Steel air bag lines.

[shadow1967]

What material are you useing for your air ride systems. Stainless steel, chrome plated steel?

[72gmcshorty]

i believe people are using copper and some have used stainless tubing

[PBFAB.COM]

Copper is going to be the easiest to manuver and route plus being that it's a softer material it will work with PTC ( push to connect ) style fittings. Stainless lines can work as well however they will require some tooling to bend them nicely plus you will need to flare the ends and use a different style fitting for them. Similair to doing a brake system.

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[68steppsidee]

ive asked once before but i will again with cooper,stainless,metal lines with the movement of everything will airing up and down and driving does it cause it to leak??

[PBFAB.COM]

Just like with any other hard line, you'll want to secure the line along the chassis to reduce the vibration and movement. The shorter lines wont vibrate as much especially with a curve or bend in it to help increase the rigidity.

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[67cheby]

here are my 3/8 aluminum lines, they push right into the AccuAir (that i got from PORTERBUILT) push lock fittings. Please ignore the temporary wiring mess it will be all cleaned up and hidden when complete !

[PBFAB.COM]

Looks clean and I'm sure with a little steel wool a guy could do some cool finish work to the alumn tubing and make whatever finish look he wanted. Thanks for posting the images as reference material.

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[67cheby]

no problem, i polished one of them with 0000 steel wool, it just took a couple minutes, looked great !

[PBFAB.COM]

I can imagine either polish or brushed would be truck depending on the style of the build. Keep it up man, looks great so far.

Later

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[68steppsidee]

so you wouldnt have to have a flexible line from the bag out you can hardline all with no problems

[belowme51]

mine are all being colormatched and i used alum. lines also, no leaks just make clean cuts and de-bur the end before pushing them in....very versitile..i used my snap on bender which helped a ton....took lots of time but was worth it when done

[shadow1967]

Thanks guys for sharing. Aluminum can hold 150 psi if needed? OK, Thanks!!

[smashingchuck]

im using 3/8 stainless and JIC fittings. very nice fit and finish.
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[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by 68steppsidee

so you wouldnt have to have a flexible line from the bag out you can hardline all with no problems

Yes you will need a flexible line from the bag to the frame at the point where the suspension pivots. Think of it just like your brake lines and hard line the same.

[67cheby]

I guess I am confused, why would you need a flexible line ? The top of the bag where your line goes in doesn't move ?
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[jmedero]

I'm with mike on this one. I don't get it.
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[texastrendz]

no flex line needed, tons of trucks on the road with hard line with no issues. trans lines to radiator, brake lines to master are all hard lines with no rubber flex in them. I have seen and done tons of trucks with copper and aluminum lines this way. Glad you picked the aluminum line 67 cheby, it looks great.

[whiteheadcycle]

im running 3/8 aluminum tubing with 37° flared #6 jic fittings (same as an6) and #6 hyd. hose from hardline to bags for frame flex.
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[whiteheadcycle]

picture of the front with bulkhead in frame. turned out very nice (i think).
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[jtp67-72]

Originally Posted by whiteheadcycle

picture of the front with bulkhead in frame. turned out very nice (i think).
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I'm almost to this point and I like the flex line but I'm like jm and cheby...don't see it as necessary ....No different than brake line that stops at frame... both air bag bracket and point where hard brake line stop are part of frame...not moving during suspension travel..........jim

[67cheby]

Whiteheadcycle, very nice work !

[67cheby]

Originally Posted by texastrendz

no flex line needed, tons of trucks on the road with hard line with no issues. trans lines to radiator, brake lines to master are all hard lines with no rubber flex in them. I have seen and done tons of trucks with copper and aluminum lines this way. Glad you picked the aluminum line 67 cheby, it looks great.

Thanks man !

[whiteheadcycle]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

Whiteheadcycle, very nice work !

Thank you! I just hope mine turns out half as good as yours!!!
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[67cheby]

do you have a build thread ?

[whiteheadcycle]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

do you have a build thread ?

No, I never started one. I've been thinking about starting one, but my wife is not working right now so it's moving really slowly and didn't want to bore everybody!
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