TireSmoke.org

WXO,

I’d cut the new rod to length and sleeve it with some type of
tube and a bunch of JB WELD. The ends will be new and you can
use the old sensor.

GM

Could you use something like this?

https://www.mcmaster.com/30125T101/

Wasn't sure how long those rods are.

-BP

I've got some back-logged information to post today. First, I'll comment on GM's and BP's last two posts. GM, Your idea is elegant and I like it, except for the fact that the correct rubber ends for the link that match the attaching points are not available separately. They would require the purchase of the whole sensor assembly (about $70 each on Amazon). There are links available for later model GM vehicles, but they changed the design of the rubber ends and don't match the attaching points on my truck. I'll keep your idea in my back pocket if my current DIY link turns out to be a bad idea. As for BP's idea, the attaching points for the link rod on the truck have knobs on the end of a shaft (one shaft is plastic on the arm of the sensor, and the other shaft is steel. Whatever I use for the link ends must somehow be able to get past these knobs and not slip off. That's why they were designed with rubber ends. So, here's a prototype of what I came up with:I started with a piece of the leftover Delrin plastic rod I use to repair Silvia's headlights. Then I got a 3/8" wide zip tie and wrapped it around the rod lengthwise. Then I used small zip ties to hold the correct loop size once the big zip tie loop was over the knob and then adjusted to match the shaft dia. When the link was installed like this on the sensor and frame, I tightened the small zip ties and applied hot glue to keep them in place. So once that was in place, I installed some new old stock bump stops I had found on eBay. The old bump stops were destroyed when I had to drive home 12 miles without the rear air suspension. They are made of some kind of molded foam covered with a tough plastic coating. Once I had all this in place, I lowered the truck down on the new bump stops, turned the key on and pumped up the suspension, but it was too high in the rear. I had to learn how to adjust the sensors to get to the correct ride height. This was not a simple task, because the effect of changing the position of the sensor is opposite from side to side and very confusing (clockwise to go up on the LH side and CCW to go up on the RH side. Ultimately, it came out about where I wanted it. I'm thinking about going back and tinkering with the adjustment to fine tune the ride height to be closer to the same on both sides. It's about 1/4" off right now. Anyway, I've had it on the road around town it all seems to be fine. I can see the my prototype sensor link through the space between the spokes on the TBSS wheels, so I will be keeping an eye on it over time. I also checked out the RH sensor while I had the wheels off. I looks fine but the rubber is hard and who knows when it will give out. I dowsed it with spray silicone to preserve it the best I could.

Walt, are your seats cloth or leather? I have a brand new seat bottom for your TBSS if it's cloth.

-BP

Wow! Yes. Cloth. Captain's side, too. How in the world did you end up with a TBSS seat bottom?

Came from my storage unit acquisition. Dave, the owner had this and I assume he bought it for his TBSS which got sold off through the estate.

-BP

I'm looking forward to it's arrival. Thanks again, Paul.

Smoke's new driver's seat bottom has arrived. This is going to be a great upgrade. Although far from worn out, the current seat bottom is showing the effect of rubbing against my seat bottom for the past 13 years. The new one will spruce up the cockpit nicely. Many thanks.

Can't wait to see it on there! Didn't seem like a terrible job to replace it.

-BP

Other "things" around the house and the "Ponderosa" have kept me quite busy lately, but I will get to it when I can. I'll try to get before and after photos, too.

I found this YouTube video on replacing the TBSS seat bottom: https://youtu.be/ahvJuEG1MZQ

It's all about the ass...

-BP

Very colorful people on YouTube.

Recently, I noticed that ol' Smoke is sitting a little catawampus when viewed from the rear. The left side is 1 inch higher than the right. The left side ride height just so happens to be the side using my home-made sensor link. There is some adjustment available, but not enough to bring it back to where it needs to be. At some time in the near future, I'll pull the rear wheel, remove my sensor link and shorten it to allow adjustment within the range I need to bring all things within spec. Remembering which way to rotate the adjustment is difficult, so I'll put it here for reference:

LH side: to raise ride height, rotate clockwise
RH side: to raise ride height, rotate CCW
Rotate the opposite way to lower the suspension.
Stock height: 32.5” – 33”

The shortened link seems to have done the trick. Both sides are now 32 3/4 inches as measured from the floor to the lip of the fender. I will monitor it for a while to make sure it stays that way.