Yet Another Air-Ride Question; Valve Set Up

[michael bustamante]

Ok heres my question Im setting up my 67 half ton with front and rear air bags, dominator 2600 (thanks suicide doors) mow I dont want side to side or individual lift/drop. I want to raise and lower the front 2 bags equally and the same with the rear, and maybe do a pancake drop (all 4s) so would I use only 4 valves and use "t" fittings to equalize the air between the 2 bags in the rear and another "T" fitting to do the same to the front or am I better off setting up each bag individually? Also does that mean I need 2 switches and a dual needle guage?
your help is appreciated guys. thank you
oh: and any diagrams would be great!!

[AVS_JASON]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

Ok heres my question Im setting up my 67 half ton with front and rear air bags, dominator 2600 (thanks suicide doors) mow I dont want side to side or individual lift/drop. I want to raise and lower the front 2 bags equally and the same with the rear, and maybe do a pancake drop (all 4s) so would I use only 4 valves and use "t" fittings to equalize the air between the 2 bags in the rear and another "T" fitting to do the same to the front or am I better off setting up each bag individually? Also does that mean I need 2 switches and a dual needle guage?
your help is appreciated guys. thank you
oh: and any diagrams would be great!!

4 valves will achieve a front/back setup. 8 valves would be a f.b.s.s. set up.
The only problem with a 4 valve set up is that the air in the front is shared between the bags.
The minimum amount of switches you would need on a 4 valve set up would be 2. This would allow you to control the front on one switch and the rear on the other.
Also a single dual needle gauge would work fine on a front/back set up.

Hope that helps a lil...

[Thorbecke Bros.]

I would definitely run 8 valves, or 4 2-valve manifolds (or 2 4-valve manifolds lol). The bad thing about sharing air is that you will get noticeable unsafe body roll. Now you can still get by with running only 2 switches. You would wire up the fill & dump valves together for the front, and the same for the rear. If you go this route and you experience unequal pressures upon lift, that can be resolved with a inline flow control. That will let you get it really dialed in.

here is a pic of the new smc 3/8 manifold valve that we just got in. they are very nice! comes with a nice price too! $114.99 each.

[IMG]http://www.*****************/jason/images/smcmansmall.jpg[/IMG]

[AVS_JASON]

Also the good thing about manifold valves its that it would be less fittings. Which equals less money and fewer spots for leaks....

[LowSmoothCool]

I wouldn't say they are cheaper but way easier install unlike most industrial valves our valves are bubble tight 0% leak down tolerance

[AVS_JASON]

I meant cheaper in fittings... And they are a lot easier on the install.

[BACKYARD88]

Originally Posted by Thorbecke Bros.

I would definitely run 8 valves, or 4 2-valve manifolds (or 2 4-valve manifolds lol). The bad thing about sharing air is that you will get noticeable unsafe body roll. Now you can still get by with running only 2 switches. You would wire up the fill & dump valves together for the front, and the same for the rear. If you go this route and you experience unequal pressures upon lift, that can be resolved with a inline flow control. That will let you get it really dialed in.

here is a pic of the new smc 3/8 manifold valve that we just got in. they are very nice! comes with a nice price too! $114.99 each.

[IMG]http://www.*****************/jason/images/smcmansmall.jpg[/IMG]

I'm thinking I may lose my Parkers for a set of those

[au03z71]

You definitely want 8 valves, unless you want some extreme lean going around curves. With 4 valves and T's the front and rear bags will share the same air, so when you go around a curve and the weight transfers, it will force air from one bag to another, causing it to handle like crap.

You can wire 8 valves to work the way you want. Also, AirRide had their big red 8-valve block on sale 1/2 off. I don't know if they still have that sale though...

[LowSmoothCool]

Originally Posted by au03z71

You definitely want 8 valves, unless you want some extreme lean going around curves. With 4 valves and T's the front and rear bags will share the same air, so when you go around a curve and the weight transfers, it will force air from one bag to another, causing it to handle like crap.

You can wire 8 valves to work the way you want. Also, AirRide had their big red 8-valve block on sale 1/2 off. I don't know if they still have that sale though...

We are still offering the Big red Valve block for 400.00
http://www.ridetech.com/products/4_w...-962-2505.html

[michael bustamante]

well ive already got 4 valves so I guess im shopping for 4 more, Im placing an order with suicidedoors now bud. anyone special I should address my order to?

[michael bustamante]

"I would definitely run 8 valves, or 4 2-valve manifolds (or 2 4-valve manifolds lol). The bad thing about sharing air is that you will get noticeable unsafe body roll. " is this body roll not as noticable on small cars, Ive seen little hyundais have a 4 valve 2 switch set up and never noticed air being switched from one bag to another on turns.
" Now you can still get by with running only 2 switches. You would wire up the fill & dump valves together for the front, and the same for the rear. If you go this route and you experience unequal pressures upon lift, that can be resolved with a inline flow control. That will let you get it really dialed in." does this mean I would run 8 valves and only 2 switches? I dont really need side to side or 1 legged drops or anything like that. and what does an inline flow control do?
(so I know what Im ordering)

[Thorbecke Bros.]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

"I would definitely run 8 valves, or 4 2-valve manifolds (or 2 4-valve manifolds lol). The bad thing about sharing air is that you will get noticeable unsafe body roll. " is this body roll not as noticable on small cars, Ive seen little hyundais have a 4 valve 2 switch set up and never noticed air being switched from one bag to another on turns.
" Now you can still get by with running only 2 switches. You would wire up the fill & dump valves together for the front, and the same for the rear. If you go this route and you experience unequal pressures upon lift, that can be resolved with a inline flow control. That will let you get it really dialed in." does this mean I would run 8 valves and only 2 switches? I dont really need side to side or 1 legged drops or anything like that. and what does an inline flow control do?
(so I know what Im ordering)

it might be that you were moving slow enough and the roll wasnt very noticeable, i dont know, but trust me its there. definitely more noticeable on heavier vehicles. running a panhard bar helps some, but running an 8 valve setup is the way to go.

you can wire up 8 valves on 2, 3-way momentary switches. one switch would be for front up & down, the other for the rear up & down.

example:
lets say you plumbed your system with 8 valves (valves being in the rear of the truck) and the airline running to the front bags is not equal in length. this can cause one of the bags to receive more pressure/volume. with an inline flow control you can adjust the flow to each bag so that when you hit the switch, each bag gets an equal amount.

here is a couple pics of inline flow controls....
[IMG]http://www.*****************/files/3-8_PTC_Valve_Fill_Controls.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.*****************/files/12ValveFillControlwithPTCFittings.jpg[/IMG]

[michael bustamante]

boy whover said I want to run a cheap airbag set up never did their homework, its all good though, I just want to get it right the first time, im going over my order and the funds status now, thaks for all your help

[Thorbecke Bros.]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

boy whover said I want to run a cheap airbag set up never did their homework, its all good though, I just want to get it right the first time, im going over my order and the funds status now, thaks for all your help

pm me a list of parts when your ready. ill get you a quote.

[kev2809]

so if u run 8 valvles and 4 switches, 1 for each bag, could u still wire another 4 switches (1 to lift both front, 1 to lift both back, 1 to lift one side, 1 to lift the other side). and also, what's the difference with 1/2 inch valves and 3/8 inch valves? I mean, u can still run 1/2 inch airline with either right?

[6772owner]

The size of the valves and line dictates the speed that the system operates.... ie how fast the bags will air up and down, its my understanding that 1/2" valves and lines make the system very hard to make fine adjustments to ride height because it can move a lot of air very quickly. I think most people go with 3/8" valves and 1/4" line for the basic set-up that doesnt need instant height changes.

[michael bustamante]

ive got 4 1/2 inch valves now but I'm going to run reducers to 3/8 and go 3/8 all around,

[kev2809]

but, can u run 3/8 valves fitted to 1/2 air line? or would that still be too fast? is it the air line that determines the speeds or valves, or both?

[6772owner]

From what I know the lines have more effect on the speed that the valves do (although the valve will effect the speed some too) I think you would be fine with the larger valves, smaller lines and use the flow controls to fine tune inflation. You can also get flow contols for the deflate valves (to control the speed of the dump if you just bury the dump switch)

[XXL]

Originally Posted by Thorbecke Bros.

definitely more noticeable on heavier vehicles. running a panhard bar helps some

Did you mean sway bar?

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by kev2809

.... is it the air line that determines the speeds or valves, or both?

Both. Unless your really wanting a fast system, run 3/8" valves "and" lines. That's a quick system that you can still control.

[entourageguy]

here's a way to set up front with three valves and 1 way's to stop air transfer side to side also allows adjusting of indivdule bags and one dump valve...

[kev2809]

what's the 3rd one for?

[Shane]

dump

[nicks05z71]

That would be to let air out of the bags.



Guess Im to slow...