polyair airbags

Can appreciate your comments re installation,had mine and 80 series fitted by agents in Rockhamoton,80 series was ok ,had plenty of articulation room on hoses,mine has not gone off bitumen yet,have a mate who has 11 years of use still ok ,my reason for fitting! I just had the duds.
Had new hose clips fitted by Pedders Darwin, Still leaked, Took bags out fitted short hose and valve to test found valve fittings faulty.

I reckon you'll wonder how you did without them, they work great for me.

Thanks for the reply Geoff,Have a mate has polyair and Firestone,Polyair front Firestone rear has had a good run with both,I feel Firestone are tougher for the job if you compare the two.

For Geoff and Jeff ....

A quick question on the Firestones ...

Are you supposed to drill out the hole where the bumper stops go, through which you thread the air line. It seemed to be to be a snug fit, and I was reluctant to drill it put in case I needed to refit the bumper stops (which I have now done).

I had some Firestones on my 80 Series and had quite a few problems with the air line pulling out of the bag, even though I had plenty of slack in the line. At present they are disconnected, but while they were working they were terrific. I am looking to perhaps replace them with a new set, because the air line connecter to the bag "went missing".

Thanks.

Jack

Jack, with mine I had to drill a hole in the bottom plate where the spring sits (right in the middle for the air line). Then of course file it out so there were no burs. With the bump stops you don't remove them altogether (well no ont the 4runner/install anyway) you take them out and haxsaw them off (trim them) then put them back in.

To prevent the lines getting pulled out, I've just done some good cable tyin! ;-) Havn't had the prolem (touch wood) but then again I don't have MAJOR articulation as I'm running standard shocks in the rear.

What I would suggest though is to us a few cable ties, but don't do them all the way up, leave them loose so that the air line can slide through them, that way it keeps the lines out of harms way (exaust, springs etc) but still allows them plenty of movement when required (articulation).

"because the air line connecter to the bag "went missing". "

Are you talking about the airline it's self? With mine the air line was a hard plastic polyutherane type hose that didn't have any ends at all on it, it just simply clicked into the bottom of the bag. (was a bloody mongral to get out again too!) Why did I do and was playing with it at work (when they first arrived) and hadn't read the instructions and clicked it in.... Then thought... Hmmm, oops. LOL

Jack,
The hole where the bump stop was bolted in has to be drilled out to at least 44mm. The bags move around a lot and if this hole is not big enough problems will accrue.
I had a set on the 80 Series for 7 years and didn't have a problem. BTW I never let the bags go below 10psi. This stops the bag from rubbing on the springs and also stops small stones getting caught in between the coil and the bag.

Wayne

Thanks Jeff and Geoff:

That was the mistake I made in not drilling out the bump stop hole. As a result it was a bit tight on the airline and it kep pulling out the line. It eventually pulled out out the little brass coupling ("went missing") and now they are no use.

No fault of Firestone, but the installer (me).

I think I will get a new set from Trucksprings and drill that hole out.

Greatly appreciate your collective feedback and help on this.

Cheers
Jack

You can buy seperate bags (spare ones) from Trucksprings too, might be a cheaper option.

Regarding buying from Truck Springs in the US. Are the model numbers etc on the Aussie web sites the same as in the US?? I am in the process of getting bags and dont want to order the wrong ones. In the US they dont seem to have Nissan Patrols??

I have heard you just ring them up with the height in side the springs and the diameter and they will send the right ones.
I wouldn't mind a set for my 120 prado, they are lexus's over there but a bit iffy.
It would be great if somebody already had a part number please?

Gawd!!! me engrish aint good t'day!!!