Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

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

Hi all, I am just after an update on how your polyair's have gone after fitting. Would you still recomend them?

Absolutely. I put mine in, with standard suspension, for the trip. 16,000 Kms later, most of it towing the camper on all sorts of roads and they held up beautifully. Car road level with the camper hooked up and full load on board. Handling was fine .. the only issue was the gasping front springs.

Only recently put an OME 2" kit in it, as the front springs had basically given up the ghost. I didn't have time to get the new Polyairs (different part no: for the 2" lifted kit as opposed to the standard height kit) so I put the OME stuff in without them. I did put in the HD (896) OME springs and the ride is significantly improved - but then I carry stuff a lot of the time.
I'm still experimenting with loads and may still go a set of Polyairs inside the new springs - but at the moment it's looking like I won't need to.

If I was travelling unloaded most of the time and wanted something to stiffen up the rear when towing I would definately go the Polyairs. They are excellent.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Chippy

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

Thanks for the feed back, currently we have 770RR88I TJM springs (same as OME895 rear springs, rated at 50-125ish Kg additional over stock) this is perfect for all out weekend trips and for driving around Darwin. We are in two minds on if we should upgrade the springs or add polyair's for our yearly five week trek's across the North. Life seem to be full of compromise you can never have the perfect setup.

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

If you're happy with the cars ride, as it is, I would probably go for the polyairs for the trip. That way, when you get back, you can drop them down to 5 psi and hardly notice them. If they still affect your comfortable ride too much you can always whip them out and leave them in the shed until the next trip.

Cheers
Chippy

[Byrnsie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Byrnsie]

Re: Product Review: Polyair Suspension Assister Airbags

The appropriate kit for a lifted 120 has part number 12995, and are the same price as the standard kit, part number 12895.

Only recently put an OME 2" kit in it, as the front springs had basically given up the ghost. I didn't have time to get the new Polyairs (different part no: for the 2" lifted kit as opposed to the standard height kit) so I put the OME stuff in without them. I'm still experimenting with loads and may still go a set of Polyairs inside the new springs - but at the moment it's looking like I won't need to.

Bought a set of Polyairs at the Rosehill Supershow the other day for $260. They sold me the std height 12895 kit. I told the Polyair guy that my Prado had a 60mm lift. He said it didn't matter and was the same kit. I went back to this thread for the fitting write up and notice the references to different part numbers. I am thinking that the ones I have may do the job but I just need to cut the bump stop at a different level. Will call Polyair tomorrow to confirm. Has anyone installed the 12895 kit in a lifted Prado?

Cheers - Byrnsie

[White Lightning Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close White Lightning]

definately swap em for the lifted kit.. The bump stop tappers off and is quite narrow at the end so not much surface area will be in contact with the top of the airbag, its flimsy too.

maybe the polyair guy needs to know his product before he sells. :roll:

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

I have been told that the bag is the same but there is spacer used to compensate for the lift.

Geoff...

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

http://www.polyair.com.au/ go to the product applications list.

12895 for 120 with standard suspension.
12995 for 120 with raised height to 50mm suspension.

I've been chasing a good price in Adelaide over the last few days,

-Mail order direct from Polyair @ $295 + $18 freight.
-Repco (Salisbury) @ $400 + $40 freight :shock: :shock:
-TJM (Nailsworth) @ $295 - 10% member discount ($265.50)

Mick.

[Byrnsie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Byrnsie]

Phoned Polyair, and yes they are the wrong ones. Will change themover during the week. Bugger, I was looking forward to doing the install this Sunday. Thanks to everyone who replied.

Cheers - Byrnsie

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

http://www.polyair.com.au/ go to the product applications list.

12895 for 120 with standard suspension.
12995 for 120 with raised height to 50mm suspension.

I've been chasing a good price in Adelaide over the last few days,

-Mail order direct from Polyair @ $295 + $18 freight.
-Repco (Salisbury) @ $400 + $40 freight :shock: :shock:
-TJM (Nailsworth) @ $295 - 10% member discount ($265.50)

Mick.

Thanks for the link Mick you just provided the answer for a question I asked on the PP chat room last Monday. That being what is the difference between the red and the black polyairs.

[Lindsay & Linda Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lindsay & Linda]

Hi All, I have been doing some more research into the air bags, and have heard that if any dirt gets trapped between the airbag and the spring it wears a hole in the airbag quite quickly. Particularly in sand, red dirt etc. Does any one have any experience with this, and those of you that already have them, how long have you had them.

Cheers
Lindsay & Linda

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

Hi All, I have been doing some more research into the air bags, and have heard that if any dirt gets trapped between the airbag and the spring it wears a hole in the airbag quite quickly. Particularly in sand, red dirt etc. Does any one have any experience with this, and those of you that already have them, how long have you had them.

Cheers
Lindsay & Linda

I did a lot of research before installing the Firestone Coil-Rite (basically same as Polyair, but a bit cheaper). This is the first I've heard this complaint, so I'll be watching this with great interest... and I'll be checking for dirt

Do you have any pointers to the info you uncovered?

LFaR.

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

We've done about 25K with ours, 20K of that was towing (which is why I had them installed) and no problems so far.

[Lindsay & Linda Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lindsay & Linda]

asked someone at polyair about this, he didn't seem to think it was an issue (but then he would also like me to buy a set). Was having a few drinks with my neighbour this afternoon, and made some comment about getting a set of airbags. He has them in his Nissan patrol traback that tows his camper, and they have now down at least 100,000k's. Most of it on red dirt. So dont think I will be worrying about holes in airbags anymore.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

I have had polyairs from new in my last three 4wds. The first (NJ Paj) did 130,000+ km and the second (90 series TD) 150,000 km (the D4D only has 5,000 on it so far) and I have never had a problem in sand or rocks or in dust. There was a rumour going around like this about 10 years ago when I first looked into getting polyairs, also others saying that braking bias is upset because the car thinks it is level when it is really loaded etc (this is also not a problem). There is a concern if you don't keep the minimum pressure because the bags can get pinched in the coils and you are supposed to pump them up before loading but otherwise nothing to do just use them and forget about them. Polyairs are among the first mods to any new beastie that we get. They give you the heavier capacity rear spring for the 10% of time you need it and more or less comfort setting the rest of the time.

Damn fine product.

[Lindsay & Linda Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lindsay & Linda]

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

Lindsay & Linda