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Old 02-19-2013, 10:58 AM   #1
Coach529
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Air over spring rear suspension

Anybody running an air of leaf spring set up in a AD or Burban?

I wanna set up Henry so the boards are running parallel to the ground. I will likely be removing a couple leaves to achieve this.....so my hauling capacity will be nil.

I do not plan to haul alot.......but he is definately not going to be a garage/ parade queen. Might pull my trailer to the track. Haul a couple motorcycles. Pick up some sheet rock at the lumber yard, etc.

I figure since I have to fab up some shock mounts anyway........I could just as well make some mounts for some bags.

Is it as simple as buying some bags, making mounts and plumbing? Good sources for stuff?

http://www.ridetech.com/store/components/air-springs/
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Old 02-19-2013, 11:11 AM   #2
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Re: Air over spring rear suspension

My 2005 GMC Crew 2x has tube A arms, springs etc up front and in the rear its flipped, notched and a couple springs removed with bags added. I run a 5 gallon tank, compressor and a switch panel with a gauge under the dash to monitor it. Works well.
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Old 02-19-2013, 11:17 AM   #3
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Re: Air over spring rear suspension

At this point I am not too concerned about even having an onboard compressor.........maybe just get a couple 3000# bags and plumb it to a convenient place with a guage.
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Old 02-19-2013, 11:42 AM   #4
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Re: Air over spring rear suspension

I was pretty much thinking about having a similar setup that used bags to maintain static ride height when loaded or if I tow a teardrop trailer with it. A guy might even be able to incorporate a height sensor and compressor off a Cadillac to use with bags as they do the same thing with air shocks and have for a lot of years.

I was looking at Air Lift for mine. http://www.airliftcompany.com/
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Old 02-19-2013, 12:16 PM   #5
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Re: Air over spring rear suspension

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Originally Posted by mr48chev View Post
I was pretty much thinking about having a similar setup that used bags to maintain static ride height when loaded or if I tow a teardrop trailer with it. A guy might even be able to incorporate a height sensor and compressor off a Cadillac to use with bags as they do the same thing with air shocks and have for a lot of years.

I was looking at Air Lift for mine. http://www.airliftcompany.com/
Never really thought of the height sensor and compressor. There are a numbers of cars with set ups like that.
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Old 02-19-2013, 12:39 PM   #6
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Re: Air over spring rear suspension

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Originally Posted by Coach529 View Post
At this point I am not too concerned about even having an onboard compressor.........maybe just get a couple 3000# bags and plumb it to a convenient place with a guage.
I also have a line plumbed into the fuel door so you can do a quick fill. It's important to have a quick or zero loss schader installed on the fill end of the hose so you dont loose a majority of bag pressure when loaded by just "checking" your pressure. The gauge and compresser are cheap and less frustrating.

I also have assist bags on a 4x dually with a camper slid into the bed. I thought I would go the cheap route with no gauge or compressor and its a pain with a regular fill hose. having the zero loss fill is better, but tough to get the correct pressure. I also don't recommend "T" ing the 2 sides together if using to haul. When you corner and the load shifts or weight transfers, it will push air from the loaded side to the unloaded side and is very dangerous. One way check valves are your friend.
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Old 02-19-2013, 12:40 PM   #7
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Re: Air over spring rear suspension

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Originally Posted by Coach529 View Post
Never really thought of the height sensor and compressor. There are a numbers of cars with set ups like that.
2000 and up Tahoes and Suburbans have a similar system on the ride control vehicles and have an onboard compressor too.
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Old 02-19-2013, 12:47 PM   #8
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Re: Air over spring rear suspension

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Originally Posted by NEWFISHER View Post
2000 and up Tahoes and Suburbans have a similar system on the ride control vehicles and have an onboard compressor too.
Go to know!!
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Old 02-19-2013, 12:51 PM   #9
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Re: Air over spring rear suspension

Sounds like what you want is what I did to the 97 Tahoe I had years ago.

Pulled a few leafs out of the spring to drop it & used an Air Lift Loadlifter system for the actual carrying of the Tahoe. Family of 4 & it towed our Autocross car to the track once a month. Always did good until I traded it in on a Suburban (family grew). But I took the system off when I traded it ion & have been thinking about putting it on my '02 Sierra. It wasn't designed for the 4-dr Tahoe but I made it fit & can do the same if it won't directly bolt on to the Sierra.
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