Rear suspension air bags (air lift or firestone) ??

[coobie]

I see you bought the firestone already but whatever you do, don't plumb them together. Are you putting a compressor on board? I saw where there is the option now to remotely control the pressure in each bag which would be so much nicer than dragging the air compressor out and guessing what the right pressure is.

No compressor.I bought the union tee to control both together.What is the reason not to plumb them together?

 

[Diamondpilot]

No compressor.I bought the union tee to control both together.What is the reason not to plumb them together?

I don't like them plumbed together. Let's say you have a pallet of salt in the bed and the bags inflated to 60#. Now you are on a exit ramp off the interstate and it's a left turn. As you turn the left side of your truck unloads and the right side loads up pushing the air from the loaded bags side to the unloaded sides compounding the issue.

For this reason we always isolate left and right when installing.

Chris

 

[lilranch2001]

Very Good Point

 

[wrangler6831]

This make no sense. Its air pressure and not a compressor. It would be impossible for one airbag to push its air out of one bag into the other. If you had as you say 60# in each (which is about 3 times more than you will ever need in a 1/2 ton) they will always be equal. Just because of more weight on one side it cant lower the pressure on that bag to say 40# and have 80# in the other. Its just not possible.

 

[coobie]

This make no sense. Its air pressure and not a compressor. It would be impossible for one airbag to push its air out of one bag into the other. If you had as you say 60# in each (which is about 3 times more than you will ever need in a 1/2 ton) they will always be equal. Just because of more weight on one side it cant lower the pressure on that bag to say 40# and have 80# in the other. Its just not possible.

Have to say I was scratching my head also.I could be wrong though.

 

[bigtiller]

I can push the air in a long skinny balloon from one end to the other. The pressure remains the same but one side is limp and the other side expanded.

Wouldn't the air bags work the same?

 

[roadhunter]

This make no sense. Its air pressure and not a compressor. It would be impossible for one airbag to push its air out of one bag into the other. If you had as you say 60# in each (which is about 3 times more than you will ever need in a 1/2 ton) they will always be equal. Just because of more weight on one side it cant lower the pressure on that bag to say 40# and have 80# in the other. Its just not possible.

It's not impossible if the bags are connected with a piece of air hose. That is why you should never connect them.

It made perfect sense to me. As the body of the truck rolls in the turn it puts pressure on the outside airbag. Instead of the bag holding it's air and holding the body from rolling the pressure pushes air out of the outside bag and through the hose into the inner bag which in turn creates more body roll and more pressure on the outside bag and pushes more air out of the outside bag to the inside bag. Pretty simple concept.

 

[bigdeano]

You don't want the pressure in both bags to always be equal. If the truck leans in a turn the pressure in the outside bag goes up to resist the lean. If they're hooked together there is no resistance to leaning in a turn except for whatever other springs are on the vehicle.

 

[orezok]

I did the calculation once on hooking them together. Yes, one bag will compress and one will expand changing the pressure in each by about 5 to 15%. Some silly law says that they will try to equalize the pressure. ...but calculating the flow through a 1/4" line over the approx 10' length, it would take about 30 seconds to equalize. Set your compressor regulator at 15# or so and see how long it takes to inflate the bags.

Nothing to worry about.

 

[bigdeano]

I did the calculation once on hooking them together. Yes, one bag will compress and one will expand changing the pressure in each by about 5 to 15%. Some silly law says that they will try to equalize the pressure. ...but calculating the flow through a 1/4" line over the approx 10' length, it would take about 30 seconds to equalize. Set your compressor regulator at 15# or so and see how long it takes to inflate the bags.

Nothing to worry about.

Are you sure your calculation is correct? They don't hold much air. When I increase the pressure in mine by turning the regulator up it doesn't take much time at all to equalize. Mine are separate and I'm glad I did it that way.