Air Bag Suspension

[Gadoozle]

Hi Everyone,

I'm 15 and I'm new to the truck scene, so forgive me if this is a stupid question. What exactly is air bag suspension? What does it do? What are its benefits and problems? How does it work? I'm looking to lower my '72, and I think this may be the route I want to take. I don't want it to touch the ground, but I want it low.

Thanks!

[BarryB]

Basically an air bag, or Bagged truck has the coil springs removed and air bags put in there place. Its more involved than that but hopefully that will give you an idea. There are several threads on here with guys installing or just showing there bagged trucks. I plan on bagging my truck when the time comes.
When you have air bags with somekind of air compressor, tank, and controls you can raise and lower your truck. For example drive it to a show raised up, when you get there you can let the air out to drop your truck.
I'm sure more will post the pics or comments. thats my input .

[Gadoozle]

Thanks BarryB. Would you suggest putting air bags in a truck? Does raising and lowering screw up your alignment?

[Slick67]

It keeps the alignment pretty well. You will have to have it aligned at "ride height" then lower it when you get to where you are going. Driving it lowered is costly if it is not done correctly. Check out the Suspension section in the forum and you will have a better response to all of your questions! Slick67

[BarryB]

This all depends on what you in vision for your truck. anytime you raise and lower your truck there are alignment issues. You have drive shaft angle issues. This is why I plan driving mine while in the raised position, and only lower it when I'm parked or moving slowly.

[gonzo6869]

An air bag system is something that can be done several different ways depending on your budget. If you just want to go with your minimal setup; Airbags, Compressor, Tank and other misc. it could cost you somewhere around $1000 up. (Depending on what type of parts you get) This setup will give you a decent drop but you'll be riding on old suspension parts. Now if budget is not problem (who am I kidding, it always is), then you can go with a setup that I am looking at getting. Brand new control arms (upper and lower), drop spindles, airbags, a completely new rear suspension (trailing arms and such, the bolt on kit that many vendors sell) and some sort of air management system along with a leveling system, this can run just a little bit more, about $5,000 on up. With this setup you'll not be draggin on the ground, but you'll be getting all the benefits of having a bagged truck; a complete new suspension that will be able to outperform most other suspension setups. It’s a lot of money, but if you do it right the first time you will never have to do it again. A properly installed and maintained airbag system should outlast your truck. (I think I said too much) You are 15, I don't think you'll have deep enough pockets to do this all at once, if you do, but save up and start with a good compressor, tank and valves, ones that you can continue to us as you go on. Then just start doing it one step at a time, go with just the airbags and with time and saving some money you can get the other parts and just do the upgrades one at a time. If you can't afford something, don't go cheap, wait till you can afford it.
Well I said too much. I know you were only asking what an airbag setup was, maybe a little too much info for you, but its honest.

[Jacfourteen]

Originally Posted by gonzo6869

An air bag system is something that can be done several different ways depending on your budget. If you just want to go with your minimal setup; Airbags, Compressor, Tank and other misc. it could cost you somewhere around $1000 up. (Depending on what type of parts you get) This setup will give you a decent drop but you'll be riding on old suspension parts. Now if budget is not problem (who am I kidding, it always is), then you can go with a setup that I am looking at getting. Brand new control arms (upper and lower), drop spindles, airbags, a completely new rear suspension (trailing arms and such, the bolt on kit that many vendors sell) and some sort of air management system along with a leveling system, this can run just a little bit more, about $5,000 on up. With this setup you'll not be draggin on the ground, but you'll be getting all the benefits of having a bagged truck; a complete new suspension that will be able to outperform most other suspension setups. It’s a lot of money, but if you do it right the first time you will never have to do it again. A properly installed and maintained airbag system should outlast your truck. (I think I said too much) You are 15, I don't think you'll have deep enough pockets to do this all at once, if you do, but save up and start with a good compressor, tank and valves, ones that you can continue to us as you go on. Then just start doing it one step at a time, go with just the airbags and with time and saving some money you can get the other parts and just do the upgrades one at a time. If you can't afford something, don't go cheap, wait till you can afford it.
Well I said too much. I know you were only asking what an airbag setup was, maybe a little too much info for you, but its honest.

All of that is good advice!

[Jacfourteen]

Another benefit of having an air suspension is that you can have a lowered truck and still use it to haul with, when you load it down you just pump up the bags and go.

[Gadoozle]

Good point...but after my truck is restored, I probably won't use it for hauling. Can you raise your truck up again after you lower it?

[Troyz R Us]

^ Absolutely!...at the touch of a switch or button you can raise it back up. The (air) compressor on your truck would supply the air tank with air. With a switch, you can control how much air is let in or out of the air bags. Which will raise or lower your truck. So you can raise and lower your truck until your air tank runs out of air. Tank gets low on air, your compressor kicks on and refills it. That's a pretty basic outline. Depending on what you want to do with it, you can have many different configurations, several switches, multiple air tanks, multiple compressors, etc.

Go to Youtube and search for "bagged trucks"...see it in action.

[Gadoozle]

Thanks man! I didn't realize the operation of lowering and raising was so easy. I've been told that driving your truck while it's low is a bad idea...Why is this?

[67chevemall]

Rear is a breeze with coil wishbone suspension...the front you need drop spindles and steel plates for the top of the bags and steel cups for the bottom of the bags.
One can use shrader valves or get valves, pumps, and compressers which add$$ up quick.

The suicidedoor.com kit is a great start.

[Jacfourteen]

Your alignment changes as you change height, so you want to pick a height that will allow you to clear obstacles (speed bumps, pot holes, etc) and that you like how it looks. Then you take it in and get it aligned and write down the pressure for each bag, then when you're driving you set it to that pressure which will mean it's the same height. That way it is aligned correctly and won't wear tires/parts. If your just cruising through the HS parking lot or whatever it wouldn't hurt to ride with it low, its more about going longer distances. Hope this makes sense and helps you out.

[Gadoozle]

Thanks, man. It does help me out. I mostly understand what bags are now. The only issue is I haven't found a thread that shows step by step how to install them.....Does anyone know of a thread that explains how to bag a truck?