Front Suspension - bags only install?

[BigBadDodge]

I can't find my reciept, but I remeber it being around $20 a foot.



and I bought like 35 feet



BBD

 

[MCummings]

BBD,

Please keep me updated on this. I want bags on both my trucks,, but I would like to do my 2wd first.



I've been watching this thread from the begining. If only I could weld.....



Merrick

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I can TIG weld and plasma cut (with my own equipment... ) until the cows come home.



But I have a huge air-gap issue with my equipment right now... . it's 1200 miles away... . and I'm stuck out here without a garage where I could fab-up a setup like this.



Matt

 

[HoleshotHolset]

TTT...

Keeping this one on the front burner as well...



Matt

 

[BigBadDodge]

I hope to be getting all this installed in a couple weeks I need to pick up some hard brake line and fittings, picked up the Ni-Cad welding rod for welding the axle tubes to the pumkin last week. also finished fabricating the brackets for the air bags that will be welded to the axle (bottom) and the "I" beam going between the frame (top) Firestone said the install hieght is 10"s I forgot to ask about range though min and max:



#ad




#ad




#ad




BBD

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Cool!



Looks like you're making some good progress.



Matt

 

[NPloysa]

Looks good

This all looks good guys. I have Air Lifts that may work for front bags but they were just helpers for the rears, rated at 2500 lbs each I think. I will have to stay up on this thread, my neighbor and I could put something like this together in a weekend.



BBD,





How are you tying the bottom bag brackets to the axle?

 

[BigBadDodge]

Welding the brackets to the axle tubes. if you look at the pic above you can see the bottom bracket it cut to sit right on top of the axle.



BBD

 

[NPloysa]

BBD,



Directly to the axle? Solid enough! Your setup looks good so far. Nice



Nick

 

[BigBadDodge]

Nick, The brackets will be welded to the axle and then there are two grade 8 bolts that hold the bottom of the bag to the bracket. Should be plenty solid enough, all 3/8" plate steel, I have seen several not anywere as solid as this.



Thanks



BBD

 

[NPloysa]

Direct weld to the axle would be, by far, the best solution. 3/8" is plenty thick, I agree. Are the square tubes acting as a lift? I know the basic setup you are trying to achieve, but its hard to picture off the truck.



Nick

 

[JMarrs]

Looks like lots of progress is being made with the air bags. I have a couple of questions. 1st, can anyone who only has the front bags done comment on how they improved ride? Also how much does changing air pressure affect ride? Lastly I have access to tons of Firestone bags at very good prices, does anyone know the number for the front bags that kelerman(sp) uses?

 

[BigBadDodge]

I am not sure, but I would venture to say they use the ones that I have, and posted a pic of on this thread, the 2107's. I can't coment on the front bags I haven't tackled that as of yet and have no intentions of getting to it any time soon, maybe next winter after pulling season.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Wow - this thread is a blast from the past!



So, has anyone been doing anything with their airbag installs?

How are they holding up?

Scott - I know that you weren't happy with your suspension at IRP (bounce!), but how is it behaving now?



The Jeep project is probably going to end up riding on air at all 4 corners... with the funky weight proportion and the need to customize the ride height to make room - this seems like my best solution. Since it has coils front and rear - it shouldn't be too bad. (famous last words!)



Matt

 

[BigBadDodge]

Matt, my focus has shifted since the day I installed the air bags. I have never been disatified with them. At IRP my issues were related to to much traction and my greed with to much gear there great other wise this year I won't even be riding on them as I have pulled the rear shocks and inserted turn buckles to make the rear solid for sled pulling. I never had the time to tackle the fronts as of yet.



BBD

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I hear ya, man. Heck - back when I started this thread... I was only a signature on the dotted line away from owning a SWEET brand new 3rd Gen. How times change...



I'll keep ya'all updated on the Jeep project as that thing is more likely than not going to be riding on air... the more I think about it - this is the only way to fly. I keep getting sidetracked with other projects/9-5 job that keep me away from the Jeep, but they're slowing down a bit.



From the research I've done - installing bags to replace coils is not all that difficult... its just time consuming.



Matt

 

[JoshPeters]

I've got the "mental" diagrams on how I want to do this on my truck.



Now I have Part numbers and everything! WOOHOO!



I've been thinking about doing this for a couple years, but haven't had the money.



Thanks for all the reasearch to the guys that have done this! If I would have found this thread when Matt started it, I probably would have done it by now... .



Josh

 

[NPloysa]

I've got the "mental" diagrams on how I want to do this on my truck.



Now I have Part numbers and everything! WOOHOO!



I've been thinking about doing this for a couple years, but haven't had the money.



Thanks for all the reasearch to the guys that have done this! If I would have found this thread when Matt started it, I probably would have done it by now... .



Josh

How are you going to do it, Josh? I have designed front for my truck also, mostly sketches and scale drawings on graph paper, having some steel put together. Then I sold my truck, so it got put on the back burner.



As for mine, I could take pics of my drawings, but see my webshots photos in my sig for rear-air ride which some is partly done, so you get an idea. I was going to run dual shocks in the front with 6" lift, (2" for leveling, and 4" more to bring it up to the rear, which will be 4" also).



Nick

 

[JoshPeters]

How are you going to do it, Josh? I have designed front for my truck also, mostly sketches and scale drawings on graph paper, having some steel put together. Then I sold my truck, so it got put on the back burner.



As for mine, I could take pics of my drawings, but see my webshots photos in my sig for rear-air ride which some is partly done, so you get an idea. I was going to run dual shocks in the front with 6" lift, (2" for leveling, and 4" more to bring it up to the rear, which will be 4" also).



Nick

I'm seriously thinking about it now. The price doesn't seem so bad seeing what guys have paid for the bags. I have access to a welder (and a couple welding experts) to get the job done right.



I'm looking at around $600 for the bags it looks like and probably $200 in materials.



My front shocks are shot, and my rears haven't been touched... so I'm going to chalk them up to normal wear and tear anyway.....



I've got a York A/C compressor, I'll just have to fab up a mount. I already have the switches, filter, etc from Kilby's.



Ya, I think I may proceede with this as soon as I get mine up and running again!



If you've got those drawings easily accessable, that's cool. If not, no big rush. Right now I'm pulling the engine.



Josh