Anyone running airbags?

[FFL8N]

I am not sure it would make much difference. Mine take quite a bit of load to contact them, and don't think they ever contact around town... but if you do notice a big difference us know.

I went out and looked at mine today. My overloads do ride just under the leaf springs so the springs are in constant contact with the overloads. The more downward pressure on the leaf springs, the more they come in contact with the overloads.

 

[FFL8N]

I will probably just move the spacers up in between the leafs and the overload. That way I won't lose the height in the back of the truck without having to air up the air springs.

 

[AH64ID]

I went out and looked at mine today. My overloads do ride just under the leaf springs so the springs are in constant contact with the overloads. The more downward pressure on the leaf springs, the more they come in contact with the overloads.

That are not the overloads that people are referring to. That is part of the standard leaf pack. Looking at your pic you have a 2500 and don't have overloads.

I would not remove that lower leaf without adding traction bars or you will have some serious axle wrap.

If you go back to the pics I posted you can see the overloads are on top of the springs.

 

[FFL8N]

That are not the overloads that people are referring to. That is part of the standard leaf pack. Looking at your pic you have a 2500 and don't have overloads.



I would not remove that lower leaf without adding traction bars or you will have some serious axle wrap.



If you go back to the pics I posted you can see the overloads are on top of the springs.

Hope I am not being to stupid here, but what would be the difference of the way it is now with the spacers sitting on the axle or moving the large spring down and placing the spacers on top? Either way the spring pack is sitting on the same square area??



Either way... . eventrually I'm going with a Deaver spring pack at some point.

 

[AH64ID]

Hope I am not being to stupid here, but what would be the difference of the way it is now with the spacers sitting on the axle or moving the large spring down and placing the spacers on top? Either way the spring pack is sitting on the same square area??

The spring pack doesn't just rest on the spacers, there is almost always contact with the "overload" bottom leaf. The bottom leaf helps control axle wrap and support the load. If you were to move the spacers the bottom leaf would never contact the spring pack and you would get more severe axle wrap and have poorer load carrying capability.



This is static ride height, with min psi in the air bags. you can see how much the main leafs touch the bottom leaf. That gap goes to zero any time you are accelerating, or sustained speed with a decent load.



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This shows the 4/1 spring pack and the 2 pack overloads on top of it.



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Either way... . eventrually I'm going with a Deaver spring pack at some point.

They would be nice. I have considered better springs, but don't drive my truck empty often enough to warrant them. . and I would be worried about axle wrap when towing with the added 250+ ft/lbs of torque.

 

[GAmes]

Perfectly normal. If I leave 5 psi in my bags at the end of summer they are 2-3 by winter, and the opposite in the spring. It's the same effect air temp has on your tires.



It's not just freezing air, its cooler air.



Here is the pressure change based on starting at 100psi at 100°, and the only thing changing is temperature.



100°F = 100 psi

80°F = 96 psi

60°F = 93 psi

40°F = 90 psi

20°F = 86 psi

0°F = 82 psi

Thanks, but I'm not just losing a small percentage from cooling air. The gauges go from 30 to zero overnight. The temps are in the 40s when I park, and in the 20s when I go out in the morning. I guess I'll live with it. Too much work to remove the assemblies to replace the fittings.

 

[FFL8N]

Back to the air springs..... where have you guys mounted your compressor and air tank if you have one? I was going to put the tank on the outside of the frame rail on the passenger side, but I installed AMP electric steps and I think they will be in the way. I did read on here about one guy putting the air compressor under the spare tire. That way it helped keep it out of the water spray a little better. Any other ideas?? Pictures would be awesome!



Thanks

 

[AH64ID]

Thanks, but I'm not just losing a small percentage from cooling air. The gauges go from 30 to zero overnight. The temps are in the 40s when I park, and in the 20s when I go out in the morning. I guess I'll live with it. Too much work to remove the assemblies to replace the fittings.

Then I would say you have a leak, as you have figured out.



You may just try re-seating the air lines.



I am going on 3 months since I touched my bags and they have the same amount of air in them still, psi is lower but that's from a 50° ambient change.

 

[MuddFlapp]

Basically same as MLee, Install was one afternoon and made a great difference towing my 3100 lb. pin weight horse trailer. Call Genos and talk to Brandon, he's a great guy and is running a set of Pac Brakes himself. The other thing I did was go to a set of Nitto E rated tires. There rated at 3970 lbs. single and also made a big difference to handling.



LOL

 

[lebar]

I installed the Tembren rubber helpers to start with and got tired of the "Bounce" with some loads. I now have installed the Pak Brake air springs and they work great! I did go an added step and installed Air lifts wireless controller and compressor. This kit is great as there are no wires or hoses inside the cab.

 

[lebar]

I installed an air lift wireless compressor and valve manifold above the spare tire on L shelf brackets. My spare still goes in the proper place and protects the air controller all the same. The Air Lift Wireless controller is well worth the additional money with out having to run any wires or tubing in the cab.

 

[Schumacher]

I don't have pictures but, I mounted mine on the pass. side fender behind the battery box. It's a tight fit and stays dry. The tank was under the front pass. side of the bed on my 3rd gen.

 

[ringneck]

will my 05 3500 4x4 ride better,or they work on a loaded truck only.

 

[AH64ID]

I doubt it will ride better empty, but if properly inflated it can improve loaded stability and ride. Some say it rides worse empty, but I can't tell with mine.

 

[RBellah]

Is there any noticeable difference adding Bilsteins after adding air bags? My stock shocks only have 36k miles on them and I m not sure. Geno's has 10% off shocks today.