air spring suspension

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rideglobally

Nullacruiser
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Sep 16, 2007
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forum.ih8mud.com
i am installing the firestone ride rite air springs on my 1982 hj 47. my question is this: what happens when the axel is fully extended beyond the length of the air bag? how do you keep it from being rip apart, when the axel drops further than the length of the air springs.... thanks :bang:
 
dont put the air spring on...
 
what you are talking about is called limit straps. search is your friend.

BTW, I hope your not using firestone 5405 bags, I am going though them every 6 months. I will be trying to find goodyear equivalents. After the amount of failure from the firestones, considering how easy ive been on them I dont think I will ever run them on any other vehicle if I can avoid it.
 
to hell with firestone and goodyear

try these, i suggest the slam specialties bags or the contitechs
Airbags | suicidedoors.com I have spent thousands with these guys without even a single problem over the years when i was rolling bagged trucks. they have all sorts of goodies if you look around you can save alot of money.
 
These ar the ones that goes under my BJ45
This is a link to Trucksprings.com
Search
and yeaa ... limiting strap is a must on almost every airspring if you not using the dampers as limiter and that is a bad idea

15" travel :bounce:
 
Last edited:
limiting straps?

a normal helper spring type setup the bag only has like maybe 6" of travel from 0 psi and completely compressed to max psi and fully extended. that very small amount or travel would make me seek other options in a hurry, like before i ever considered it.
 
to each his own, if he wants to run airbag suspension i'm sure he has his reasons....limiting straps would keep them from ripping apart at full droop
 
something like ..

12-18limitstraps.jpg


steve9.jpg
 
Im running rolling lobe firestone 5405 airbags on my 80, they replace the coil springs with some fabrication and functionally they work very well. In terms of travel I think they are near equivalent to the coils. However, the bags in particular I am using seem to develop pinhole leaks every few months. I think the quality of these particular airbags isnt even close to great. Again though, fuctionally I think they are good. They dont have the articualtion of coilovers and 4 link, but I think compared to coils they are not too bad. I say this in reference to load helper style bags mentioned, that will not have as much articulation and are probally based more for load carrying capabilities.
 
what are the other option

appreciate all the responds i see mix opinion over the idea of an air springs, what are the other options, i have not installed them. if you have not seen my build here is my link https://forum.ih8mud.com/expedition-builds/236987-building-landcruiser-overland-expedition.html go to the last page. i am getting ready to install a wide rear axel 14 inches wider than OEM. i am gonna widen the front as well, my cruiser is 80 inches wide and 19 feet long bumper to bumper, when finish it will be 8,000 pounds. it is not a rock crawler, it will be on freeways, gravel and very bumpy roads.

one of the challenge i am trying to address is the swaying. i checked out currie sway bars but they don't make one for a vehicle this heavy. the other option i have explored is the rancho rx9000 shocks but i don't think it will address the swaying issue.

my current plan is to install the air springs mounted out side of the chassi and move my bilstein shocks mounted to the outside of the chassi as well.

thanks:bang:
 
Do take a tripp to nerest truck dealer i now Scanias smaler city trucks has a nize front swaybar that will work just fine in the rear.
then look att the link in my previus ad and studie the drawing on the below ... my tipp is instal a anti wrap bar on the rear axel remove most of the rearsleaf spring instal the air spring from truckspring and the anti sway bar from a smal city truck rear.. with rear leaf springs left in the rear you have no problem with air spring separation ....

Nize Cruzza by the way:)
 
Ran, Air Lift for years no problem and I used them in construction sites,woods, etc. MIke
 
Here is a link to a guy that builds air bag suspension's. You might call him and see if he can give you some advice. Our Services, scroll down and you can click on pics of suspension he has built.
 
i called him and was very helpful...... thank. he uses the 5426 firestone air springs - see attached image below, there is also the 5429 that extends a little further but i cannot find specs for it like what is the gross weight. i am certain i will be installing either one of these air springs. i am thinking of putting air springs on all four, rear first, then the front later.
i have been trying to reach the firestone tech support. my question is this; my rig weight 8000 pounds, what is the maximum gross weight do i need for each of the bag? thanks all and happy holiday :popcorn:

Here is a link to a guy that builds air bag suspension's. You might call him and see if he can give you some advice. Our Services, scroll down and you can click on pics of suspension he has built.
 

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