Grande Airbag Retaining after a Lift

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

Pinned airbags tested

I decided to test the airbags using my standard articulation test and found that while it didn't look pretty, the R pin did the job as intended.



Back on level ground, the airbag repositioned itself.



If the airbag was welded in place at the base, then this movement would be eliminated. However, I believe that eliminating the flex at the base of the airbag could transmit that flex to the top of the airbag where the retaining clip is not as robust as an R clip. This and the fact that the OE airbag is still easily removable to upgrade to longer aftermarket airbags makes the R clip the best solution on a budget.

To summarise the available solutions for the Grande airbag retaining problem:

1 - Airbag Man airbag replacement kit, part number OA6011 (longer airbag)
This is probably the best solution and allows safe fitment of longer shocks (up to 625mm extended), but is also the most expensive at $990 + fitting

2 - Captive retainer pin as suggested by 1coolbanana (stops airbag from unseating by captive pin)
A good compromise and allows easy removal of airbag if need be.

3 - Welding a retainer solution as used by Auto-Craft (welding the airbag base pin to the spring seat)
A permanent solution that works well but does not allow for easy removal of the air bag.

4 - 30mm aluminium spacer under rear airbag as used by Opposite Lock South Sydney (adds 30mm to length of standard airbag)
Seems a reasonable solution and should allow a shock of about 35mm longer than standard (approx 610mm extended length)

The best solution if cost is no issue or if airbags needed replacement is still the Airbag Man replacement kit, which I may consider if the current solution proves unreliable in the long term or if an airbag failed. The Opposite Lock solution has merit, but I don't fancy trying to find where the 30mm spacer went if the airbag did actually pop.

[garystockton Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close garystockton]

Very interesting read, guys, and well done to all.

I installed the AirBagMan kit about 14 months ago now, and have been very pleased (although the excessive salt on our winter roads has played havoc with the finish - I'll need to sort the surface rust soon . They've been given a pretty thorough work-up, on long, tar roads (through the UK and France) and then on a 10-day off-road jaunt through the Spanish Pyrenees, where they performed flawlessly, as well as a few local trips and muddy lanes (the Lake District and Wales).

One question - has anyone really played with the shock adjuster to determine what difference it makes? I set mine in the middle, and have left them ever since, and reading all this has made me wonder what benefit the adjustment could bring?

Before I put on the ARB Sahara bar and 12k winch (with plasma rope) the fronts came in at 830mm, from centre of hub to top of arch, IIRC (will check again tonight) - afterwards they came down to 815m, but the ride is so much smoother now!

Very chuffed with that set-up - and also with the extra help from Brett at AairBagMan on a long-distance install!

[Guest Close Guest]

The shock adjuster settings do make a difference. On wallowing roads, I set it to sport, otherwise it can feel like the suspension travel is longer. When in sport mode, the travel or rebound is arrested much quicker.

When you add more weight, it tends to resist bumps better, so it feels smoother.

[garystockton Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close garystockton]

Hmm - yes on OEM shocks that's correct - but I've chucked mine in favour of the ToughDog adjustables (SATDBM404400 front and SATDBM401116 rear) which have an adjuster on each at the base. I've not fiddled with those yet and wondered what difference they'd make?

Cheers

[Guest Close Guest]

Ahh, sorry, my bad. I would guess that it would have the same effect as the OEM adjustments.

[TexGX Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TexGX]

Howdy Friends Across the pond,

I am about to lift my Lexus GX470. I am going with the extended travel shock option(with new UCAs) and needed to add some length to my rear airbags. A US company is starting to produce a spacer for the rear bags. I will post up mine when I get it installed next week. I do believe that they are also selling them in you area.

I just installed 255/75/17 tires on the old girl and she need a little more room.
TexGX

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

G'day TexGX. How much extra height are you chasing from standard Height? I take it the GX470 Airbags are identical to the 120 Prado Grande?Are the Airbags retained with a keyed Airbag Pin in the US as we have discussed earlier in this thread? Sorry, too many questions...

Craig

[TexGX Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TexGX]

Craig,

Yes the airbags are exactly the same and the 2004 GX does not have a pin to hold the bags on. I ended up just adding spacers to the ride hight sensor like others in this tread. The company making the spacers did not get them to us in time. I may add them at a later date. I did put the extended travel shock on, so will add the pin soon. I added 2.5 inches in the front and leveled the back to match. I am running 255/75/17 Hankook ATM's.

TexGX

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

Nice one Tex. FYI, I was quoted $500 just to have a pair of spacers machined and fitted under the airbags. Although brand new longer airbags are about twice the price, I still think that longer bags is the best solution. How much were you quoted for airbag spacers?

[TexGX Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TexGX]

Peter,

I believe the spacers were under $200. I was told that I could not get mine as they were all shipped to your neck of the woods. I like the spacer idea over what I did because the bags have more air in them which means they are rougher. The spacers would solve this problem.

TexGX

[jazzkirra Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jazzkirra]

Hi Marc

I have recently purchased a 2005 v6 grande and was reading about your suspension lift
as I would like to do the same. I am really keen to find out the results.
Any chance you could post a page the upgrade and how the work in progress is going.
Cheers
Jon

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

Hi Marc

I have recently purchased a 2005 v6 grande and was reading about your suspension lift
as I would like to do the same. I am really keen to find out the results.
Any chance you could post a page the upgrade and how the work in progress is going.
Cheers
Jon

Hi Jon
Its all here in my build thread and starts about here

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post293406

Anything specific you want to know, just ask

Cheers
Marc

[Troy1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Troy1]

Hello everyone,

I have read this thread a few times and still unsure which way i am going to go?? The Bilstein set up same or simular to Auto Craft. Or Tough Dog adjustables? I like the idea of the Tough Dog adjustables. I will probably just get the extended air bags while i am at it. Does anyone know if they need to be pinned at the base to keep them in also? Or will they be ok? I had a suspension guy tell me the other day that with a 2" lift the standard airbags will be fine, although from what i have read here with out some sort of pin etc holding the base in place probably a bad idea. Any one got any further feedback on how their lifts are performing after a few more months?

Thanks everyone

Troy

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

I can only speak for the Tough Dog adjustable setup and nearly 12 months down the track Im still happy and they are performing well.
The front has sagged a little but nothing to worry about.
With this setup, you do not need aftermarket airbags OR the retainer.
The retainer provides an added safety margin but I have had no issues and have tested it to its travel extremes.
The Airbagman airbags are more for the longer shocks if you want to go that way.

Its the max extended length that is the issue and the rear TDA will not give you issues so factory airbags are fine.
Cheers

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

With the extended shocks (ARB/OME 150 series) and the Airbag Man extended airbags, there is no need to pin the bags in place.

I have yet to get them anywhere near dislocating even with maximum articulation.