Air Bag Question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Scrub · 01-07-2003, 02:58 AM

I am putting 2600 pound bags on my 72 with leaf springs and a 4 inch lift.
I put a plate on top of the u-bolt plate to hold the bottom of the bag and have a new cross member that I built to hold the top. My problem is travel. The airbag only has about 3 inches of movement, so I need to do something. If I bolt both ends of the bag, I have to make some kind of travel limiting device, otherwise in an off-camber position the weight of the axle will over-extend the bag and pull it apart.
What I am thinking of doing is having the bags bolted to the top member and grinding the studs off the bottom of the bag and using it like an overload. The springs can extend beyond the 3 inches but the axle won't be contacting the bags.

The question is this: will the bags pop or break if you put full pressure in them with no load? like could I put them on my workbench and inflate them to 100 psi without hurting them? Hmm.. what is max PSI for a firestone bag?

If I can inflate them unloaded, I think I will just mount the tops to the frame and put some rubber on the bottoms to stop the clank

Thanks in advance.

3damnboyz · 01-07-2003, 11:07 AM

if ya inflate them without a load on them they will pop on ya! you still should be able to do what you are planning if you set the leveling valves up right

Slammed67 · 01-09-2003, 02:59 PM

I belive the max height of a Firestone 2600Lb bag is 7". So you could inflate it with no load as long as you keep it under 7".

NSANE68!!! · 01-09-2003, 11:49 PM

The only reason that bag would pop is if you inflat it more than the 150 psi it is rated at. It doesn't matter if you have a load on it or not. Slammed is right on the rise of the bag, about 7-8".
I run my air system at 175psi right now, and have never had a load in my bed. But when I'm closer to completion I will run bigger bags (psi) and BIGGER line and valves.

Scrub · 01-10-2003, 01:28 PM

I just talked to Firestone, and they don't know the answer. I think the only thig to do would be try it.

Thanks for the response

I'm going to start a new thread on poped bags

NSANE68!!! · 01-10-2003, 02:26 PM

That's because Firestone currently has a law suit against them on their air bags popping. So they are not going to give out info to anyone. Like I said I run mine up to 175psi with no load EVER, with no probs. But I have seen alot of blown firestone bags. Don't know the circumstances, but they are pulled apart at the crimp of the metal to the bag.

fastbagged68 · 01-10-2003, 03:45 PM

I have heard that when easy street was testing there new gen2 bags that they test firestones and they seem to blow at 400psi. You could put a post on sportruck.com and get a real good answer.

01-07-2003, 02:58 AM	#1
Scrub Collector of rusty Items Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sisters,Oregon USA Posts: 731	Air Bag Question I am putting 2600 pound bags on my 72 with leaf springs and a 4 inch lift. I put a plate on top of the u-bolt plate to hold the bottom of the bag and have a new cross member that I built to hold the top. My problem is travel. The airbag only has about 3 inches of movement, so I need to do something. If I bolt both ends of the bag, I have to make some kind of travel limiting device, otherwise in an off-camber position the weight of the axle will over-extend the bag and pull it apart. What I am thinking of doing is having the bags bolted to the top member and grinding the studs off the bottom of the bag and using it like an overload. The springs can extend beyond the 3 inches but the axle won't be contacting the bags. The question is this: will the bags pop or break if you put full pressure in them with no load? like could I put them on my workbench and inflate them to 100 psi without hurting them? Hmm.. what is max PSI for a firestone bag? If I can inflate them unloaded, I think I will just mount the tops to the frame and put some rubber on the bottoms to stop the clank Thanks in advance. __________________ Scrub Sisters, Oregon - Home of the Sisters Rodeo. 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends.

01-07-2003, 11:07 AM	#2
3damnboyz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: east texas Posts: 42	if ya inflate them without a load on them they will pop on ya! you still should be able to do what you are planning if you set the leveling valves up right __________________ 72 short wide 55 stepside- 2nd generation "come on honey, we need more old trucks to fix up for the boys to drive, they will be driving before ya know it!"

01-09-2003, 02:59 PM	#3
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	I belive the max height of a Firestone 2600Lb bag is 7". So you could inflate it with no load as long as you keep it under 7". __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

01-09-2003, 11:49 PM	#4
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	The only reason that bag would pop is if you inflat it more than the 150 psi it is rated at. It doesn't matter if you have a load on it or not. Slammed is right on the rise of the bag, about 7-8". I run my air system at 175psi right now, and have never had a load in my bed. But when I'm closer to completion I will run bigger bags (psi) and BIGGER line and valves. __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)

01-10-2003, 01:28 PM	#5
Scrub Collector of rusty Items Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sisters,Oregon USA Posts: 731	I just talked to Firestone, and they don't know the answer. I think the only thig to do would be try it. Thanks for the response I'm going to start a new thread on poped bags __________________ Scrub Sisters, Oregon - Home of the Sisters Rodeo. 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends.

01-10-2003, 02:26 PM	#6
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	That's because Firestone currently has a law suit against them on their air bags popping. So they are not going to give out info to anyone. Like I said I run mine up to 175psi with no load EVER, with no probs. But I have seen alot of blown firestone bags. Don't know the circumstances, but they are pulled apart at the crimp of the metal to the bag. __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)

01-10-2003, 03:45 PM	#7
fastbagged68 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tri Valley California Posts: 792	I have heard that when easy street was testing there new gen2 bags that they test firestones and they seem to blow at 400psi. You could put a post on sportruck.com and get a real good answer.



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