My first set of rear air bags.....did I do okay? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

prostreetC-10 · 05-30-2010, 11:58 AM

I know NOTHING about air ride suspension, but after seening a guy in my town with them just on the rear, I wanted to do that to my truck. In a another year or so I will finally convert to disc brakes and want to go with a drop spindle. My truck needs another 2" off the front and back. I already have 6" drop springs in the rear and wanted to go with air bags for that extra amount. The frame is notched.

I was at a garage sale on Friday and a guy was selling a really nice set of Firestone overload air bags with brackets and lines. I did a good inspection and no rub marks or anything on them. I realize I will have to fab up my own mounting brackets which is cake but is there any reason why these bags won't work?? Oh yeah.......I paid $10 for both!!!!

**Hart_Rod** · 05-30-2010, 12:07 PM

Great deal! Can't wait to see what it looks like slammed.....

.

Jacfourteen · 05-30-2010, 12:09 PM

sounds like a great deal as they run ~$100 each if bought new. What size are they? (7" or 8" diameter probably) Most guys are running the 8" for the smoother ride and extra payload abilities. Where are the pictures?

prostreetC-10 · 05-30-2010, 01:27 PM

hmmmm.......these bags are only about 6" in diameter. Is that not good? Doesn't seem like I would need much since no weight will ever be in the back and they are strickly to control ride height.

Hart Rod....it's not going to be slammed or laying frame at all. Just down a little more. I'd like the rear fender well to be just on top of the tire instead of the slight gap I have now. Also will keep people from really seeing the road grime that is under this "driver".

**Hart_Rod** · 05-30-2010, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prostreetC-10

hmmmm.......these bags are only about 6" in diameter. Is that not good? Doesn't seem like I would need much since no weight will ever be in the back and they are strickly to control ride height.

Hart Rod....it's not going to be slammed or laying frame at all. Just down a little more. I'd like the rear fender well to be just on top of the tire instead of the slight gap I have now. Also will keep people from really seeing the road grime that is under this "driver".

Got you. I forgot you were running 29" tall tires. I'm putting 31s on mine to cure that problem....

.

71swb4x4 · 05-30-2010, 01:53 PM

Post a picture. These may be the smaller bags that are meant to complement a truck's existing suspension, not replace it.

Jacfourteen · 05-30-2010, 01:56 PM

yeah sounds like they are helper bags. They might be alright if your not hauling a load in the back, but will probably ride pretty stiff because they will have to run higher pressure.

prostreetC-10 · 05-30-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacfourteen

yeah sounds like they are helper bags.

Yes...this is why I refered to them as overload bags. I can see how the less volume could cause a harsh ride. Seems like the air pressure needed to get my desired ride height would be most critical. As long as I fab my mounting brackets so the bags are not at max height/pressure, wouldn't that help with the ride quality? Heck...this thing rides like a school bus with the tires on the back anyway. lol

Jacfourteen · 05-30-2010, 02:48 PM

Yeah, it seems like you could make it work. You might have to play with it a little, but it probably couldn't be worse than the stock ride of my 3/4 ton. The guys in the suspension tech section would probably know more on this subject.

Jacfourteen · 05-30-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prostreetC-10

really nice set of Firestone overload air bags with brackets and lines.

Gotcha, I didn't see that the first time around

prostreetC-10 · 05-30-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacfourteen

Gotcha, I didn't see that the first time around

LOL.....I was just being a smart A$$.

Forgot to post the pic.

05-30-2010, 11:58 AM	#1
prostreetC-10 My Carbon Footprint Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orygun Posts: 5,527	My first set of rear air bags.....did I do okay? I know NOTHING about air ride suspension, but after seening a guy in my town with them just on the rear, I wanted to do that to my truck. In a another year or so I will finally convert to disc brakes and want to go with a drop spindle. My truck needs another 2" off the front and back. I already have 6" drop springs in the rear and wanted to go with air bags for that extra amount. The frame is notched. I was at a garage sale on Friday and a guy was selling a really nice set of Firestone overload air bags with brackets and lines. I did a good inspection and no rub marks or anything on them. I realize I will have to fab up my own mounting brackets which is cake but is there any reason why these bags won't work?? Oh yeah.......I paid $10 for both!!!! __________________ A quick "pedalfest" *Still getting loose (carb test)* 496 Initial fire up video! Last edited by prostreetC-10; 05-30-2010 at 11:59 AM.

05-30-2010, 12:07 PM	#2
Hart_Rod ************* Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 17,856	Re: My first set of rear air bags.....did I do okay? Great deal! Can't wait to see what it looks like slammed...... __________________ Rob - https://www.instagram.com/hart_rod_c10 As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another. Proverbs 27:17 FOR SALE: DBW pedal bracket - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=651123 FOR SALE: Hood Brackets http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=679945 1987 Silverado SWB - 34.5K original miles http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=801834 1969 SuperBurb - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=200387 1968 Farm truck - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=358692 1968 SWB - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=551258 1948 Chevy - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=122164&page=3

05-30-2010, 12:09 PM	#3
Jacfourteen Big Red - Now its a SWB! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oroville, Ca Posts: 1,624	Re: My first set of rear air bags.....did I do okay? sounds like a great deal as they run ~$100 each if bought new. What size are they? (7" or 8" diameter probably) Most guys are running the 8" for the smoother ride and extra payload abilities. Where are the pictures? __________________ 68 3/4 ton (Project)-350 Small Block, .030 over, 10:1 comp, 3998993 heads, C3BX edelbrock intake, comp cams XE268, Holley 670 SA, long tube headers, dual flow 40's, E-fan, Alum rad, currently under the knife getting shortened and bagged build thread 41 3/4 ton (wife's)-flatbed, fully restored to original 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's

05-30-2010, 01:27 PM	#4
prostreetC-10 My Carbon Footprint Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orygun Posts: 5,527	Re: My first set of rear air bags.....did I do okay? hmmmm.......these bags are only about 6" in diameter. Is that not good? Doesn't seem like I would need much since no weight will ever be in the back and they are strickly to control ride height. Hart Rod....it's not going to be slammed or laying frame at all. Just down a little more. I'd like the rear fender well to be just on top of the tire instead of the slight gap I have now. Also will keep people from really seeing the road grime that is under this "driver". __________________ A quick "pedalfest" *Still getting loose (carb test)* 496 Initial fire up video!

05-30-2010, 01:53 PM	#6
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: My first set of rear air bags.....did I do okay? Post a picture. These may be the smaller bags that are meant to complement a truck's existing suspension, not replace it. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

05-30-2010, 01:56 PM	#7
Jacfourteen Big Red - Now its a SWB! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oroville, Ca Posts: 1,624	Re: My first set of rear air bags.....did I do okay? yeah sounds like they are helper bags. They might be alright if your not hauling a load in the back, but will probably ride pretty stiff because they will have to run higher pressure. __________________ 68 3/4 ton (Project)-350 Small Block, .030 over, 10:1 comp, 3998993 heads, C3BX edelbrock intake, comp cams XE268, Holley 670 SA, long tube headers, dual flow 40's, E-fan, Alum rad, currently under the knife getting shortened and bagged build thread 41 3/4 ton (wife's)-flatbed, fully restored to original 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's

05-30-2010, 02:48 PM	#9
Jacfourteen Big Red - Now its a SWB! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oroville, Ca Posts: 1,624	Re: My first set of rear air bags.....did I do okay? Yeah, it seems like you could make it work. You might have to play with it a little, but it probably couldn't be worse than the stock ride of my 3/4 ton. The guys in the suspension tech section would probably know more on this subject. __________________ 68 3/4 ton (Project)-350 Small Block, .030 over, 10:1 comp, 3998993 heads, C3BX edelbrock intake, comp cams XE268, Holley 670 SA, long tube headers, dual flow 40's, E-fan, Alum rad, currently under the knife getting shortened and bagged build thread 41 3/4 ton (wife's)-flatbed, fully restored to original 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's



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