08-28-2010, 07:10 PM | #1 |
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Location: Bonne Terre, Mo
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Air Valves Quality
Are the valves like most everything else you get what you pay for? Reason I ask been researching air system kits. Airbagit.com has some complete systems with some decent prices even after you upgrade up the scale for 1/2" valves, 5 gal tank their prices are rather reasonable. And they have been in the business for a long time. Just wondered if anyone has any experance or stories about the quality of their stuff. SDC valves seem to be the caddy valve to use with a similar price tag? Feedback..
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08-28-2010, 08:19 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
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Re: Air Valves Quality
You will find that the general opinion on this forum is DO NOT buy from AIM, Chassis Tech, airbagit.com or any of their other aliases. They are noted for inferior quality products, and very poor customer service.
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08-28-2010, 10:02 PM | #3 |
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Re: Air Valves Quality
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08-29-2010, 12:03 PM | #4 |
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Location: HOUSTON TX
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Re: Air Valves Quality
i am running gc extreme valves, i like them because they have Din style connector . No cutting and splicing, and they are weather tight. Run the wire through the connector, strip wire and tighten the screw. Real simple and clean and the valves are reliable.
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08-29-2010, 11:52 PM | #5 |
Laid Lo
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Oceanside CA
Posts: 277
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Re: Air Valves Quality
I'm running Air Lift valves. I like them. I have 3/8s and they are pretty quick (1/2s are too quick for my liking) and air lift is located here in the states so if something does go wrong it's an easy fix.
SMCs always seem backordered. Not cool of something goes wrong. I use connectors on mine too. Didn't come with them though. The weather pack connectors at www.k-four.net are great for everything. I used a 4 pin for each side. Just don't run airbagit junk. Remember that the only thing keeping your truck off the pavement at speed is the valves, bags, fittings and lines. No sense skimping.
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08-29-2010, 11:54 PM | #6 |
Laid Lo
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Location: Oceanside CA
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Re: Air Valves Quality
Oh yeah I got em from ***************** Call em up and talk to them. They should be able to help you out. Good guys.
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08-30-2010, 11:02 AM | #7 |
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Location: Mountain Home, AR
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Re: Air Valves Quality
A buddy of mine is using one of the manifold valves from AIM, and he spent days trting to find the airleak he had. It basically was in the manifold itself, so he sent it back and got another one. It had the same problem. No issues as far as the occasional cruise, but it does leak down after a couple of days.
Airlift makes a good valve, so does SMC. Im using some from Silverstar Customs, which are SMC that have been relabeled with the shops name on them (they were local to me when I bought them, so I could just run up there and pick up a replcaement if I needed) I have never had a problem with them, except in real cold weather. Once I heated them up, they unstuck themselves. However, on my next build I will for sure be using an Accuair setup. That has the be the slickest setup on the market. http://www.accuairsuspension.com/ You can use their E-lever setup, with automatically levels your ride, or the Switchspeed setup, which is non leveling. Amazing stuff, but not vheap either. But if thats what is holding your truck up off the ground, would you really want to skimp and by cheap valves? |
08-30-2010, 11:26 AM | #8 |
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Re: Air Valves Quality
I have used SMC on everything I have built with little problems and consider them a great valve. The only time i have had my SMCs stick was on my g/fs S10 in the cold before we had water seperators on and they froze. I do think that parkers are better (or the best) valve. Every one i know that has run them has never had a single problem and never had them "stick". I plan to run them on my SFBD CC dually.
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08-31-2010, 09:19 AM | #9 |
Jon@AirRideTech
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Jasper Indiana
Posts: 101
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Re: Air Valves Quality
As others have mentioned there is a huge diffrence in quality. Make sure the valves you purchase are designed for the application, because SMC, Parker, etc. also make valves for industrial use. Our valves for instance are a bubble tight valve with a 0 tolerance for leak down.
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08-31-2010, 11:28 AM | #10 |
Nothing to see here.....
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Shawnee, KS
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Re: Air Valves Quality
big fan of SMC for a good rugged valve. Parkers are a bit nicer imho.... and a bit pricier.
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08-31-2010, 01:19 PM | #11 | |
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Re: Air Valves Quality
Asco also makes some quality valves. http://www.ascovalve.com/Common/PDFF...de_V7637R1.pdf
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08-31-2010, 02:05 PM | #12 |
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Re: Air Valves Quality
I ran the same set of parkers for 6 years or so with no problems.
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08-31-2010, 02:12 PM | #13 |
Kill Bill...et
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Winchestertonfieldville, Wa
Posts: 366
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Re: Air Valves Quality
I like the ASCO valve manifolds, but can't find who distributes them. Any other company besides Chassis Tech carry an 8 valve manifold?
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08-31-2010, 03:56 PM | #14 | |
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Re: Air Valves Quality
Quote:
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08-31-2010, 04:20 PM | #15 |
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Re: Air Valves Quality
Air ride tech. and accu-air make very nice valves. I like to use valve blocks for the ease of instalation. 3/8 is plenty big, 1/2 moves so fast you can't tune in the ride.
Ohh, and aim, I mean ratical tops, or is it airbaggit...... been in bus a long time, with many different names. No one was every sorry that they bought the best. Do it once, Do it right. |
09-01-2010, 01:47 AM | #16 |
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Location: Austin, Tx
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Re: Air Valves Quality
I've been happy with my GC manifold valves from kpcomponents. They are only 1/4" but I didn't want a fast system. No problems for a year and a half so far.
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09-01-2010, 02:22 AM | #17 |
Phone's ringin Dude.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Colorado Springs
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Re: Air Valves Quality
Air Ride Technologies FTW!
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