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Old 02-01-2014, 09:03 PM   #1
Bearcamp
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Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

I just got done installing the airbags on the front of my 63 and is still 4 inches off the ground. I wanted it on the ground. I have 2 1/2 inch drop spindles and the air bag kit done to it. I was wondering what can be doin this. Are my shocks keeping it from dropping? Help please. Also the bottom front shock cup are in place where they belong.
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Old 02-01-2014, 09:29 PM   #2
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Yup. Take the shocks off and see if it drop farther. Do you have a c notch? Four inches off the ground does seem pretty low for that set up though.
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Old 02-01-2014, 09:33 PM   #3
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Are the tires bottoming on the inner front fenders?
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Old 02-02-2014, 01:56 AM   #4
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Cupped arms? Pancaked crossmember? Cut out wheel wells? All those are required to go further than you are now.
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Old 02-02-2014, 08:22 AM   #5
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Stock crossmember, a arms etc. spindles are 2 1/2 in drop. Not hitting inner fender.
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Old 02-02-2014, 09:42 AM   #6
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Just removed the front shocks n no difference. From the bottom of the rocker to floor I have 6 1/2 inches. Way too much. I'm stumped.
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Old 02-02-2014, 10:07 AM   #7
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Post a pic of it off the blocks
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Old 02-02-2014, 10:46 AM   #8
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Here's one off the blocks.
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Old 02-02-2014, 10:55 AM   #9
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

like newfisher was stating, you will have to pancake the crossmember, cup your lower control arms 1.5-2" and cut out your inner fender wells! theres a few threads in the project and build threads you can check out, like coulter! theres even a how-to pancake your crossmember!

by the way I like the spikes on the front bumper where did you get them?? was size are they??
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Old 02-02-2014, 11:13 AM   #10
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

How tall are the lower bag cups that set in the a-arms?
They can be trimmed down to 1-5/8" tall.
You are going to need a different front wheel/tire combo to go lower anyway,...
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Old 02-02-2014, 01:13 PM   #11
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Do you still have the bump stops in? Could be hitting those.
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Old 02-02-2014, 02:41 PM   #12
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

.....cup lower A-arms, pancake cross member, upper ball joints are prob binding as well.....how tall is the tire?
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Old 02-02-2014, 05:20 PM   #13
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Take some pics of the front suspension aired out. Let's get some eyes on the subject.
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Old 02-02-2014, 06:25 PM   #14
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Pics but I do believe with everything stock this is as low as I'll get it.
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Old 02-02-2014, 06:49 PM   #15
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

That's a pic with it jacked up n no weight on it.
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Old 02-02-2014, 10:14 PM   #16
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Those bags are bigger than my rears.
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Old 02-02-2014, 10:32 PM   #17
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bearcamp View Post
That's a pic with it jacked up n no weight on it.
I think what they are asking for is a shot (like that) with all the weight on the wheel, with NO air in the bag (i.e. aired out). This will let people see what is preventing it from dropping lower.

From what I see, having the bump/steering stop on the lower arm is going to be your limiting factor. Most people who install bags on stock arms, they remove that to get the lowest drop.
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Old 02-02-2014, 11:09 PM   #18
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Cut the snubber stands off.
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Old 02-02-2014, 11:20 PM   #19
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Yeah its hitting the metal bump stop stands. Tires will be the next problem. Tires look to tall. If you play with the step up you should be able to get the crossmember to the ground. Cut the lower cups down to.
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Old 02-02-2014, 11:51 PM   #20
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

I'd route those airlines away from the tierods unless you want an automatic adjustment when they rub through.

and I would guess the balljoints are in a bind, those are pretty tall tires.

Quote:
Originally Posted by LVPhotos View Post
Those bags are bigger than my rears.
deservedly so, bags should be bigger in the front. I see guys use huge bags in the rear and wonder why, a small bag will perform better in the rear. it has to do with the weight and the volume of air to lift, a really big bag without weight will lift a LOT with really low pressure, leading to a wallowing ride. in the front, the motor and cab have plenty of weight not to mention it is compounded by the lever of the a arms, a big bag will lift higher with less pressure than a small bag
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Old 02-03-2014, 08:00 AM   #21
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

On mine I put a cup in the lower a arm to let the bag st lower in the arm. I cut off the bump stop brackets also. I ran my lines out the back of the cross member to get them out the way. I have more backspacing on my wheels and it keeps them off the fenders and the inner fenders rest right on the top of the tire. With my wheel and tire combo my cross member is 2 1/2" off the ground aired out. The frame and cross member is what you need to be looking at when you dump the bags and not the rockers. That will tell you what your limiting factors are. If you look under mine the first thing that it would land on is the exhaust.
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Old 02-03-2014, 06:13 PM   #22
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

lower cup is the issue!
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Old 02-03-2014, 07:58 PM   #23
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

The bump stop is removed in the pic of iton the ground. The cups are 3 inches and was thinking about cutting them down to 1 1/2 inches. The spikes I got off ebay and they are 3/4 inch (they fit a 3/4 inch bolt head) Ball joints are not binding and neither are the shocks. When it's ired out the shocks still have about 4 inches of travel. I believe in order to get it lower is to cut down the cups but I believe I'll wait til I get the box back on and see how it sets. Oh yes the tires,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,they are 235-60r-15 and only about 27 inches tall.
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Old 02-03-2014, 08:21 PM   #24
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

you'll need to do a "Z" or a drop member to lay frame....remove the bag "cup's" completely and cup the lower control arms... and you'll need to do something with the inner fenders....oh, and everything else that was mentioned...
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Old 02-03-2014, 08:43 PM   #25
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Re: Installed airbags and still dont set low enough.

Would I get another 1 1/2 inches if I just cut the cup from 3 to 1 1/2?
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