Air bags ?

[coater]

Can you use air bags like the old air shocks? Maybe just run an valve for each bag under truck and put air in them. Once you establish the ride height just leave them alone. Not to familiar with bags so don't know if the tanks and compressor maintains the air in them. Only want about a 4/6 drop but was hoping to get a decent ride also.

Thanks Coater.

[Hottrucks]

yep use a scrader valve on each bag....if your going to do just that I would think a set of drop springs would be the ticket

[coater]

Thanks Hottrucks! I need to do some research. I was going to use drop spindals and a flip kit for the rear and use the airbags for the ride.

[N2TRUX]

What year truck? Leaf or coil rear?

[coater]

It's '85 Silverado.It has leaf springs.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by coater

Thanks Hottrucks! I need to do some research. I was going to use drop spindals and a flip kit for the rear and use the airbags for the ride.

Ride Tech offers an AOL set-up (air over leaf). You install the flip kit & then remove some of the leafs using the air bags to restore the capacity @ ride height.

[coater]

What about the front?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by coater

What about the front?

Same thing (although the front is more critical to maintain air pressures for alignment purposes).

[coater]

Thanks for all your heip!

[ST3V3 0]

That is exactly what I plan on temporarily doing to my '67 swb. I will do a full air ride install (pump tank and maybe notch) when I graduate, but for now I want to just put lines with schrader valves on and run them to a convenient location. I would also recommend keeping a cigarette lighter air pump on hand... just in case, haha

[coater]

Don't know if I want to do it if it's going to constantlly change the front end alignment.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by coater

Don't know if I want to do it if it's going to constantlly change the front end alignment.

That's why it's not advised to run manual schrader set-ups on the front.

[ST3V3 0]

Whether you have schrader valves or not is irrelevant...

The alignment will only change if you change the ride height (including if some air leaks on its own). The alignment change is a result of camber gain and bump steer with change in ride height. I'm no expert, but I'd imagine you would set your alignment at the ride height you are most likely to drive at and run the risk of having slightly different camber and toe settings if you choose to drive at different ride heights.

Either way you go (schrader valves or compressor, tank, and valves) you will need to keep an eye on your front ride height if you are concerned about your alignment.

[xJoey Dubsx]

I'd recommend finding a good place that does Lifetime Allignments.. My Dakota eats ball joints like appitizers, so I chose to go to Firestone to get a Lifetime Allignment for $150.. Worth every penny after 3 allignments.. Once snow is gone I need another one since I just changed ball joints.. And yes, you get it alligned at your ride height.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by ST3V3 0

Whether you have schrader valves or not is irrelevant...
The alignment will only change if you change the ride height (including if some air leaks on its own). The alignment change is a result of camber gain and bump steer with change in ride height. I'm no expert, but I'd imagine you would set your alignment at the ride height you are most likely to drive at and run the risk of having slightly different camber and toe settings if you choose to drive at different ride heights.

Either way you go (schrader valves or compressor, tank, and valves) you will need to keep an eye on your front ride height if you are concerned about your alignment.

Filling via a simple, manual, schrader valve set-up is quite relevant because you have no way of knowing what pressure you have w/o some type of gauge monitoring vs. a simple manual fill system or one controlled w/valves that does have gauges for repeatability.

You are correct in that the alignment is set @ a dedicated ride height & pressure that you need to be able to return to if you're letting the air out or experiencing any leakdown issues.