Rear End Squat? Install These… Air Bag Kit

[mattrsteacy]

I plan to install the air bags on my Hybrid when it finally comes in. Most of the time the bags will have minimal pressure and therefore not effect on the suspension. When I have a heavy load the bag pressure will not be enough change the shape of the heavy factory springs. And with a heavy load I will not be making fast turns where the force-vectoring springs come into play.

Here is someone else that installed the air bags.
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...erculiner-bed-liner-and-air-bag-install.6346/

Yeah it doesn't look like this guy had the hybrid/same rear suspension with the force vectoring springs. Further food for thought.

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[mattrsteacy]

Thank you for the link, that might be the way to go. I’ll do some more research…

Hey Drew, did you ever get anywhere helpful with any further research? Are the air shocks the way to go to stop squat on the hybrid under load and did you find a way to measure them to get the right shocks?

 

[Autonomous]

I had airbags on my '06 Ranger and they were great for my occasional heavy trailer & load.
Running the bags empty causes chafe which kills the airbags. This is why the dedicated air compressor kits maintain 5-10 psi.
Get the compressor unless you have a perfect memory and won't let the bags deflate.

 

[Drew]

Hey Drew, did you ever get anywhere helpful with any further research? Are the air shocks the way to go to stop squat on the hybrid under load and did you find a way to measure them to get the right shocks?

So far, so good on using the airbags. I’ve only had them fully inflated while carrying my dirt bikes, the four wheeler, & pulling the little trailer. They’ve worked so well I haven’t had reason to do further research.

 

[Matchstick08]

So far, so good on using the airbags. I’ve only had them fully inflated while carrying my dirt bikes, the four wheeler, & pulling the little trailer. They’ve worked so well I haven’t had reason to do further research.

I installed a set on my maverick.

So you inflate them before or after loading your bikes in?

 

[Drew]

I installed a set on my maverick.

So you inflate them before or after loading your bikes in?

Before

 

[Matchstick08]

Before

I noticed that the height of the bag doesn't equal the height of the inside of the spring. Under no load and inflated, it pushes out on the inside of the coils, but it still a good inch+ away from the top of the spring. It's possible I haven't just loaded the bed enough to engage the airbag, but is this similar to how yours is?

I had about 550lb of sod in the bed the other day didn't really notice a difference.

 

[Drew]

I noticed that the height of the bag doesn't equal the height of the inside of the spring. Under no load and inflated, it pushes out on the inside of the coils, but it still a good inch+ away from the top of the spring. It's possible I haven't just loaded the bed enough to engage the airbag, but is this similar to how yours is?

I had about 550lb of sod in the bed the other day didn't really notice a difference.

I added foam rubber “pucks” above & below the air bags that took up that space & protect the top & bottom of the air bags:

 

[Matchstick08]

I added foam rubber “pucks” above & below the air bags that took up that space & protect the top & bottom of the air bags:

I see. Did you make these yourself? I'll probably leave mine for now and see how it behaves loaded past 1000lbm.

Good to see your RH cam bolt marks are also misaligned. Mine are too and though maybe a bolt slipped.

 

[desabrir]

I added foam rubber “pucks” above & below the air bags that took up that space & protect the top & bottom of the air bags:

How hard was the kit to install yourself? Are you able to slip the bags and pucks through the springs?

 

[Drew]

How hard was the kit to install yourself? Are you able to slip the bags and pucks through the springs?

It takes some finesse & elbow grease including dishwashing liquid & zip-ties to slide the bags into the springs, but if you’re mechanically inclined & persistent it’ll take a couple of hours.
There are YouTube videos from SDTrucksprings & others that take you step by step.

 

[NoVaJimmy]

It takes some finesse & elbow grease including dishwashing liquid & zip-ties to slide the bags into the springs, but if you’re mechanically inclined & persistent it’ll take a couple of hours.
There are YouTube videos from SDTrucksprings & others that take you step by step.

FWIW I didn't need any soap or lubricant or anything, just folded them over using the weight of my body and knee and zip tied them making sure to put the clasping part of the zip tie on the side so it didn't interfere with it fitting between coils, they slipped through the unloaded coils with relative ease since at that point they were flat. Gotta make sure you unload the spring though lifting the vehicle up and putting it on a jackstand.

 

[Old Man]

Or just don't overload the truck. Problem solved for free.

 

[icegradner]

Or just don't overload the truck. Problem solved for free.

Squat happens well within the payload of the truck. The idea of the airbags is not for overloading the truck, but keeping it level to improve steering.

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