Best Air Bag Suspension

 A traditional automobile suspension system is comprised of components such as linkages, tires, shock absorbers and springs working together to maintain a vehicle’s ride quality and handling. It is also used to control a vehicle’s ability to load additional weight in relation to these factors.  Conventionally, a suspension system utilizes springs that are manufactured with the use of steel as the main material. A compressor is used to replace the steel springs in an air suspension system. This compressor pumps air to the air springs to raise and lower the vehicle’s chassis from its axle. The main concept behind this is the rule that a car’s only points of contact with the road is through its tires. Air suspension is known as “air bag suspension” when it is sold as an aftermarket enhancement.

Air bag suspension reviews

Firestone 6781 Ride-Rite Rear Air Helper Spring

Made by Firestone, the 6781 Ride-Rite Rear Air Helper Spring weighs 2.9 pounds each. These air helper springs will allow you to support loads up to 5000 pounds per pair. As weight is loaded into the vehicle, the stock suspension system is compressed to accommodate the additional pressure. This results in a change to the vehicles ride height and handling. The air helper springs reduces the strain to the suspension with the use of air pressure. This allows the springs to compensate for the additional weight.

Upon full installation and inflating the air springs, they should be inspected visually to make sure that they are properly aligned. You should check the distance between the upper and lower brackets to determine if the ideal height of vehicle operation is met. The individual air springs have independent inflation valves to equalize the air pressure for each spring. It is not uncommon to have pressure differential among the air springs as the ride height is affected by the gross weight of the vehicle’s frame.

It is recommended that you inflate the air springs up to 50 psi. Loss of pressure is to be expected, but should not exceed 4 psi per week. Inspect the brackets periodically, especially if you have recently loaded a significant amount of weight onto your vehicle.

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Firestone Double Convoluted Air Spring – 267C1.5 Style – 1/4 NPT

 

This air spring is designed to operate at 100 psi, offering maximum weight support through a 4-layer reinforcement construction. Braided wire girdle hoops allow for the creation of convoluted shape, increasing the spring’s capabilities to support additional loads. Double convoluted air springs also have additional spring rate, making it suitable for long-distance travels at maximum load capacity. Designed to keep a secure connection between the air bags and the end plates, it is made from environment friendly materials to deter corrosion and damage.

The springs are designed for a ride height of a maximum of 8.3 inches and a compressed height of 2.8 inches. This gives maximum cushioning between the vehicles components, particularly the brackets and the frame, as well as providing maximum ride comfort and performance. The 267C1.5 can support up to 4800 pounds, per pair, with a ride height of 5.5-6.5 inches.

The brackets should be inspected periodically for air pressure loss and damage. Accumulated debris such as dirt, sand, and gravel should be washed away after rugged use to prevent puncture and general wear-and-tear.  The air pressure should also be checked every week, with normal loss of 3-4 psi per week. Never exceed 100 psi when inflating your air springs.

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AIR LIFT 57275 LoadLifter 5000 Series Rear Air Spring Kit

 

Considered as a less costly alternative to Firestone Air Springs, the Loadlifter packs just as much muscle as the industry leader. Installation is relatively easy, with a manufacturer recommendation of 2 hours maximum and a minimal use of tools. The Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 series is designed to support up to 5000 pounds of weight.

It is designed to level your load, giving your vehicle a dramatic change in ride comfort, as well as new levels of safety and security. The air pressure can be inflated from 5 psi up to 100 psi, giving it the flexibility to adjust ride heights depending on the situation. The kit is made from durable components, with a double-convoluted design to help your vehicle multiply its weight capacity as well as damage from corrosion and wear-and-tear.

This air suspension kit eliminates sag through proper weight distribution, improving handling as well as prolonging the lifespan of your tires and chassis. An increased spring rate also prevents your vehicle from “bottoming out” and unnecessary body roll by absorbing bumps and other irregularities caused by road contact.  Proper weight distribution also reduces the stress of braking and sway, helping your regular suspension cope with daily rugged use.

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DEDC Pair Rear Air Suspension Bags Ford Crown Victoria Lincoln Town Car Mercury Grand Marquis

 This rear air suspension air bag kit, manufactured by DEDC, is designed for full sized sedans. More specifically, they were are best used to be fitted on the following models: the 1989-2010 Lincoln Town Car, the 1992-2010 Ford Crown Victoria, the 2003-2004 Mercury Marauder and the 1989-2010 Mercury Grand Marquis.

The system is very easy to install, approximately taking at least one hour for both bags, with minimal tool requirements. You may purchase a complete set (one pair) of the DEDC rear air suspension or a single component.  With a cost of just under one hundred dollars for the whole set, consumers have praised the high quality of the product. At a considerably lower cost compared to original stock suspensions, they bring great value for money.

The air suspension bags are a tapered sleeve design, and weighs 7.2 pounds combined. The DEDC Rear Air Suspension Bags have dimensions measuring 11.8 x 7.1 x 11.8 inches. They cost less and are much easier to install than traditional coil springs. The DEDC Rear Air Suspension Bag is sure to improve your car’s ride and handling. It will also reduce wear-and-tear to your sedan’s wheels and frame. Best of all, they will allow your vehicle to carry more weight by increasing the rear suspension spring rate.

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Firestone Ride-Rite 2430 Ride-Rite Rear Air Helper Spring Kit

The Firestone Ride Ride-Rite 2430 is a rear air suspension kit with a double convoluted design. This rear air suspension set works well with the 2007-2010 GMC Sierra 1500 truck series. Installing these rear air suspension bags is sure to improve the ride quality and handling of your vehicle. The Firestone Ride-Rite 2430 air bag suspension package comes with a complete set of well-made, heavy duty parts that are easy to install. The total weight for the entire kit is thirty pounds. They are designed to fit the rear axle brackets of your vehicle’s frame.

The rear air suspension air bags operate with a minimum air pressure requirement of 5 PSI. When loaded at full capacity, the air bags must be inflated at 100 psi. These rear air suspension air bags will allow your truck to load up to 4,800 pounds. The double convoluted configuration of the air bags will give your vehicle an approximate ride height of 5.5 to 6.5 inches.

Make sure to inspect the air pressure of the rear air suspension air bags every week. The normal range for air pressure loss in the air bags is 3-4 psi per week. Always release the air pressure of the air bags when leveling the vehicle.

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AIR LIFT 72000 Wireless Air Leveling Compressor

The Air Lift 72000 Wireless Air Leveling Compressor is an on board air pressure maintenance system. Its wireless design allows you to inflate and deflate the air in your air springs inside the comfort of your vehicle or outside it. Convenient and easy to operate, with no messy wires and lines, the control box is small enough to be clipped on the sun visor.  It’s also simple to install, needing only 1 hour with the use of standard mechanical tools.

The Air Lift 72000 Wireless Air Leveling Compressor comes complete with an air compressor, manifold, and wireless control box. The twelve-volt air compressor is heavy-duty, while the manifold is weather resistant. The battery operated control box has a dual-path system that allows you to independently control inflation of individual air springs.

This product is designed to be compatible with any brand of air springs. The Air Lift 72000 Wireless Air Leveling Compressor is capable of providing you with a wide range of advanced system diagnostics. This allows you to monitor irregularities associated with your air springs as well as your on-board compressor. You can also program up to two air pressure settings and maintain different air pressure for the right and left air springs through the control box.

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AIR LIFT 25592 Load Controller II On Board Air Compressor System

The Air Lift 25592 Load Controller II On Board Air Compressor System is designed for inflating air springs. The air compressor system is specified for light and medium duty use only. The system comes equipped with a sensor that monitors air pressure, which automatically inflates the air bags when low psi is detected.

The on board air compressor comes with a single-path system as standard. Unlike a dual path system, the on board air compressor cannot inflate the air springs independently. What this means is that the air pressure for the pair of left and right springs are inflated at exactly the same rate all the time. This is ideal for leveling the load of your vehicle evenly. You can configure the level settings by adjusting the air pressure of the front and back air spring pairs.

The Air Lift Company, established in 1949, manufactures the Air Lift 25592 Load Controller II On Board Air Compressor system. This product weighs a total of 4.6 pounds and measures 13.5 x 8.4 x 6.4 inches. It is competitively priced when compared to other on board air compressor brands of the same quality. The kit is easy to install thanks to Air Lift’s patented wiring harness, which comes included with the system.

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Air Suspension Bag for: GMC Envoy 2002 – 2009, Chevy Trailblazer 2002 – 2009, Buick Rainer 2004 – 2007, Saab 9-7X 2005 – 2009

This air suspension air bag has a “Direct Fit” design that is compatible with several vehicles. Namely these models are: the 2002-2009 GMC Envoy series, the 2002-2009 Chevy Trailblazer series, the 2004-2007 Buick Rainer series, and finally the 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X series. The kit comes with brand new “O-rings”, with no modifications needed during installation to the frame. This air bag is designed for the rear wheels of the vehicle only.

The brand of this particular air suspension air bag is Parts Galaxy. It comes as a single air bag and you need to order another piece for a complete pair. To install, you must first remove your truck’s air compressor fuse before raising the vehicle. Then you have to drain the air out of the lines. Once all the air is removed, the air bags can now be replaced with the new ones. When reinstalling the compressor and the lines, make sure that you revert the settings back to the original mounting positions.

Always keep your vehicle level by adjusting the air pressure in the bags. To prolong the lifespan of your air suspension system, always clean debris and other build up with the use of a hose during cleaning. As with all air suspension systems, check the air pressure of the air bags at regular intervals.

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Cars with Air bag Suspension

Air suspension is a feature found in flagship models of luxury car manufacturers. High-end vehicles with air suspension offer a gliding ride quality that corrects irregularities when a car comes into contact with the road.  Air suspension entails adjusting the ground clearance, air pressure, and ride height of a vehicle automatically. This system is controlled by a complicated arrangement of sensors, electronics, and computers. Most of these developments have been engineered in-house by some of the world’s preeminent car companies through years of research and innovation. This feature significantly adds cost to production; hence it is generally reserved for top shelf models that can be sold at a premium.

 

A major drawback to air suspension is the cost of maintaining it. Since the system replaces steel with rubber, it is not uncommon for these components to deteriorate or be damaged much faster than its traditional counterparts. Several factors include general wear-and-tear, punctures, and condensation.

 

Air suspension is also added to some SUV’s to increase the amount of weight that it can carry. However, this feature makes the vehicle’s air bag suspension susceptible to friction caused by its contact to the chassis as a result of the additional weight. This results to air-line failure through gradual use over time, and must be checked at regular intervals.

Rear Suspension Air Bags

 Rear suspension air bags are used to fit in the rear end frame of a truck or an SUV.  They are designed to work in conjunction with standard leaf spring mounts to prevent the vehicle from sagging. Installing rear application kits results to reduced “bottoming out” and tire wear. The system works by lifting the rear end away from the frame by inflating the bags when carrying additional weight. Before installing rear suspension air bags, the frame of the vehicle must be braced and leveled. This is done by removing the frame from the vehicle and welding the components from the outside.<>