense that there would be 3 wires ( one ground, one for firm and one for touring). If you have this type of set-up you are in trouble because these replacement struts are no longer available. You can replace them with regular air ride struts and the load leveler feature should work fine. I have read on this site that the springs for the cars with air shocks are only 90% as strong as the springs on cars without air shocks. The air shocks make up the difference. If you replace air struts with struts designed for cars without air struts you will likely end up with a car that sags in the rear.
Old 01-17-2011, 12:15 AM
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Yeah the car has the FW1 suspension, and that'* partially why I ended up getting a used assembly instead of going with aftermarket. Everything is good now, ride leveling works, and suspension dampening also seems to work. Thanks for the info, I figured that was the purpose of the wires on the shock, but it makes sense the way you describe it.
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