2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Air Bags & Ride Height

[Silver_Ram]

A month ago I added Firestone air bags to the rear of my truck. I placed the bracket as high as I could on the frame. I had to jack the back of truck up about 2 inches to get the air bag assembly on top of the springs, because I have the overload spring above the main spring pack. The air bags settled down a little bit, but my front end alignment is off.



I didn't need the extra ride height & want to remove the top overload spring, & I know I need new u-bolts. But I am wondering if the center bolt in the rear spring has enough thread to re-use after I remove the top overload spring? If it doesn't, does anyone know what size replacement bolt I need?



I searched the treads & didn't see anything specific mentioned.



Thanks,



Troy

 

[Andy Redmond]

I'm getting ready to move some from a 96 to an 02. I will need to do some bracket mods to make the upper bag bracket work around the homemade (not my idea, owner bought the truck used and the hitch was part of the deal) gooseneck brackets which are in the way. It don't think the ride height will be an issue so far. The earlier truck had the overload leaf too. .



I think a different kit exists between the two years, it appears the older kit will retrofit to the newer truck, but its not installed yet. (pieces held up for proximity).



Double ck the application vs the kit that you installed?



Firestone (ride rite) tells me the bag itself is the same between the early and late dodge kit?



I see no reason why you couldn't remove the overload and source shorter "u bolts" from a axle/spring shop. I guess you could purchase them from DC and say w/out overloads?



Good luck and let me know how it turns out.



Andy

 

[Tcolesanti]

I did this to my truck and I don't think I needed another bolt, or change anything. I think the top overload is aligned by the bolt in the main leaf pack, but not held on by it. There is a little plate that was on top of the overload that I just moved down to the main pack, then U-bolted everything back up.

 

[PWelsh]

Perhaps I don't understand something but on my 05 truck the airbag mounts on top of the axle and not on top of the springs. Why not just pick up this installation kit and mount them there.

 

[macdaddy]

PW

You have to mount the bags on the third genners inboard of the spring pack due to the offset of the 17" wheels being different to clear the rear rotors. I just went through this with my 05. I tried to mount the air bags from my 99 on the 05 but they hit the tire.

Mac

 

[Tcolesanti]

PW

You have to mount the bags on the third genners inboard of the spring pack due to the offset of the 17" wheels being different to clear the rear rotors. I just went through this with my 05. I tried to mount the air bags from my 99 on the 05 but they hit the tire.

Mac

He has an '02 "second gen". They still mount on the top of the sping pack.

 

[Silver_Ram]

The kit I used was Part # 2071. The kit goes from 69-02 2500 & 3500, as well as some Chevys & Fords.



The kit arrived with a note stating that a different air bag was now included in the kit. I will get the box out & get the bag number. I mounted the frame bracket high enough it sits in the indention on my frame. The fitting on top of the air bag is just barely below the bed, you can't see the fitting & my truck doesn't have the plastic fender inserts you see on older trucks.



I am hoping that the top overload is just sitting over the pin, because I do not want to take the springs apart if I don't have to. My u-bolts actually look like they may be re-usable, even though I know your not supposed to re-use them.



Is it common during air bag installation to have to lift the rear of the truck to get the bags in?? If I can get to it, I will pull the u-bolts & see what I have.



The air bags work great, I am impressed by them. I pulled my 5th wheel home from the dealer (they finally got the warranty work done). I had put 40 lbs. of air in the bags & the rear of the truck might have moved a half inch. The ride home seemed much smoother & I left my Rancho 9000 shocks on 3.



Has anyone installed one of Firestone air compressor kits. I can install an air tank where the stock spare tire was, because my 35" spare doesn't fit between the frame rails.

 

[Andy Redmond]

Yes, run the compressor off a relay though. I like to mount the compressor outside the truck (they are noisy). The one aforementioned was mounted under the driver's seat on the underside of the cab, the air tank was just behind (outside floor pan) it under the same are under the rear seat of the extended cab.



You can likely put it anywhere that's convenient, if you don't mind running tubing everywhere.



On his new truck I will mount it to the pass. side frame rail under the rear of the ext. cab and put the air tank on the floor pan again, right next to it.



He also has air horns to install.



Maybe I'll click a few photos with the dig. camera if you like. It will be sometime next week before I mess with it again though.



The bag # in this kit is 6741?



Good luck

Andy

 

[PPettit]

On my '01 I had no problem fitting the brackets on the frame. With the air bags mounted on the springs I just fit the frame brackets on at the height where they rested with no air. Plenty of clearance.

The overload pack on top of the main pack is not pinned to the regular spring pack. There is a small spacer block in there that fits over the bolt from the main pack and the overload bolt sits in the same hole from the other side.

I have since replaced all the above with KORE's minipacks. Not sure yet if I like them for a heavy load as well as the airbags or not. I have only loaded 1050 lbs in since I installed them.



Phil

 

[PPettit]

I have had really good luck using junkyard compressors for my air bags on 3 trucks now. Almost every '80+ Cadillac has an air ride suspension with a very good compressor. These are usually about $20 at the local U-Pull-It.

You get to scrounge up all the rest of the parts to do the install but it's certainly cheaper than buying the kit from Firestone.

Phil

 

[Silver_Ram]

This turned out to be an exercise in futility. I pulled the overload out, moved the pin to the top u-bolt bracket & found out I would have to put a spacer between the air bag & one of the brackets. So I put it all back together with the overload spring. If the bags wear out or break I will try to find a longer one.



This would have worked fine if I had removed the overload spring before I installed the frame brackets. I don't want anymore holes in the frame, so I put it back together. Once I take the shell & 5er hitch out, I may lift the front end to match.



I was thinking of mounting the air compressor & an air tank in the place my spare tire used to fit. I can run bigger wires easier than running tubing all over the place.



Thanks for the help