Air Lift bags in rear?

saltydog · **Posted:** Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:58 pm

I installed the Air Lift 1000 bags with on board controller in my Liberty the other day and have a few questions for those who have them.
The jeep (06 CRD) has OME lift with one rear iso, and 3 ring clevis and top plate in front. I pull a Rockwood 232 XRT pop up camper (toy hauler deck on it) and it does not allow the use of weight dist bars. When loaded up this made the rear squat more than I liked so thats the reason for the bags, level out the rear. Instructions for the air bags were not the best, but easy afternoon of work.
The question for those who use these is this, did you remove your upper bump stops in the rear of leave them? With them in they are always in contact with the bag and could limit my articulation off road, but with them out the bag makes contact with the metal top part and seems like it could be bad news down the road. I keep them at the recommended 10lbs when not towing and have not used them with the trailer yet.
So do I leave bump stops, remove, or cut them down?

JDaPP · **Posted:** Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:29 pm

I removed my bumpstops. I will say though that I have the nozzles on my bags facing up (ran the hose through the frame) and I have hockey puck on top of the airbags for contact with the metal.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:15 am

Check out this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35985&start=60

saltydog · **Posted:** Sat Jun 11, 2011 9:57 am

Hmm, that person used bags ment for a Toyota? I may try adjusting the min pressure to 8lbs while not towing. They do make it ride a bit rougher.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Jun 11, 2011 11:45 am

saltydog wrote:

Hmm, that person used bags ment for a Toyota? I may try adjusting the min pressure to 8lbs while not towing. They do make it ride a bit rougher.

Yes, and it makes perfect sense due to the OME springs being larger in size compared to the OE springs. Plus, you don’t need a rear bump stop with the air bags as they act as a bump top.

saltydog · **Posted:** Sat Jun 11, 2011 11:56 am

Well, since I already have the ones ment for a liberty installed I have to use them. I will just leave my upper bump stops in to make up for the taller springs. The air bags are in there snug and do not move around with the bump stops holding them in place.
My real concern was when I go to Ouray next month and the lack of articulation in the rear with the bags.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:05 pm

saltydog wrote:

Well, since I already have the ones ment for a liberty installed I have to use them. I will just leave my upper bump stops in to make up for the taller springs. The air bags are in there snug and do not move around with the bump stops holding them in place.
My real concern was when I go to Ouray next month and the lack of articulation in the rear with the bags.

Hopefully they'll work out for you just fine. Keep in mind that the OME springs are not only taller, but they are also wider.

You'll been fine with the articulation, but I can see how your bags would be a little loose when you air them down.

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 11, 2011 9:01 pm

The OME Springs are no Wider than stock. Also In my experience with Air Lift products The bump stops are always removed, when doing a inner coil Bag. Your Min Pressure should be 5lbs when not towing, I personally don't think they'll cause any issues regarding flex at around 5psi.

Also if you got the Load Controller air pump that looks like this

and It's mounted on the exterior of your vehicle you should try and avoid mud and submerging it, They are not a good design and I have seen many many units fail under the best of conditions.

saltydog · **Posted:** Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:06 am

I will have to re-read the manual, thought min pressure was 10. I do have the load controller, mounted compressor under the hood between battery and headlight.
The instructions said to remove the bumpstop, but I have a lift and was not sure with the extra height if I should or not.

QuestMan · **Posted:** Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:10 pm

The reason for 10 lbs. min. pressure, or 5, etc., is to act as a bumpstop. Since you left your bumpstops in, I don't think it would matter even if you had 0 psi in the bags. I've had the bags in my jeep for 5 years now, and haven't had bumpstops since I put the airbags in. As for size, I think I used the airsprings meant for a '67 chevy, and they work fine.

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:45 pm

The only Issue I can see with the bumps still in place is possible damage to the inlet on the airbag itself, I would not run less than 5 lbs personally I don't think folding the bags up with no air under full stuff will do them any justice, again just my :2cents:

Glend · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:42 am

Don't install airbags and expect to retain your articulation. Even at pressures as low as 2-4psi the rear end will not compress as much as without airbags. As the spring compresses the airbag moves out against the spring coils and creates bind which limits artictulation, as the spring is compressed further the pressure inside the compressed airbag rises and stops further compression.

Some airbag manufacturers (like Polyair) recommend a residual bumpstop pressure of 4psi but I have run down to 2psi is really rough country without any issues. The spring material will not fold into the spaces between the coils, as by the time the pressure rises enough to distort the bag the coils are too close together for the bag to be pinched.

And yes, you should be running without bumptops in the rear, the airbag is now your bumpstop. The bottom rubber spring perch should be left in place. There should be a rubber plate of some sort with your airbag kit to go on top of the bag to prevent damage by the steel collar at the top (the collar that used to be the socket for the stock bumpstop).

Air Lift bags in rear?

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