Suspension air bags
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From: Vancouver, BC
Suspension air bags
I got a reply on the suspension forum saying this would be the place to ask this questions about lowered turcks:
I have my '03 Screw lowered 4" on the back with shackles and hangers and the front lowered 3" with Western Chassis lower control arms and Lightening springs. The problem is that the rear end sits a shade low with the canopy but perfect without it and it bottoms out too easily either with or without the canopy. I have heard about the Firestone airbags to 'boost' the rear end. Has anyone had good success with these, or others, and is there enough room (now that it's lowered 4") for the regular kit or is there a 'lowered' version out there?
Thanks.
I have my '03 Screw lowered 4" on the back with shackles and hangers and the front lowered 3" with Western Chassis lower control arms and Lightening springs. The problem is that the rear end sits a shade low with the canopy but perfect without it and it bottoms out too easily either with or without the canopy. I have heard about the Firestone airbags to 'boost' the rear end. Has anyone had good success with these, or others, and is there enough room (now that it's lowered 4") for the regular kit or is there a 'lowered' version out there?
Thanks.
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From: Hobart, IN
Originally Posted by Johnny340
I got a reply on the suspension forum saying this would be the place to ask this questions about lowered turcks:
I have my '03 Screw lowered 4" on the back with shackles and hangers and the front lowered 3" with Western Chassis lower control arms and Lightening springs. The problem is that the rear end sits a shade low with the canopy but perfect without it and it bottoms out too easily either with or without the canopy. I have heard about the Firestone airbags to 'boost' the rear end. Has anyone had good success with these, or others, and is there enough room (now that it's lowered 4") for the regular kit or is there a 'lowered' version out there?
Thanks.
I have my '03 Screw lowered 4" on the back with shackles and hangers and the front lowered 3" with Western Chassis lower control arms and Lightening springs. The problem is that the rear end sits a shade low with the canopy but perfect without it and it bottoms out too easily either with or without the canopy. I have heard about the Firestone airbags to 'boost' the rear end. Has anyone had good success with these, or others, and is there enough room (now that it's lowered 4") for the regular kit or is there a 'lowered' version out there?
Thanks.
Its the most annoying mispell on this forum. :santa:
COnsider a c-notch to get rid of the bottoming out.
airbags 
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I have used those cheap "helper" airbags (don't know who makes them, got em from Summit) on another vehicle and liked them a lot. They let you adjust the ride height by an inch or so, and stiffen it up. However that was a coil spring application, which is easier to install, since they fit inside the coil springs.
That being said, on a leaf-spring installation, I would think that you would be better served with stiffer rear shocks, shorter bump stops, and possibly So-Cal shock extenders.
You can cut the stock rear bumpstops down, install the fronts on the rear (they are shorter), or get some Energy Suspension replacements that are shorter.
FYI - I ordered shorter bumpstops through So-Cal when I bought shock extenders, and the ones that they sent are a joke (Energy Suspension 9.9102G). They are so short, they are barely thicker than the edges of the frame rail in the rear.
By the way, if you don't like the way the rear end sits - move the rear spring mounting bolt down one hole in the rear shackles (very easy to do). You didn't say what brand you had, but most are adjustable (have multiple mounting holes). Even my 2 inch drop shackles have multiple mounting holes, so that you can do a 1 inch drop. Note that moving the rear spring mount one inch will only change the ride height by appx 1/2 inch, so a 3 inch drop shackle changes the ride height by appx 1.5 inches, not really 3 inches.
That being said, on a leaf-spring installation, I would think that you would be better served with stiffer rear shocks, shorter bump stops, and possibly So-Cal shock extenders.
You can cut the stock rear bumpstops down, install the fronts on the rear (they are shorter), or get some Energy Suspension replacements that are shorter.
FYI - I ordered shorter bumpstops through So-Cal when I bought shock extenders, and the ones that they sent are a joke (Energy Suspension 9.9102G). They are so short, they are barely thicker than the edges of the frame rail in the rear.
By the way, if you don't like the way the rear end sits - move the rear spring mounting bolt down one hole in the rear shackles (very easy to do). You didn't say what brand you had, but most are adjustable (have multiple mounting holes). Even my 2 inch drop shackles have multiple mounting holes, so that you can do a 1 inch drop. Note that moving the rear spring mount one inch will only change the ride height by appx 1/2 inch, so a 3 inch drop shackle changes the ride height by appx 1.5 inches, not really 3 inches.
Last edited by m springer; Oct 19, 2005 at 11:09 AM.
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From: Greenbrier,TN USA
I am thinking of trying these for my 02 L
http://www.centuryperformance.com/de...t_id=ARL-59104
Let me know if you do and how you like them.
sv
http://www.centuryperformance.com/de...t_id=ARL-59104
Let me know if you do and how you like them.
sv
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These traction springs are absolutely fantastic without the complexity of air...
Fully adjustable they allow you to increase payload, eliminate axle hop, increase ride height up to 1", increase spring rate. many Lightning guys use them and best of all they are only $69 at JC Whitney. Summit also has their own version. Can't say enough good about them.
TB
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...tion%20springs
Fully adjustable they allow you to increase payload, eliminate axle hop, increase ride height up to 1", increase spring rate. many Lightning guys use them and best of all they are only $69 at JC Whitney. Summit also has their own version. Can't say enough good about them.
TB
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...tion%20springs
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From: Jasper Alabama
I had the firestone setup on my last f350. It was a great kit but i towed a lot with it. Truck road a little rough with them filed up unloaded but i had the onboard compressor so i let them down when unloaded. Now i have a 4500 kodiak that has complete air rear suspinsion and that is a rough ride unloaded but its smooth as can be loaded. No help here just sharing my knowledge on my use of them
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I have to goodyear bags on the back of my 2002 harley, the rear is dropped rougly 1.5" and it does bottom when they have no air in them. I run 10 psi at all times and the ride is perfect, if I put both my dirtbikes in the back I increase them to 20 psi and it rides just the same.
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StealthL, that's what I got and they are great! It raised the rear about 3/4" but the ride is awesome with 10psi and when I'm loaded I run 40psi or so.
Highly recommend them!
Highly recommend them!
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There was a post very similar to this one.. That being said I just installed the slam air kit from air lift on my 3/4 beltech drop. The bottoming out is gone and it will be perfect for when I tow my boat. I also installed the load level 2 kit with a single gauge. A couple nice things about installing the compressor is it is auto sensing if the bags get to low they auto inflate to the MIN psi and I can raise and lower the rear from the cab of my seat.
Total install time with bags and compressor was about six hours.
Total install time with bags and compressor was about six hours.
