Installing air bags on leaf springs
Submitted: Friday, Jul 08, 2005 at 16:58
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Member - Norm C (QLD)
Via advice received on another thread, I've decided to look into buying a Firestone Ride Rite kit from truckspring.com in USA for installation on the back of my '05 Hilux. I figure I can land them in Australia for under $400, even if I have to pay GST. The Airbag Man will charge $825.
Problem is ensuring I get the right kit, as the Hilux is not sold in USA.
I have measured from top of leaf to underside of bumper stop plate welded to chassis. I'm assuming I remove the current rubber bumper stop and fit the air bag where it currently is. The distance is about 130mm (maybe a touch less) with canopy, drawer unit, firdge, 20ltr water container and bits and pieces in the back. I'm guessing that unladen, it would be about 150mm. I can probably
check this more accurately if necessary by finding someone with an unmodified vehicle.
If I specify this distance to truckspring.com, is this enough to get the right kit? Are all the fittings standard, so that length is the only critical issue?
If I can not be certain that I'm getting the right thing, I'm better to buy locally so that I have a warranty.
Thanks in advance for any help I can get on this.
Reply By: angler - Friday, Jul 08, 2005 at 20:14
Friday, Jul 08, 2005 at 20:14
I had something like this installed on my old HJ75. They were enclosed in a coil spring that mounted on the leaf. They were red polyairs and as far as I know they are still on the car. They certainly improved the load handling as with most jap cars
mine had suffered from saggy bum syndrome. I could load the thing up much more and never had it hit the stops.
I did try a couple of the blue ones in one of my disco's and they failed shortly after fitting and I was told by oppsoite lock they were failing badly and they offered me a set of polyairs for not much more. I was about to return the blue ones and bought a patrol. Opposite lock change them over for a set to suit the patrol.
Dunno who made the blue ones, they were cheaper and had a different hose fitting to the polyairs.
www.bycompass.com
AnswerID:
119488
Reply By: Harry - Friday, Jul 08, 2005 at 23:03
Friday, Jul 08, 2005 at 23:03
G'daye Norm,
I have fitted Firestone air bags to my '78 series Troopy and the Hi-lux wouldn't be much different.
I went down the Canning last year and never bottomed out once.
Just came back from the
Flinders Ranges last week and smooth sailing over some very rugged terrain, no problems.
My mate Bill has a 75 series Troopy and on the Canning complained a few times about the rough tracks, but I had none of those complaints with the air-bags fitted.
I wasn't all that sure how they would perform, but comparing the vehicles on the same trip, convinced me I had definitely made the right choice. They work together with the leaf springs, and nothing is straining itself, I would doubt if I would ever break a spring with this system in place.
THERE IS AN INBUILT BUMP STOP .End of story.
What is a bonus with it is, being able to level the vehicle no matter what the load.
I picked
mine up for $660 from Air Ride
Suspension Supplies in Bayswater, Melb.
Ph. (03) 9729-5556.
AnswerID:
119510
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Jul 09, 2005 at 11:21
Saturday, Jul 09, 2005 at 11:21
"THERE IS AN INBUILT BUMP STOP .End of story. "
Hi Harry,
Thanks for resolving that.
Is your
suspension otherwise standard ?? Just wondered because I am a fan of the reliability of the Toyota shocks and springs.
Cheers
Phil
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Saturday, Jul 09, 2005 at 21:29
Saturday, Jul 09, 2005 at 21:29
I got the them also Col, agree with all you say, very very good without any bottoming issues at all to date.
Phil my 78 series has stock
suspension.
FollowupID:
374687
Reply By: Harry - Sunday, Jul 10, 2005 at 22:37
Sunday, Jul 10, 2005 at 22:37
Phil,
I am a fan of original equipment only if you think it can do the job.
I always leave the original springs on my vehicle, reason being, you don't hear about Toyota springs breaking ( you might, if they're totally overloaded or doing something the vehicle 's not designed for ).
I haven't damaged 1 in 20 yrs.with Toyotas.
I alwaya run Koni shocks, even after 300,000 tested and come up trumps.
Good on ya Big
John, level running from now on mate.I use a
hand pump to adjust
mine, quicker than fiddling around getting air hoses out, and besides only need 5 or 6 pumps.
H
AnswerID:
119710