How to fill Firestone airbags.

[adrenaline503]

So I want to install the airbags on my Frontier, but I cant afford an OBA system right now. So... do these methods work?

1. free air at the gas station
2. little CO2 canisters (saw that a few posts ago)
3. bike pump

I know that aren't any gas stations in the boonies, but if methods 2 or 3 can work well in a pinch that would be great.

Does anyone have experience with Timbren rubber springs?

On another note, are they any digital gauges that read the low PSI used in airbags? I figure someday I will want to monitor that from the cab, and I will want red digital gauges because I am neurotic.

 

[Ron B]

I don't reccomend going into the boonies without a means to fill the bags. You could just plumb them (individually, not together) to air-fittings and fill them with any compressor/tank you come accross. Bag damage can occur if one goes down and you have to drive on it without filling it. I know some are supposedly not in need of external bumpstops, but I wouldn't always trust that especially if you are bouncing around in the dirt.

I bagged my hummer a few months ago. Been through several gauges that were crap (at least at the 150 to 200 psi range) and settled on the dakota digital odyssey quad gauge with 5 sensors (4 bags, one for the tank). I hope the refresh rate isn't too fast or I'l never be able to read it while the vehicle is in motion. There are lots of gauges available under 150 psi, you won't have trouble finding one. I just listed the link to the dakota because I hear they are pretty nice -- I'll let you know in a week once I get it installed!?

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index....ategory_ID=291/home_id=59/mode=cat/cat291.htm

rb

 

[articulate]

About 35 pumps with one of the small carry-along bike pumps fills my bags to 15 PSI. Both bags plumbed together. Not bad.

Now . . . the only problem is that no air suspension set up is perfectly sealed, so every few days I've got to give it a few pumps. Admittedly, a compressor would be a nice addition but it's not 100% necessary.

 

[adrenaline503]

About 35 pumps with one of the small carry-along bike pumps fills my bags to 15 PSI. Both bags plumbed together. Not bad.

Now . . . the only problem is that no air suspension set up is perfectly sealed, so every few days I've got to give it a few pumps. Admittedly, a compressor would be a nice addition but it's not 100% necessary.

SWEET! I have a million mini pumps laying around. That is way lighter than an OBA system. Thanks a million.

 

[slooowr6]

1. free air at the gas station
2. little CO2 canisters (saw that a few posts ago)
3. bike pump

Does anyone have experience with Timbren rubber springs?

On another note, are they any digital gauges that read the low PSI used in airbags? I figure someday I will want to monitor that from the cab, and I will want red digital gauges because I am neurotic.[/B]

All the method you list works. It does not take that much air to fill the bag. Depends how much weight you carry you won't be needing to much pressure, for example my driver side rear tire carries 1600lbs it only take 40psi to get it back to stock hight. CO2 is easy to use but the problem with CO2 is that it can't hold pressure for too long. CO2 will leak much faster than plain air, I still have no figure out why.
Any digital gauge works, I got a $8.99 gauge from Target and it works just fine when measure 5psi. The resolution is only down to 0.5psi. If you get the one that is $14.99 it has 0.1psi resolution.
My experience with bags is that once you have sort out all the leak they hold pressure pretty good. I only need to check the pressure before long trip. I've 6psi in one of the bags and after a month it's still 6psi.
You need to monitor the bag pressure when you first install them. My driver side has a slow leak, 3psi in 3 days, that took me a month to sort it out at the end it's the air bag itself has a leak but the leak is so slow so the soapy water method can't find the leak. Firestone send me a replacement bag now it's holding air just fine.

 

[Ron B]

About 35 pumps with one of the small carry-along bike pumps fills my bags to 15 PSI. Both bags plumbed together. Not bad.

Now . . . the only problem is that no air suspension set up is perfectly sealed, so every few days I've got to give it a few pumps. Admittedly, a compressor would be a nice addition but it's not 100% necessary.

wow -- I had no idea they required so little air that a hand pump would work! My set-up is different (and heavier) and require around 150 psi for normal cruising and close to 200 psi at full ht for wheeling. I just assume there would be more roll when cornering if the bags were plumbed together.

rb

 

[burl40]

if you plumb the bags together then the weight transfer from your vehicle will force air from side to side.Not really a good set up.

 

[slooowr6]

About 35 pumps with one of the small carry-along bike pumps fills my bags to 15 PSI. Both bags plumbed together. Not bad.

Now . . . the only problem is that no air suspension set up is perfectly sealed, so every few days I've got to give it a few pumps. Admittedly, a compressor would be a nice addition but it's not 100% necessary.

If you want you can make your air bag hold air better than that. It's going to take some time but it can be done. Both my AirLift and Firestone can hold pressure for couple weeks. One of my bag is at 6 psi for 3weeks and counting. With both AirLift and Firestone I've to replace one of the two air bags, both time there is a slow leak in the bag itself.

 

[adrenaline503]

I just found out that they don't make bags for the 4x4, only th 4x2. 2 wheel is SUA with 4 wheel is SOA. Crap. Why did they make only 4x2? I guess I am back to the Timbren bump stop things.

 

[StumpXJ]

I am sure you can make them fit. May just require a bracket modification. Airbags are pretty much universal, except for the bracketry, which is dead easy to change.

I also carry a small schwinn bike hand pump and it works great.

Dont give up just because they dont have it listed.

~James

 

[adrenaline503]

I found this kit too:

http://www.4x4parts.com/public_html...6&ps_session=4202031063add20c672670e90c2247d1

 

[adrenaline503]

I am sure you can make them fit. May just require a bracket modification. Airbags are pretty much universal, except for the bracketry, which is dead easy to change.

I also carry a small schwinn bike hand pump and it works great.

Dont give up just because they dont have it listed.

~James

How would I change the bottom bracketry at the axle? I mean, if I had a box of parts I am sure I could hobble something together. I'll ask the local firestone dealer tomorrow.

 

[StumpXJ]

Do you have any fabrication skills? If not, I am SURE someone could make you a bracket at a local shop if not. Really, its not hard to do. Maybe the difference between the two (2x4 and 4x4) is minimal, and would just require a little moving or shifting. Seriously, its definitely possible. If you need a bracket or something made up, draw me a sketch with demensions and I will fab it for you for free. I have a full machine shop in my basement, and enough fab tools to get it done.

~James

 

[86cj]

I have a 2000 ZR-2 blazer with rear SUA and air lift bags. The bottom bracket goes on top of leaf spring behind the axle with square U-bolts and the top bracket bolts to the frame. If no kit is made for your truck look at this one, the size should be comparable.

I have found Air-Lift to be very cool people to talk with.

I run Air Lift or Firestone bags on four of my vehicles and can report no failures in over ten years, I also run a single line for each bag and prefer this adjustability. The leakage warning seems to be unfounded, mine hold air for years. Drag racer dial gauge allows the fine adjusment needed (try Jegs), just checking the air will lose a pound or more.

 

[kcowyo]

As far as how to fill the airbags, for minimal investment in a small package, try the Superflow MV50.

They run near $50, available in lots of places.