Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

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

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

Borgy,

I note that you have cargo drawers fitted. You could bring the lines in through the grommit near the jack compartment and mount the valves in the front "wing" plate next to the draw.

Mick

[borgy Member Find all posts View Profile Close borgy]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

I note that you have cargo drawers fitted. You could bring the lines in through the grommit near the jack compartment and mount the valves in the front "wing" plate next to the draw.
Mick

Hey Mick...

Had been thinking about this an an option -- just not sure if putting more up thru the gromet will then allow more dust up there! and if drilling holes in the wing is what I want :? ...

Wondering if having them outside vs inside is better or worse for pumping and use... Is the wheel arch somewhere a good option or not? does not having them located together making it harder/etc... (wondering how long the pipes are, and is under the bonnet another option?)

Just interested what the other options people have done and there benefits and drawbacks...

cheers
Borgy

[two+four Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close two+four]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

Borgy,
I have yet to see it but a friend of mine told me they put the valve in the wheel arches inplace of one of the normal plastic clips that connect the black trim to the normal body trim. I can try to find out more if you want

Cheers Neil

[05oiler Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 05oiler]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

I put them on top of the seven pin plug. I cut down one of the those after market round trailer plug brackets, modified it and bolted it on top of the flat plug bracket. I'll try and get a photo.

[borgy Member Find all posts View Profile Close borgy]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

Hi all

Thanks -- any info/feedback/photos appreciated.

cheers
Borgy

[ecka Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ecka]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

The polyair valves on my 120 are fitted to the bottom of the trailer plug bracket. The only issue was that a small rock punctured the air hose just near the valve - thanks for small mercies - I thought the bag was punctured. So I simply shortened the air hose and fitted split tubing over both air hoses for additional protection.

[bilo33prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bilo33prado]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

Wanted to see if any others had suggestions on a alternative locatoin for the valves (I have the water tank in the underside and the filler is in the special hole )....

Looking to know where it make sense to put it so its workable and yet does not get in the way or damaged..

A few people have placed the values just behind the plug just above the rear step when you open the rear door. Apparently this plug is for the European model where the spare wheel is mounted under the vehcile and you wind it down from here.

Actually the very first post in this thread shows where Drew put the valves and I think it's a brillant spot.

This looks like the go. Is it hard to make up a bracket for the valves? or pretty straight forward?

[two+four Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close two+four]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

The bracket is pretty easy, when I did mine I just found a piece lying around that suited I will get a photo tonight for you

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

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

Thanks for the excellent write up, I decided to give it a go.
I also found that I only needed to undo the lower shockie, lower panhard and the swaybar. I also undid the brake cable bracket just to the front of the axle (on the trailing arm its called I think) but I don't think that was required. I found I only needed to jack the opposite side up until the coil spring was compressed and the other side released. I trimed the jounce bumper at its first groove. Then to enlarge the hole in the centre I used a holesaw without a pilot bit fitted and drilled from the hard plastic on the top of the bumper into the rubber. Smoky but effective! My instruction recommended drilling the hole in the spring seat to 9/16 (14mm) but as it was already 12mm I just left it. My instructions also showed the airbag installed air line pointing down but as the majority of pics on this site show the bag the other way I also installed mine airline up. I didn't use conduit through the spring seat as the airline looks pretty tough and flexable and I thought the conduit could cause issues as easily as it might prevent them in that narrow space. Time will tell. I also installed the black protectors on the top of the bag. When I went to connect the panhard, it didnt line up well. as I was working alone I used a rachet strap between the chassis and the hub to pull it slightly across. I used a tee line connection because I am very efficient (that's a marketing term for lazy) and will only have to inflate one time each time. I ordered the airbags from US using part number 60809. At 5PSI and unladen car the airbag is just in contact with the jounce bumper, I'm not sure but that seems to be logical. My prado is an unmodified 2007.
Once again thanks for sharing the info. I used to help Dad when he worked on cars and it was fun to drag out his tools and get back underneath the car. He would have been impressed with the forum and the job.

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

Thanks for the excellent write up, I decided to give it a go.
I used a tee line connection because I am very efficient (that's a marketing term for lazy) and will only have to inflate one time each time.

Just a thought but when cornering wouldn't the air move from the compressed bag across to bag on the "high" side and compound the lean. Maybe not so exaggerated as it sounds but a difference to 2 x single valves.

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

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

Just a thought but when cornering wouldn't the air move from the compressed bag across to bag on the "high" side and compound the lean. Maybe not so exaggerated as it sounds but a difference to 2 x single valves.["

I'm sure that some air would move across to the other bag when cornering but I wonder if that proves to be a significant problem. I'll defer to the mre experienced members on that one.
My thought process was.
If the car is loaded approximately evenly, the bags should be equal.
These bags are there to boost the spring strength under compression. When cornering the compressed bag will give a little air to the relaxed bag but its purpose is to compress and relax so that may not be an issue.
One advantage of the tee system is both bags are at the same pressure. With two valves, if one bag deflates due to damage the balance of the axle is lost until the other bag is deflated.
The airlift manual says
"Tee airline installation is best for vehicles that are loaded evenly side to side. The dual airline should only be used if the vehicle will have considerably more load on the left side than the right or vice versa."
I think that the tee air line probably doesnt present significant risk if that is the manufacures recommendation.
But thats my opinion, read the instructions ,read the forum and make your own best interpretaion, that why we like to DIY I believe, that and to discuss the relaive merits of our choices.
Once again thanks to all

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

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

I am sorry if this has already been dealt with on this thread, but I am considering Polyairs and would like to know if suspension travel, either up or down is adversely affected when they are fitted.

Thanks
Neil

[sacred cow Member Find all posts View Profile Close sacred cow]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

I notice that the Toyota workshop manual on CD says that you need to disconnect the rear brake hoses to remove the springs. You fellas seem to have got away without needing to do this. Can you please advise how you have managed to do this without damaging the brake lines?
Thanks, Glenn

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

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

Hi Sacred cow
Just lower it carefully and slowly while watching both sides. I found the descriptions were accurate. "Riding on air" gave a clear post and I'm betting he has installed 1000's
The lines never went tight while I was installing and I have had no problems in 30000kms.
I decided to run mine at 5PSI empty and 20 PSI towing our camper trailer on the black. i would probably reduce pressure for a rougher road.
I still like having only one valve.
Thanks to all the posters.... again.
Regards charlie

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

Have done the springs in 2 prado's. Found the best way for the rear is to (as stated above) raise on jacks, wheels off. We also disconnected the sway bar and shocks and had no problems changing springs.
I have owned a Land cruiser 80 series with bags and always have them NOT joined with a T. Air will travel between , but most cars will need slightly different pressure to maintain ride height. If you puncture 1 bag when T in use, both bags will be ruined.
If you are using the correct Shock, your brake lines do not need lengthening.

Rusty.