airbag control: gauge panel or switch box??

[Irishpilot]

I'm unclear on what is the best setup for manually controlling 4 airbags independently (aka each wheel seperately). I don't want ride control sensors, or any of the automatic stuff; just gauges and switches/rockers that allow for me to change pressure.

I've looked for a gauge panel that has four rocker switches, and three gauges (2 dual needle for airbags, and one single needle for tank px), but I haven't seen one. A lot of companies, including SSD, sell switch boxes with up to 10 switches. What are these used for and where do you keep the switch box?

Right now I'm kicking around a few avenues of approach. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[N2TRUX]

I don't know of anyone that makes a triple gauge panel for air controls. You might find one for engine monitoring gauges and switch them out.

On my system, I have 5 rocker switches. One of the four controls each corner, and the fifth gives me a dump feature.

[protrash64]

I got mine from a buddy and raided the switches to install in an aluminum panel that I mounted on the tranny hump. I dont use gauges.

[6772owner]

Just curious, so dont yell at me lol, how do you know what height/air pressure is ride height then? Wouldnt you need to know this for the aligned height? I am wanting to know about a similiar set up for my 72'

[scotts62]

Yeah gauges will get you at the pressure at which you had ride height aligned at, but with air is you will never get it exactly the same everytime if you mess with the switches. Make sense? kinda sounds weird

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by 6772owner

Just curious, so dont yell at me lol, how do you know what height/air pressure is ride height then? Wouldnt you need to know this for the aligned height? I am wanting to know about a similiar set up for my 72'

I hang a tape measure out the window while I'm driving......seriously, I dont know. If nothing is dragging then its high enough.

[6772owner]

LOL ok cool, so its just a "feel" after awhile. I have the rear on air, but I just set it by the pressure and roll, no alignment to worry about. I am still unsure how well the front tires will wear since this is my DD now

[Irishpilot]

so far my fronts have been wearing fine, but I went with some Kumos so I wouldn't be too sad about burning through them quickly.

Thanks for the pics thus far! I think I might just go that route, pick up a couple of rocker switches and install my own panel. I have a trick setup in mind. I've got the center console, so I think it would be pretty nice to hide the controls in there.

[Irishpilot]

N2Trux, how did you wire the dump switch?

[see ten]

This is how we set up my wifes car.



It's a 7 switch box and two dual needle gauges. The switches are rockers so each one can move the bag up or down. The ones in the corners operate...the bags on the corresponding corners of the car. The one all the way to the front in the center, operates both front bags at the same time. The one towards the rear center operates both rear bags at the same time. The center switch operates all four corners at once. It works OK, but not as well as we would like it. The problem lies in that even with gauges, your pressure is going to be affected by both load and air temps.

The above pic is just how the needles looked when I pulled it back in the yard a while ago. If I had one of my friends of larger girth in the car with me, and inflated the bags to this same pressure, I'd still be low on the side where my buddy was. Sure, I can correct it by hitting the switches just on the side where my bud is, but I hate having to get out of the car to see if I've got things "right". This isn't really an issue when it's just my wife and myself but we like to be able to haul whoever we want with us. If we only drove this thing from time to time it probably wouldn't be an issue...but we drive this thing a lot.

We're probably fixing to ditch the gauges and the control box. I've already spoken with Dustin over at Accuair and I can see their air management system in our future!

[N2TRUX]

It uses relays so the system doesn't feed back through itself. The dump switch activates all valves at once. It only opens the exit valves, not the fill valves.

Originally Posted by Irishpilot

N2Trux, how did you wire the dump switch?

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by protrash64

I hang a tape measure out the window while I'm driving......seriously, I dont know. If nothing is dragging then its high enough.

Hey do you do a Chinese fire drill only with a tape measure at a stop light?

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by scotts62

Hey do you do a Chinese fire drill only with a tape measure at a stop light?

........I never thought about that......good idea.

Originally Posted by 6772owner

LOL ok cool, so its just a "feel" after awhile. I have the rear on air, but I just set it by the pressure and roll, no alignment to worry about. I am still unsure how well the front tires will wear since this is my DD now

...yeah, its a feel, but when its really low the steering is hard and you can tell the angles are bad. It also squeals a bit when stopping. When its inflated a little higher it runs/turns smoothly. I also dont drive it much so Im not that concerned about tire wear. All of your original points are valid, however.

[ShowSS12]

I use the EAI 7 switch box on both of my air ride vehicles.
I like the fact I can control all the wheels independently and the middle switches are all up/down front up/down rear & up/down ALL....




Oh in my Impala I run two firestone dual needle gauges and in the Escalade I don't have anything as I am waiting to get a set of dakota digital gauges

[pissonNOS]

Originally Posted by ShowSS12

I use the EAI 7 switch box on both of my air ride vehicles.
I like the fact I can control all the wheels independently and the middle switches are all up/down front up/down rear & up/down ALL....




Oh in my Impala I run two firestone dual needle gauges and in the Escalade I don't have anything as I am waiting to get a set of dakota digital gauges

i have the same box and love it

[Bazooka]

^^^ I think I'm going to get me one of those... (EAI 7)

Pretty cheap on ebay

[pissonNOS]

Originally Posted by Bazooka

^^^ I think I'm going to get me one of those... (EAI 7)

Pretty cheap on ebay

iirc park international was the seller i got mine from and yes it was cheap

[ShowSS12]

I paid $35 plus shipping for the one I just bought.

[Hottrucks]

this maybe out of place but what are you guys runing for PSI in your front.&.rear bags

[Bazooka]

Originally Posted by pissonNOS

iirc park international was the seller i got mine from and yes it was cheap

Cool, I actually found the guy your talking about earlier today and he has them listed at $39 with the option to make a offer.

I made a offer. Doesnt hurt to try

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-E...1%7C240%3A1318

[Bazooka]

So the guy running the auction accepted my offer! I offerd him $30 + shipping. He accepted! Heck of a deal!

If your really interested I suggest you click the link I provided above..

[au03z71]

Wow, that's a great deal. I'm going to have to grab one of those...

[6772owner]

Thanks for the info, I am a little worried about the tire wear factor, I do drive mine a lot, I will have to figure out something or give up and get the Accuair!!!

[Irishpilot]

sweet! Thanks for the link.