F250 - Air Bags? - Page 3

hboy · 03-12-2016, 05:28 PM

Those with air bags;

Do you have each air bag independently inflatable, or one value inflates both bags?

Regarding on board compressor users, are you a single path or dual path set up?

Any pros/cons for reach configuration you have experienced?

About how long do the on board compressors take to inflate?

Thank you.

Paintinfool3 · 03-12-2016, 05:38 PM

Well as for me I ordered a t fitting to air both together and I will probably just use a small 12 volt compressor to add air when needed ...I don't see the purpose of spending as much or an onboard systems I did for the airbag kit itself and its not like I am changing it daily

MIFL19H · 03-12-2016, 05:49 PM

Currently I set mine up with independent lines, will see how it works, will try a T fitting later if I find I have issues with keeping them the same pressure. I checked mine today after 1 week and both sides have held at 12 psi without issue.

The bags seem to take very little air to pump up so would think an onboard pump would be fairly quick, 30 secs or so, if that.

I chose not to go with an onboard compressor, was not worth the cost and future replacement to do so. But everyone's needs/usage is different.

I am going to use an Air Tank to fill, I filled my 6gal pancake compressor tank, shutting off the compressor and used it to fill them up multiple times (while testing for leaks etc) without refilling. Only takes a hit of air for a few seconds.

I have a 12v compressor to refill on the road and that way I don't have to bust out a compressor each time to fill it.

nunyadamn · 03-12-2016, 06:42 PM

With the t-valve - as you corner and pressurize one bag, the air will move to the other bag. You should have them separate.

Paintinfool3 · 03-12-2016, 06:51 PM

Well didn't think of that ... maybe I will just hold on to the t valve for a bit lol

Edd505 · 03-12-2016, 09:19 PM

Not sure about filling both at once, mine was set up independent and I have no issues. I check pressure when I check tires just to insure I have not developed any leaks.

SkyBound · 03-13-2016, 03:47 PM

Yes exactly, air will move from side to side with a T fitting during cornering. This method of installation is not recommended. Each bag should be independently inflated.

nunyadamn · 04-20-2016, 06:58 PM

Finally got my Firestone 2535 air bags installed on Monday. That was a real pain in the butt. From getting the old "jounce" bumpers off to getting every screw tightened. It fought me the whole way.

The screws, every one, will not thread smoothly through the nuts. If you are using air tools the whole way, it might not be an issue. If your using standard sockets, it fights. The drivers side was the worst part. Maybe it was just because it was the side I started on.

The directions are ok, if you also reference youtube videos too. Starts by saying left side - how about drivers side like a normal manual? The drivers side has two large holes for the air fitting to go through - the manual does not tell you it has to be in the hole closest to the frame of the truck, it doesn't mention the second hole that is not used.

Anyway, I have not pulled the trailer yet. I will say that the rear of my truck already feels better (more solid) with just 10-15psi. I am leaning a little on the drivers side. My buddy says it is probably due to the full tank of fuel I have. Sounds reasonable. If I wanted to be level side to side, I would need almost 30psi on the drivers side and 10psi on the passenger side. I will see what happens when I get low on fuel.

Paintinfool3 · 04-20-2016, 07:07 PM

I had some issues with my install too but I had a small cordless impact that helped a lot with the locknuts I chose to trim just enough of a notch out of my jounce bumper stops on the axle so I could mount the bottom plate as low as possible and it seems to work just fine. I just wasn't comfortable with the shorter distance between the axle mount and the frame mount, and 1 inch seemed like a lot to raise the axle mount so the airbag lower bolt would clear the jounce mount. I used the supplied plate to mount both air fittings on my rear hitch and ran both separate instead of using a t

Rock · 04-20-2016, 08:15 PM

I hooked my Firestone bags up with valves mounted on each side of my license plate. No load run the min 5 psi. With 30 lbs no load the truck will settle about 2.5 inches when hitched up. I talked with a Bilstein Shock tech and was told you should not put in to much air and the ride will be better with air pressure to keep the back 1.5 - 2 inches lower when fully loaded than empty. I have the yellow bilsteins which they recommend for towing. The metering is better in the yellow ones to help with the bouncing on concrete roads. They said if u add enough air to bring back to the unloaded height the shock will not dampen the bounce since the air bags will be adding more bounce. So in a nutshell from the experts (with a tee would be easier) measure truck height unhooked. Hook up and add just enough air to raise truck 1.5 inches lower than unloaded.
Rock

SouthCo · 04-20-2016, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nunyadamn

I am leaning a little on the drivers side. My buddy says it is probably due to the full tank of fuel I have. Sounds reasonable. If I wanted to be level side to side, I would need almost 30psi on the drivers side and 10psi on the passenger side.

Well adding airbags won't make it lean if you have equal air in both sides so it must have leaned before...

nunyadamn · 04-21-2016, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthCo

Well adding airbags won't make it lean if you have equal air in both sides so it must have leaned before...

That's true. I will have to look at the bags again and see if the mounting is level. They have the same pressure in them now and I lean about 1/2 inch. I just went through weighing my setup and measuring for the adjustment for the WDH to the new truck. I know it was level before, but I don't know how much fuel I had at that time. The measurements were the same at that time. It's only 1/2 inch. Can't really tell unless I measure it.

TWP723 · 04-21-2016, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nunyadamn

That's true. I will have to look at the bags again and see if the mounting is level. They have the same pressure in them now and I lean about 1/2 inch. I just went through weighing my setup and measuring for the adjustment for the WDH to the new truck. I know it was level before, but I don't know how much fuel I had at that time. The measurements were the same at that time. It's only 1/2 inch. Can't really tell unless I measure it.

Is your tank a midship mounted tank? (between the axles). If so, the full tank could make it lean but I've never experienced it.

nunyadamn · 04-21-2016, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TWP723

Is your tank a midship mounted tank? (between the axles). If so, the full tank could make it lean but I've never experienced it.

Its on the drivers side. The huge exhaust takes up the whole passenger side of the truck. Truck is leaning to the drivers side 1/2 inche.

TWP723 · 04-21-2016, 11:43 AM

Yeah, that's fuel weight. They're big tanks.

SouthCo · 04-21-2016, 01:06 PM

I would guess fuel as well. I wouldn't think you'd need 20psi higher on driver side to correct a small lean though. That's seems like a lot....

TWP723 · 04-21-2016, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthCo

I would guess fuel as well. I wouldn't think you'd need 20psi higher on driver side to correct a small lean though. That's seems like a lot....

+1

MIFL19H · 04-29-2016, 08:59 PM

Update on my Air Lift 5000's…

So Far so Good, Bags are holding Air with no problem (hopefully didn't just jinx myself). I ran each line independent and mounted the valves in the bracket that holds the 7 Pin/4 Pin Plugs, valves come through the top of the bracket sticking out the bottom.

I did decide not to get an air tank and got a small 12V air compressor from Harbor Freight, I got a 12V power port that plugs into the 12V power on the 4 Pin connector so I can plug the power port into the 4 pin plug, plug my compressor into that and add air to the bags in no time, I over inflate a little then let air out of the to bring them down to where I want them, so far works good.

Have not found the need for an onboard compressor, have about $25 in the compressor and 12V power port.

Was reading about the issues with the install of the Firestones, I did my Air Lift 5000 install with hand wrenches and manual sockets, wasn't too bad, may have gone faster with pneumatic tools but many places I could have only gotten wrenches in anyway. I do need to get under and check they are still tight.

So far I am happy that I installed Air Bags as I like the flexibility of them.

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