air suspension idea - 07 EXT

[damndirtyape]

My shocks are ready for replacement on my 07 EXT so I figured I'd look into bagging it. There seems to be some good knowledge here on air suspensions so I wanted to run my idea past you guys before doing anything. I'm mostly concerned with ride quality, don't need to lay it out or tuck anything and only looking for a 1-2" drop max.

My plan:

Front - some passive gas shock TBD with universal aero power sport bags
Rear - some matching passive gas shock with a dual port bag in place of coil
put the bypass resistors in place or see if my tuner can turn off the codes for the electronic shocks.

the dual port bag in the rear is to hook one port up to whatever air management system I go with, manual at first. the other port is to hook into the OEM auto level compressor. My thinking is this will allow me to retain auto leveling capability. the compressor supposed to be rated at 187 psi so i'd think it could run a pair of regular bags vs the OEM bladders just fine maybe just with an extended runtime from normal. I believe stock the timeout is 255 seconds but surely it could do its leveling within that amount of time.

Seems like a good way to get nice full air ride quality, a mild drop and retain leveling capability and not be tied to their expensive OEM components.

I'd appreciate any advice or input.
Thanks
Chris

 

[NathanJax]

Don't think the OEM compressor has enough power to keep ride height. Plus it will try o compensate for being low when you lower it. Plus you'll need to keep the OEM shocks up front because they are part of the electronic system, and again, won't send correct signals when bagged.

Also, in the rear, you'll need to do bags in place of the spring, not on the shock.

 

[damndirtyape]

Thanks for the reply. To address your input:

Don't think the OEM compressor has enough power to keep ride height. Plus it will try o compensate for being low when you lower it.
I'll have the main air management system to keep it inflated, it'll only have to add in air when a load is put on it and vent when unloaded. Being rated to 187psi, I wouldn't expect to need more than that unless it just can't handle the pressure required to maintain ride height (I'm assuming will be around 100-125psi?). I was planning to adjust the ride height sensor so its at its normal range at the new ride height but I could see it going nuts if I ever decided to play with it and change my height, ie dropping the rear if i lifted up a little or vice versa.

Plus you'll need to keep the OEM shocks up front because they are part of the electronic system, and again, won't send correct signals when bagged.
I'm planning to ditch autoride either with resistors or by turning it off in the ECU so non issue.

Also, in the rear, you'll need to do bags in place of the spring, not on the shock.
Yup, I said I'd replace the coil with the bags and replace the shock with a regular one so non issue here as well.

I guess what it boils down to is will a full air suspension ride as well or better than a properly functioning OEM setup or worse?

 

[NathanJax]

I'm planning to ditch autoride either with resistors or by turning it off in the ECU so non issue.

If you do this, then none of this matters as the rear OEM compressor will no longer work or come on. You can't have both. It's one or the other. You can be lowered and still use OEM autoride, but can't bag and use autoride

 

[damndirtyape]

They're two separate systems. Autoride is just the electronically variable dampening of the shocks and auto leveling is the rear air / compressor set up. I believe some trucks had auto level but not autoride from the factory and the Monroe conversion kit instructions mention disabling autoride via the 4 resistors and retaining the rear autolevel feature. It goes onto explain how to disable the auto level but recommends you do not.

 

[NORCAL SS]

do yourself a favor.

Do the TBSS airbag swamp
small airlift compressor
and belltech sp shocks


will tow great and ride nice

 

[damndirtyape]

I was reading about that in the other thread but I think it'd give me more drop than I'd care for. I think I read it would lower the rear 4". Maybe a tad less since I have a pickup bed instead of a full enclosure. I'll have to do some measuring and see if that's too far a drop for my taste. Max i'd be wiling to do up front is 2", after that things start to add up to keep the geometry right.

 

[NORCAL SS]

no the kit i sell is adjusatable 2.5 to 3 7/8 inches max in rear.

You can still tow and load it up since autoride is functional but i fyou get rid of autoride you can add helper bags and i have a 2-3 inch kit which is the 5305 spring but did a run of them 1 inch taller. so 3 inch drop or spacer added for 2 inch drop.

in front spindles will do 2 inches and or drop struts for 2 inches.