Air lift/Firestone Airbag kit

[sailor95]

Was wondering if a full front and rear set could be used along with AHC to gain a little lift over stock without stressing it just by doing the sensor mod. Ive got 288xxx on my Lx and i can not afford to replace for an OME or comparable conventional set up, but I do need more load carrying ability.

 

[ylexot]

I don't know of a front airbag. However, the torsion bars can increase their force by adjuating the preload bolts. Lota of threads about that around here.

Rear airbags are made for increasing load carrying capacity. You shouldn't need to adjust the height sensors for this. At 288k, I expect your tbars and coils are a bit tired. Again tightening the tbars is a cheap fix. OEM coils aren't super expensive. If you are always running heavy, used non-AHC or used 80 series springs are even cheaper. If you aren't running heavy all the time, a little lift by sensor adjustment may be required to get the Neutral pressure within spec.

If it is lift youre after, Ive read a few posts of folks successfully adding more spring (or spacers) and adjusting the height sensors to get a lift. (Note, if you go too much lift, you will run lut of room for High mode for the AHC, if that matters for you.) The rear airbag will lift the tail of a non-AHC cruiser, but this is usally done to compensate for overloading the springs and to get back to a normal stance. I don't know if airbags are made for continuous duty or if I'd want to rely on the airbags all the time.

 

[sailor95]

Good point, Itd be more to protect my AHC when towing almost 6k 10 or 15 miles to the lake a few times per summer. Is that too much weight for these rigs?

 

[ylexot]

Iirc, 6500lb is the tow rating for the 100 series. The tongue weight is really what's going to push down your rear end.

The springs on my LX with 150k miles were griping with my little 2k popup trailer hitched up. I drI've moat of the way home frI'm the beach over the 4th in L. I've got airbags going in, but I'm also going to upgrade my rear springs at the same time.

 

[sailor95]

Ya i will definitely need to do bags if I want to add any real weight to the tongue, 288k with AHC should sag considerably.

 

[ylexot]

Indeed, it won't actually sag, or it will try really hard not to sag. That is the beauty of the AHC. But with tired springs and at the top of the weight rating, you'll be over pressuring your system at the very least. That's what the auto-Low over pressure function is there to help out with. I worry about the misalignment wear on my tires driving 100 miles in Low, but it got me home with no more complaints and I'm working on a solution before our next outing.

 

[sailor95]

I wonder if slees ahc mod will pre maturely wear my system, a little added height would be welcomed.