Air Lift 1000 Install

[marcfj60]

All I did was add the airbags to my '99 with 132k miles. Made a world of difference. I don't replace shocks until they stop doing their job, dampening compression and rebound of the springs. But if you've got buckets of money and want the absolute best suspension, replace all the parts.

 

[Catskills]

After locating the valves on the back of my 4R's bumper and seeing the dirt and crud accumulate on them, this time we put them in a better spot.

Stole this idea from @titanpat57

 

[taco47001]

After locating the valves on the back of my 4R's bumper and seeing the dirt and crud accumulate on them, this time we put them in a better spot.

Stole this idea from @titanpat57

View attachment 1326711

Man, wish I'd have looked at the last page of this thread last night! I mounted my valves on the bumper tab, left of the hitch like most others.

 

[re_guderian]

just put caps on them, kinda like the ones on your tires...

 

[marcfj60]

FWIW, I ran my lines into a single valve and mounted it high on the plastic inner fender on the driver side rear wheel well that covers the filler neck. I put a cap on it and it has worked well for a year, except that the plastic inner fender is a little flimsy that high up and flexes a little when I apply an air gauge to check pressure or and air chuck to fill it with air.

 

[bodywhomper]

pardon the noob-ness of this post.

i've had the 99 cruiser for two years. i believe the suspension is stock. other than full length gamiviti rack, the rest of the truck is stock. i need to look closely again at PO's records, but i'm not sure if PO ever replaced any suspension parts in the past. it sometimes gets used as a DD. other times it gets used for offroad use for day/partial day use (live in the sierra foothills) and on longer camping trips. also, use it to haul small trailer (firewood, soils, junk). family is wife, me, 3 kids, and 85lb dog. last week-long camping offroad trip (desert), i noticed the back end was feeling "heavy" when loaded, but "fine" when just with the family and dog. i didn't feel it bottoming out in the back when loaded and offroad. currently, i don't think i want to mess with the rest of the suspension because I'm don't want to stiffen-up the ride, especially when not fully loaded research for this "problem" leads me toward the airbag. it seems like a good solution. Am I thinking about this correctly?

thanks and cheers!

 

[marcfj60]

Seems like good logic to me. I had he same experience as you and once I added a trailer with 400 lb tongue weight, things really got saggy. Airbags really helped mine level out and feel more stable when towing. But even when not towing and just a bunch of people or gear in the rear cargo area, I notice a difference. I can fine tune the amount of air pressure for the load conditions.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

Depending upon the age of your suspension components, it may be time to replace your coils and shocks (rear) at least. The price for OEM is not too bad and makes the ride very nice compared to aged components. I would suggest doing that when you add the air bags. You will be basically doing the same thing to install the air bags. On my '02, I found that my original suspension components were giving out at about 150K miles. That was when I did the lift. I am not suggesting that you do a lift, but I am suggesting that your components, if original, are VERY tired.

 

[bodywhomper]

Thanks for the responses and suggestions. it seems that the bags are a good idea regardless on the condition of the shocks and springs. I will look closely at the existing rear suspension, the POs service records, and consider replacing the parts before proceeding. the shocks and springs may be original. the truck is at 230k miles.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

@bodywhomper - Just an FYI, the service life for those components is 120K miles. Given the 230K, even if they were replaced at the scheduled interval, it may be time to replace again.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

Oh, and the air bags are GREAT for heavier loads even with newer components!

 

[bodywhomper]

@lcharddriver_02, thanks, especially for the heads up on designed service life. i was not aware...

 

[LCHardriver_02]

No worries! Good luck with the install!

 

[photomike]

Finally got mine in and connected. Ran individual lines and routed them here. Wanted a clean out of the way install.

First run today with some gear in the back, I'll let y'all know how it goes.

LC air bags install - mikegibsonphoto


Cheers,
Mike

 

[photomike]

posted the image links individually, but it gave me broken links straightaway......

 

[photomike]

LC air bags install - mikegibsonphoto

LC air bags install - mikegibsonphoto

LC air bags install - mikegibsonphoto

LC air bags install - mikegibsonphoto

 

[LCHardriver_02]

@photomike That's a cool install! I still have a license plate there so a no-go for me. Right now, I have my lines tucked up into the space created on the back side of the mud flaps. I just reach up and pull the line out for use. Easy enough for me.

 

[photomike]

@photomike That's a cool install! I still have a license plate there so a no-go for me. Right now, I have my lines tucked up into the space created on the back side of the mud flaps. I just reach up and pull the line out for use. Easy enough for me.

Thanks!! I cant take credit for it, saw some guy that\ was going to cross Siberia in an 80 series and he had a bunch of trip prep/mod vids up on youtube and that's where he placed his.

I think you could still use the fill valves to hang your license plate on. Maybe have to drill out the holes on your plate a bit.

 

[Jaybob]

Ok...this super easy air bag install went to hell when I tried to put my AHC shock back onto the lower mount. I've searched, seems like maybe you don't remove your shock if you have AHC and just use a coil compressor to remove the coils?

Most searches on "install AHC shock" are about replacing them. Anybody help me out?
Thanks

J

 

[taco47001]

I removed my lower mount as well. It takes some finagleing if I remember right. Might have to incorporate pry bars into the mix too. It'll go back on.....promise.