In-coil air bags

[18PradoVX Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 18PradoVX]

Has anyone fitted air bags into the rear coils to assist with load bearing ( caravan ) and has it affected the ride quality when unloaded and the air bags are deflated to the minimum pressure? Cheers

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

I put a set under my 150 yesterday, so cheap, about $260.
Apparently when unloaded you're supposed to set them at around 5psi so they stay put in the coil seats.
I can always tell if a car has bags as they have a slight rocking motion. I remove my valves, no air, no rocking.
Haven't had any bag issues in a lot of years.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

I too put some in yesterday. I replaced Dobinsons 327 s which were a bit high for my 5 seat 150GX. The ride when empty was ok and fabulous loaded but the car is mainly empty. I put my other springs back in - Dobinsons 325 s which are a bit softer but sit 20 mm lower than the 327 s. I put Polyair red bags in. They are set at 6.5 psi on the left
And 5 psi on the right. The ride is a bit firmer than the 325 s alone but softer than the 327 s. I had Polyairs in my previous 120 and had no issues with them over 100000km. They were often run at well under 5 psi when the car was empty. If you run tyre pressures of 32-34 psi around town you will notice virtually no difference in ride. Overall they are a good compromise for the occasional heavy load if you don't really want to go down the full suspension route. They will really hold the bum up when you are loaded/ towing etc. I paid $294 at Heasemans in Sydney (The distributor). I guess most garages will charge 2-3 hours labor.

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

Running them with no air, valves removed, makes them highly susceptible to pinching/holes.

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

404, Did you go for the high pressure kit or the standard,
I' went standard as I've had no issues with them for many years in the 90.
When you see the amount of paint removed from driving on dirt roads, it's a good advertisement for the bag's toughness.
Labour wise, it takes longer to route the air pipes and mount the fill valves than it does to install the bags.
Zip tie to exhaust pipe also not recommended!

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Red bags. ie. standard kit. Yes it is a bit tight on the rhs!

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

I run airbag man blue air bags with Kevlar sleeves at 35psi. Load is at 450kg and 600 kg with boat hooked up. Ride is better than with the standard suspension. When the tools are out I drop them down to 10psi. Been through a set of sleeves as they eventually wear through. Springs are 150kg constant load rated.