hard hat required beyond this point

[BigBlueChevy]

Alright guys, I've spent a good amount of time analyzing my front IFS, "name brand" IFS lift kits, and even more time at the drawing board. I feel like now that I have sufficent idea as to what I'm going to do, I'll pull info from everybody here with input and knowledge.

The plan:
-Convert the coil springs and shocks to Airbags.

The possibilities
-Air shocks(replace gas shocks and go in center of coils with same mounting fashion)
-Complete Air Bag system

The Reaon:
-Creating AT LEAST a 3" lift on the front end to fit 285's(I'm not telling the specifics just yet)
-Improved ride quaility through the use of being "Air Ride Equipped"
-Will allow a leveling by simply plugging in my compressor and charging(to eventual onboard air)



Problems:
1)line or air valve failure

Solution to problem:
2)



Mainly its to seriously up the ride quaility. I rode in my friends 3500 cummins 4X4 and he had used an airbag assist to lift his truck as well as make for one sickeningly smooth ride. So the rear end is taken care of for my truck. Now its time to work out a plan for the front IFS.


Right now I want to hear problems you think will occur with this this setup(don't be shy I want to hit EVERYTHING). I'll continually modify this post where it says "problems", and "solutions to problems" so that nobody has to scroll through miles of pages to find out where we are at and it makes tracking this easier for me.

Also, additional ideas will be taken into consideration. Should this work out well I will do a large writeup(yes with pictures) for others who wish to do the same or something similar.

Thanks guys
-Jamie

 

[bk95td]

Shouldn't you have a spring in case a bag .line or air valve failure? How do you set alignment with a variable ride height? A lower rate longer spring with air assist would be better. What do the pre-runner suspensions use? Could you just use raised spindles?

 

[midniteplowboyy]

Put air on the rear first, thats where you'll gain the most ride quality, the fronts pretty good other than height adjustability.

Or you could throw about 80 bags of feed in the back,lol.

 

[BigBlueChevy]

bk95td could you explain more to me the "lower rate longer sprin with air aissist?" This may be a similar design as to what I had planned.

 

[bk95td]

From just glancing at the 2-wd lift kits[pre-runner] I think they use a coil spring with increased length from stock. It could be same diameter wire but the added length gives it a lower rate. Think of stretching the spring in a ballpoint pen. The more you stretch it the easier it is to compress but has a longer length. If you lower a car with lowering springs they are a lighter rate because of the length. If you just cut a coil off the stock springs it increases the rate.
As far as the light springs with air assist I think I saw them on Air lift's or firestones web pages.The air bag is inside the coil spring. I saw the pre-runner kits on summit racings catalog. They may have the air set up also. I was looking for air assist for the 4-wd torsion bar suspension to hold my plow up[too light torsion bars]. Check out rancho,tuff country and pro-comp. They may make a set-up that would fit your truck.

 

[BigBlueChevy]

much appreciated on the input. I've spent quite alot of time checking out the options they have for lift kits, I'm definate on wanting air as it DEFINATLY provides an incredible ride quaility.

As much as I want to go with a full on lift kit I don't have a thousand bucks to drop into a new one. So this is also to save me a decent amount of money.