Hi PP.
Have spent a couple of days around Xmas and New Year down at Bremer Bay area doing some 4WD around there. Beautiful part of the country. Met another PPer Ben with a VX Petrol.
Anyway to give you some background I have a 2004 Petrol Grande. I am running Bilstein + Kings Combo, with Bilsteins and Airbags in the rear.
Approx 2 years ago my factory airbags popped out after some heavy wheeling in the Harvey area. Subsequently replaced with the upgraded airbagman suspensions and to date no issues.
All good until this Xmas when crossing over a small "mound" which resulted in being slightly crossed up but nothing too extreme. Initially thought I had a flat tire as i could hear some hissing every second or so, however upon inspection it seems the airbag must have come loose and then pushed onto the airbag mount at the wrong angle, resulting in it being crushed slightly. This meant that the airbag was not sitting straight. Luckily the bags didn't pop out and did not seem to leak air when not moving.
My bush mechanic fix involved using some ratchet straps to pull the bag back as far as i could then use a aluminium can cut up as a shim to push it as straight as i could get it. Basically wasn't game to do any more 4wheeling after that, besides the track to get out to the main road and then the 6 hour drive home!
Its a little annoying as i thought after spending around $1300 for the new upgraded airbags , that i wouldn't have to worry about this issue ever again but when I decide on a fix i will let you all know my learnings.
I have yet to speak to the guys who installed them but am thinking my possible options here are:
1. Fix Airbag seat - either get someone to weld the bracket up properly? and then see if airbagman will warrant the bag itself.
2. Convert to springs. (I think this wouldnt be that easy either based on the research i have done)
As far as I am aware this is the first failure of the upgraded bags on this forum at least - so will be interesting to see what their response will be. I don't believe I was abusing the bag at all or operating the suspension outside of its limits so not sure how this would have happened.
What do you think PP?
Have spent a couple of days around Xmas and New Year down at Bremer Bay area doing some 4WD around there. Beautiful part of the country. Met another PPer Ben with a VX Petrol.
Anyway to give you some background I have a 2004 Petrol Grande. I am running Bilstein + Kings Combo, with Bilsteins and Airbags in the rear.
Approx 2 years ago my factory airbags popped out after some heavy wheeling in the Harvey area. Subsequently replaced with the upgraded airbagman suspensions and to date no issues.
All good until this Xmas when crossing over a small "mound" which resulted in being slightly crossed up but nothing too extreme. Initially thought I had a flat tire as i could hear some hissing every second or so, however upon inspection it seems the airbag must have come loose and then pushed onto the airbag mount at the wrong angle, resulting in it being crushed slightly. This meant that the airbag was not sitting straight. Luckily the bags didn't pop out and did not seem to leak air when not moving.
My bush mechanic fix involved using some ratchet straps to pull the bag back as far as i could then use a aluminium can cut up as a shim to push it as straight as i could get it. Basically wasn't game to do any more 4wheeling after that, besides the track to get out to the main road and then the 6 hour drive home!
Its a little annoying as i thought after spending around $1300 for the new upgraded airbags , that i wouldn't have to worry about this issue ever again but when I decide on a fix i will let you all know my learnings.
I have yet to speak to the guys who installed them but am thinking my possible options here are:
1. Fix Airbag seat - either get someone to weld the bracket up properly? and then see if airbagman will warrant the bag itself.
2. Convert to springs. (I think this wouldnt be that easy either based on the research i have done)
As far as I am aware this is the first failure of the upgraded bags on this forum at least - so will be interesting to see what their response will be. I don't believe I was abusing the bag at all or operating the suspension outside of its limits so not sure how this would have happened.
What do you think PP?
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