Grande Airbag Retaining after a Lift

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Now or never!

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

ok, now then

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OK then.
The space between the axle and the airbag mount looks pretty tight.

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

OK then.
The space between the axle and the airbag mount looks pretty tight.

Do you mean where the "keyed hole" is for the Air bag Pin? (sorry about the size of the images...)

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Yes. But it shouldn't be much of a hassle if the bolt and washers go in first and then the spacer goes on top.

[kevdebbi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kevdebbi]

That's what I did, put the bolt and washers in with the long nose pliers. Then start to screw the spacer on by hand to the bolt, once started you can swap the pliers for a open spanner and finish doing them up. It is easier to feed the bolt in from the front of the diff as it has slightly better access, especially on the Lh side. $70 sounds very reasonable for a set, at least they are not trying to rip anyone off. I made my spacers from 75mm round stock because thats a common size and what I had at hand but they could be made up to a maximum diameter of 90mm with a 5mm chamfer around the top.


in this picture you can see my spacer is a little smaller that the base of the air bag.

You must deflate the air bags and move them out of the way before you install the spacer. Obviously make sure the car is supported on proper stands before deflating them

[hookedup Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedup]

I must say kev great job on the airbag spacer i was just thinking since 99% of people are doing a 50mm lift on there rigs would it be worth while to make the spacer 50mm that would leave to only minimal adjustments of the height sensor if any and keeping factory travel of the airbag just a thought what use think.

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

Oh yeah, nearly forgot to say, great job Kev and excellent idea, thanks for sharing

BTW, Opposite Lock in south Sydney has been doing it like that for a while but wouldnt tell anyone the dims.

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

I must say kev great job on the airbag spacer i was just thinking since 99% of people are doing a 50mm lift on there rigs would it be worth while to make the spacer 50mm that would leave to only minimal adjustments of the height sensor if any and keeping factory travel of the airbag just a thought what use think.

Still have to move the sensor though, its got nothing to do with the airbag mounting position.

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

I must say kev great job on the airbag spacer i was just thinking since 99% of people are doing a 50mm lift on there rigs would it be worth while to make the spacer 50mm that would leave to only minimal adjustments of the height sensor if any and keeping factory travel of the airbag just a thought what use think.

As Marc said, the height sensor still needs to be adjusted and/or spaced in order to achieve the lift, but a 50mm spacer would also mean a factory airbag inflation pressure at a 2" lift height. I would suggest this is worthwile for a rear ride height of 830mm or more.

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50mm spacer it is then?

[jeffmutuku Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jeffmutuku]

Hi Amt,

Please count me in when you order your 50mm spacers. I do not know any machinists and like you said the bigger the order the better it might be.
If it is Okay with you then we can discuss the details via PM.

Thanks Kev for the all the information

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

Just for the sake of the discussion.
Wouldnt a whole 50mm, increase the possibility of overcompression of the airbag.
After all the bumpstop is still in the same place.
Not sure the bag will cope with 50mm more or I should say 50mm less fully collapsed height?

I think the 30-35 would be safer

Im just making assumptions here but worth consideration?

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

Just for the sake of the discussion.
Wouldnt a whole 50mm, increase the possibility of overcompression of the airbag.
After all the bumpstop is still in the same place.
Not sure the bag will cope with 50mm more or I should say 50mm less fully collapsed height?

I think the 30-35 would be safer

Im just making assumptions here but worth consideration?

Hmmm... The Grande bumpstops are a lot longer than the GXL bumpstops, but I can take some measurements tonight with the airbags deflated and the car on jack stands on the bumpstops. I'll see how much clearance is available and report what I find.

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

I would imagine the bump stops are longer for a good reason.

Not sure whether the reason is the OEM adjustable shock closed length or the airbag collapsed height or both?

I think 50mm is a little excessive in additional airbag compression though.

Interested in your measurements Peter.