Air Bag Suspension

[thinkgreen216]

Okay... Ive tried the search function and have found little to no results. I am new to the forums and just purchased a 2007 (new body) crew cab LTZ and was considering lifting it with the 2.5" leveling kit sold by Fat Bobs Garage and adding a inch to the rear with new blocks but Im also considering getting airbags to assist me when towing our 25' camp trailer. How does one go about adding airbags after adding an inch to the rear with blocks? Is it still a straight forward bolt on without any additional modifications or is their some extra parts Ill need?

[nbscanuck]

An inch shouldn't be a problem. I have a 4 inch lift and got a 3 inch block welded to the air bag bracket. All things are great.

[ERIE_ONE]

Okay... Ive tried the search function and have found little to no results. I am new to the forums and just purchased a 2007 (new body) crew cab LTZ and was considering lifting it with the 2.5" leveling kit sold by Fat Bobs Garage and adding a inch to the rear with new blocks but Im also considering getting airbags to assist me when towing our 25' camp trailer. How does one go about adding airbags after adding an inch to the rear with blocks? Is it still a straight forward bolt on without any additional modifications or is their some extra parts Ill need?

 

You'll need a spacer above or below the air bag the same height as the taller rear block. The directions are very specific about not lifting the truck by the frame after install unless you depressure the air bags and then they state that its still not recomended. Without a spacer you increase the "free" length the air bag needs to extend should you have to lift the truck by the frame. See the Note at the bottom of the last page in the link below.

 

Link to Ride Rite

[redjewel2ss]

or you can get an airbag kit that mounts to the leaf spring instead of the axle... like this:

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=5930

[hrspwr]

Now correct me if I am wrong, But he will not need anything extra to add an air bag. When you add a block to the rear, you place it inbetween the diff and the leaf so the distance between the leaf and the frame/mount for the air bag will not change from stock.

 

Now that is if the air bag is in contact with the leaf and not the diff. If it contacts the diff then yes I can see adding a spacer.

[ERIE_ONE]

Now correct me if I am wrong, But he will not need anything extra to add an air bag. When you add a block to the rear, you place it inbetween the diff and the leaf so the distance between the leaf and the frame/mount for the air bag will not change from stock.

 

Now that is if the air bag is in contact with the leaf and not the diff. If it contacts the diff then yes I can see adding a spacer.

 

Correct.

The one 2010TexasEdition posted contacts the leaf only and would work. The one I posted contacts the axle tube and would need a block. The leaf mount has a capacity of 3k and the axle tube mount is 5k. Both would put our trucks outside of the recommended weight limits.

 

 

[thinkgreen216]

Thanks for all of the info everyone! This is an amazing forum full of limitless information!

[AirLiftCompany]

Hi, Chris, I'm not personally familiar with the lift you're considering, but the key point is what type of lift, as some of the earlier responders have suggested. If you're using a lift that increases the space between where the lower bracker mounts, and where the upper bracket mounts (generally the space between the axle and the frame), you're increasing the height of the "envelope" in which the air spring will work. We offer a spacer that goes on the bottom of many air springs (called "Lock-n-Lift Spacer), and there are other good air spring spacers on the market too, just for that purpose. This is one of those issues that's hard to explain in words! If you need a recommendation, feel free to call our tech support crew at 800-248-0892... they're probably better at explaining it than I am!

[lilnasty]

I changed out my factory 1.25" block with an aftermarket 2" block. This put my rear fenders 0.250" higher then the front with the 2.5" leveling kit that I installed. Then I order the firestone ride rite bags for my truck. They knew of the higher lift and didn't send me any spacers with the kit. After installation my rear fenders are now 0.750" higher then the front with minimum air pressure in the bags. The bags lifted the rear another 0.500" inches. I do not believe just that little of lift in the rear will hurt the system. I have 5000-10,000 miles on everything now. This is just my experience, so take it for what it's worth.