Air bag experience

[bikersmurf]

Hard to say... But I'd likely paint them also.

 

[peteinjp]

So is the idea here to have basically no assist from the bags unless you have additional load OR set it up with an even softer spring and have some constant assistance from the air bags?

Pete

 

[Henry James the 47th]

Either of those approaches seem workable to me.

 

[bikersmurf]

I'd want functional springs in case you ever had a failure... Min-moderate when empty, and moderate-max when fully loaded.

Before bags, mine squatted in he rear 3/4"... Now it is level to 3/4" or so high in the rear. Ride is closer to a small cars, rather than a tractor now.

 

[bikersmurf]

50 psi seems to have make for a level ride as loaded…

Something I've tried to figure out before… how tall? It's got to be one of the more common 40 questions.

I'm on stock reached springs on all four corners. Sitting on BFG 33x10.50 ATs, the bottom of the rear tub is flush with the top of the rear tires. I'd estimate 1-2" over stock, but I've seen photos of trucks with 4" lifts that don't seem significantly higher…

Does anyone have a link to stock frame heights front and rear?

 

[bikersmurf]

Flexes better than before...

 

[peteinjp]

So the only change you made was adding the bags + weight and you get more flex. Without the bags what would your rear be like in that same situation? Also if you have it- a part number for the firestone bags as well as a better pic of the install- specifically the hinge.

I'm really into this mod as the bj44 already has fairly long springs in the rear. Taking a leaf out and adding the bags seems to be the ticket in terms of addressing fully loaded and unloaded states.

Thx! Pete

 

[bikersmurf]

The weight has been there all along. All I added was the Bags. Before...

 

[lcwizard]

I ordered a 10" travel triple bag from CSI ( Boss) in Canada. I'll be testing setups on the 60 series first.
the Mohaves are so soft riding that loading them for a long trip overloads the spring. I don't want a stiffer spring for daily driving. Right now i have a genuine 12" of travel at the axle to bump stop. I'll have to either play with the geometry of limit a couple inches out of the travel. I choose the first over the second.

 

[bikersmurf]

I prefer the design of the Boss Bags, but they wouldn't clear my brake callipers without in boarding them so I went with the Firestone Airide 2000 lb bags. I don't have a model number, but they look like these...

 

[Henry James the 47th]

Which calipers are you running on the back? Would it have been possible to rotate the caliper to a different position?

 

[bikersmurf]

The plate on the bottom was opened up for wider 40 springs, and the original hinge was cut off and replaced with a door type hinge which is tacked onto the axle housing. If I was starting from scratch in use a hinge setup with two hinge pins to allow for increased travel.

 

[bikersmurf]

I ordered a 10" travel triple bag from CSI ( Boss) in Canada. I'll be testing setups on the 60 series first.
the Mohaves are so soft riding that loading them for a long trip overloads the spring. I don't want a stiffer spring for daily driving. Right now i have a genuine 12" of travel at the axle to bump stop. I'll have to either play with the geometry of limit a couple inches out of the travel. I choose the first over the second.

In your case I'd hinge the top mount so it can move down from the frame 4-6". There are pictures on the web of a SJ-410 with airbags that are hinged to allow unlimited travel.

 

[bikersmurf]

Which calipers are you running on the back? Would it have been possible to rotate the caliper to a different position?

I did the rear discs 15+ years ago. They are 75ish full sized Blazer Calipers and Rotors. The rotors mount to the rear of the FF hubs and the mounts are welded to the Axle housing. I suspect it wouldn't be an issue with Poser Brackets and mini Calipers... But that's not what I've got.

 

[Henry James the 47th]

What I've got is an older style full floater with a 4-runner caliper mounted on a sliced Toyota front knuckle section. Perhaps you're familiar with that conversion?

The caliper position can be moved up and down a bolt position around the 6-bolt axle flange, so I'm wondering if you think it will clear?

 

[bikersmurf]

Here's a picture of the setup on the SJ 410. Cool little rig... Diesel powered, SM 465, Toyota Mini T-Case last I heard. I've seen it in person, and it was very impressive.

 

[bikersmurf]

Here's the reply u got from CSI


Hi Bikersmurf, the airbag kit is $300 delivered to you. I think they fit OK on the early FJ's (I know they fit ALL the other leaf sprung Cruisers. The airbags will solve your problems and when you are empty you dont need any air in the bags (zero air) unlike other bag kits that require you to always have 5 or so psi. If you want to control from in the cab we have numerous options starting with the simple incab kit for $175. Then full OBA kits starting at $350 delivered.

Regards Reece
BOSS Air Suspension

What I've got is an older style full floater with a 4-runner caliper mounted on a sliced Toyota front knuckle section. Perhaps you're familiar with that conversion?

The caliper position can be moved up and down a bolt position around the 6-bolt axle flange, so I'm wondering if you think it will clear?

I've got the same axle, and have seen pictures of that procedure. I think it likely would clear... Or be easy to modify so it would. I'm hoping the pic from the earlier post shows again. My caliper comes halfway between the U-bolts over the Axle.

 

[Henry James the 47th]

Okay thanks!

 

[bikersmurf]

Here are pics of the Boss air Bags and a photo of my setup. I believe the six bolts are unevenly spaced, so I'm not sure you can just rotate it.

 

[Henry James the 47th]

I'm recalling the bolts being in an even spacing on a circular pattern on that flange but could be wrong - maybe I'm confusing it with the spacing on the knuckle section; nevertheless from your photos it looks like there is plenty of room. The boss bag is about 6" in diameter?