I was going to install my airbags today along with the driveshaft loop. The loop was a piece of cake, but I ran into a problem when I tried to install the airbags. The rear springs are held in at the bottom by a spacer that is bolted together at the bottom through the perch. If I remove the spacer, the spring will definitely be too short, and ride height will be affected. I don't want to use different springs, I really like the way the car sits and rides. The installation instructions say to run the air line out the bottom of the spring. Obviously, I can't do that with the spacer there. I was wondering if it would be OK to run the air line out the top of the spring. There is plenty of room for this. I don't see why I can't. I would just use the rubber donut at the top of the airbag where the nipple is instead of facing it down. Anyone ever run into this problem before? I tried to call Airlifts toll free #, but they are not in on weekends. Here's a picture of the bottom of the spring.
Larry, Looks like you have the "cheater" spring pads. Haven't seen them in years. It was the poor man's lift kit. :Brow: The only thing you may need to be careful of is what the air bag rides against on the bottom. It is rubs against the bolt for the pads, it could wear out prematurely. I would think that as long as there are no chances of injuring the air bag that you could install them any way they fit and function would be the same. Mark
Thanks Mark, The bags come with rubber donut spacers. There are 4 of them. I could put a donut on the top and bottom of the bag. There is lots of room. That would protect both the top and bottom.
Yes, but then the line would probably kink when I inflated them. The nipple on the bag is dead center, and to drill through the spacer, I would need to drill off to the side. There is a large bolt going throgh the middle of the spacer. Thanks for the thought though.:TU:
be careful .... any moisture accumulated in the air bag, rests in the bottom. when you let air out of the bag, it lets the moisture out too!!.. if your valve was at the top, you might end up with exsessive moisture in the bag.
Hey Larry,years ago I ran into the same problem on a car I worked on-I ended up taking the old springs/lift kits out,and replacing them with new springs. It makes it much easier and simpler. The springs I put on my Stage 1 are the exact match and ride perfect. I'm sure you remember riding in my car and know how well it rides.
how much was the air ride system and where can i get one? ive been kicking around the idea for a while now.
Air Bag Installation Larry, We run our air bags with the nipple facing upward for several years now and have not had a problem with one of them. In fact, it makes the installation cleaner because you can route the hoses inside the frame rails toward the rear of the car where there are a couple of holes in the bottom of the frame to place the valves. I wish I had a digital camera to take a few pictures but I don't...sorry. Bundle up, it's cold out there :grin:
As for the moisture in the air, you may be able to help yourself out by always filling with air from a known compressor that has been well maintained and has some sort of water separator or dryer on it (from an auto body shop?). Or possibly add a little "air brake line dryer " to a portable tank if that is how you plan to add air, I am assuming you are "tuning" for the track. "Air brake line dryer " is the stuff that is made to keep trucks with air brakes from freezing up and is probably available at most auto parts stores. I believe is mostly iso-alcohol - same principle as dry gas - it absorbs moisture. I would think it would not harm any rubber material as the hoses and diaphragms in air brake systems are also made of rubber.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I appreciate it. I was thinking that I might be able to locate the spacer/retainer at the top of the spring, instead of at the bottom. That would solve my problem. I'll have to take a look today. One way or the other, the bags are going in. Carl, I would rather keep the rear springs I have now, they match the fronts and give the car a slight rake that I like. Bryon, the air bags are available from Jegs, part # 022-60844, 64.99.
Re: Air Bag Installation Thanks Steve, I ended up mounting the air bags nipple up. I don't see why there would be any problem whatsoever. I used a donut, top, and bottom just to make sure the ends of the airbag were protected. Really was a much cleaner installation. I routed the air lines, above the upper spring perch, through the frame, and put the inflation valves facing down at the end of the frame rail. Here's the finished product.
hey thnx for the price quote. one more question though. with that same setup what is the advntage to having them? does it adjust the ride height at all or is it to adjust how the springs take the load..i.e. at the track.....thnx again!
You can certainly use them to raise the ride height, and load capacity of the rear, but that is not why I bought them. If you run individual lines to each air bag(I did), you can inflate them independently to jack extra load into the right rear wheel, for launching at the track. Axle torque tries to lift the right rear tire. Using more air pressure in the right rear spring makes the car launch level, and both rear tires work equally to move the car foward.
