Gen3 suspension-levelling airbags? Anyone found em?

PajEvo

JDM Journeys
I used airlift airbags in my gen2: brilliant for levelling with the trailer on, stabilizing a load, etc. Hoped they'd fit the gen3, but the coil diameter is smaller. :( A check of Airlifts site shows only up to gen2s. Anyone found a compatible in-coil bag, or another comparable brand that'll work with the gen3?
 
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evol911

Observer
I think Gen 3's have the strut through the coil. You would have to get the airbag setup the replaces the whole unit.


Edit: That applies to the front only. I would pull out the rear coils and measure the ID. Should be able to find something to fit.
 
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PajEvo

JDM Journeys
I think Gen 3's have the strut through the coil. You would have to get the airbag setup the replaces the whole unit.


Edit: That applies to the front only. I would pull out the rear coils and measure the ID. Should be able to find something to fit.

Yes. Rear airbags for levelling. I have measured the coil, but this doesn't help since I'm finding they are sold by vehicle application, not diameter.

For my gen2, I used Airlifts, as seen here:

http://www.airliftcompany.com/vehicles/mitsubishi/montero/

They worked great. I used my oba to inflate them, but even a bicycle pump did the trick, since there is such little air needed.

I might have come up with gen3 bags, but they're out of Australia. Surprise? Which makes them expensive, even before I have them shipped to Canada....

http://www.4wddirect.com.au/scart/html/524.html

Anyone have another source for Polyair, or another alternative?
 

PajEvo

JDM Journeys
Generally I inflate after loading. If you write down your unloaded height somewhere, you can inflate after loading (or dropping the weight onto your hitch) to bring your rig back to stock height. I always measured both sides so I could level at the same time. Levelling your suspension when towing makes a huge difference in handling, improving your steering, not to mention aligning your headlights...LOL. I definitely want airbags in the gen3, since I'm guessing my trailers tongue weight along with a loaded cabin is going to give my new truck some rear squat on that IRS.
 

PajEvo

JDM Journeys
Okay, spent all evening trying to track down good numbers. Nothing listed on Air Lift's US site for Montero, only the sport. Started looking in SA and Aus where they are more common. Unfortunately in Aus they are called polyair, but in both parts of the Southern Hemisphere they are in the $300+range. So... A bit more searching got me a number (from a number on a box in a forsale ad pic) that looks to be good... I'm going to contact a few suppliers and see if they can confirm for me before I post it here. If my number is good, it crosses over to a very common North American SUV...

Stay tuned (if you wanna raise that huge rear end under load.)
 

PajEvo

JDM Journeys
Update, for those who are following (may be on my own here? LOL)

On this site, at the bottom of page 11
http://www.airsprings.cc/4x4/Vehicle/Gremeltech.4x4.Pricelist.internet.pdf it lists the 99+ Pajero (Japan got the gen3 early, as did Aus and S.Africa) as using Airlift 80590. This number is good here in North America, and apparently fits front coils on Ford trucks. Very tempted to order a pair up and confirm... Unless someone else has used a different number and can report back?
 

nckwltn

Explorer
I'm following! but more for the gen 2.5 stuff you mentioned.... now I'm interested to see what you find.
 

PajEvo

JDM Journeys
Well bud, this is for you...

Gen2 coils in place on my soon to be sold rig...
image.jpg

And here's how I air them up...
image.jpg

Hope this helps! I will always be a gen2 at heart methinks. ;)
 

nckwltn

Explorer
Thanks! Any reason to not have an equalization line between the two bags so they maintain equal pressure? Or if one bag gets under load, will that increase the pressure on the other bag?
 

magoh76

Adventurer
Thanks for sharing your research with us. I am very interested in this. We just got back last week from vacation in Colorado - 5 of us in the Monty (gen3) and pulling a trailer with our camping gear in it. You can believe it was sagging! I was planning on getting the "HD" springs from OME, but maybe the regular springs and airbags would be a better solution.
 
I am going back and forth between air springs and OME springs for my sport... This is a good thread for general info. Thanks.

There is a lot of debate about isolating the bags or keeping them joined. It seems there is no right answer.
 

PajEvo

JDM Journeys
Well I'm glad its helping some... I kept my bags isolated. Here's why: As much as I try to load the truck evenly, it doesn't always happen, esp with the fridge on one side. Isolated, I can get it perfectly level, side to side. I can see the argument with a solid rear axle, so you can get flex by stuffing one bag (inside the coil) and stretching out the flexed out side. With an indy rear, this doesn't happen right? Stuff one wheel, stuff both wheel? They are doing their own thing. Anyways, as Emerson said above, there is debate. I prefer keeping them separate.

I liked the ride of my gen2 but just wanted to improve towing and weight hauling. So I went with bags. Ditto for the gen3. I don't want to change the ride characteristics, just improve the load hauling. Now, if its lift you're after, bags are not a good way, IMHO to gain that. New coils or spacers are the answer. BTW, there is a different number if you're planning to go with longer than OEM coils, such as OME (lol, I love how old man emu and original equipment manuf get mixed up! Sometimes I think we throw it out there just for fun).

If I pull the trigger on the number I posted above, I'll follow up when I put them in. It may happen sooner rather than later. Ahem...
 

PajEvo

JDM Journeys
Ordered the 80590's today. I'll let you all know if/how they fit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

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