Air bag suspension?

linewarbr · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 11:32 am

Does anyone know of someone who has installed an airbag suspension in a KJ? Can it be done? Would it still be off-roadable?

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 11:40 am

It would be cool...

But, I've seen sticks go through floorpans....

There's no way I would want to rely on a Sac of air for my suspension. :2cents:

STINGN · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 11:58 am

I say NO!

I owned a 98 Range Rover with air bag suspension...lets just say, after 3 years, the bags started to get dry rot and they took more than 5 min to air up from completely compressed. If your compressor is getting old, they start to get saggy over bumps. if one fails, then the rest rely on the compressor to constantly pump the failed one, causing pre-mature pump failure.

after 6 years of dealing with 5 air bags going out and 2 compressors, i switched to the OME coils for Land Rovers and Bilstein Shocks, never been happier!

linewarbr · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 12:19 pm

Well, it's just an idea. I want to be off-road capable, but I spend 99% of my time on-road. It would be nice to be able to lower the Jeep on-road, for better mileage and handling, then raise it to go on the trails. but a Land Rover, a KJ is not.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:23 pm

Well they seem to plan to give the grand cherokee's the same problems as the RR's have so just wait a year, lease a new GC and get rid of it like a booger when the lease is up

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:00 pm

linewarbr wrote:

I want to be off-road capable, but I spend 99% of my time on-road.

Your off-road percentage seems a bit high there LW. :roll:

Pics or the 1% didn't happen. :mrgreen:

durangotang · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 5:56 pm

I have air ride in the back of mine :mrgreen:

I wanted the best of both worlds though so I went with the air lift springs that go inside the coils... in-cab adjustable pimpitude :seuss:

onebaucom · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 6:40 pm

isn't there a silver lowrider kj that is up here that has it?
i don't know that person's name but i have seen it up here.
they said they were the first. somebody else has to know who i am talking about.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 10:21 pm

several folks have the air bag inside the spring - specifically for towing.

Haven't heard of anyone replacing springs with air bags.

H0USE34 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:02 pm

I know someone that has rarely had springs on his Jeep. Granted it is a JK and previously his TJ and both were more than off road capable. The only time I have heard him complain about the airbags was this past weekend when the corner of the bag clipped a bolt behind it. It wouldnt be a bad idea if most of your driving is on the road. Just be sure all sharp objects, bolts and such are tucked away.

linewarbr · **Posted:** Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:18 am

KJ 119 wrote:

linewarbr wrote:

I want to be off-road capable, but I spend 99% of my time on-road.

Your off-road percentage seems a bit high there LW. :roll:

Pics or the 1% didn't happen. :mrgreen:

Hehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Hehh. :grim:

OK, so it's more like 100% in the KJ :oops:

(did some trails in my old Pathfinder before the KJ) but that's just SO FAR. So my 1% hasn't happened YET. Trying to get it ready so I can make an Eglin run, because you'll never let me live it down if I don't.

Also looking at TexasRock's lift, it just may be too high for my CRD. Awaiting some input from Troy on how well it would work on my ride.

JDaPP · **Posted:** Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:28 am

I was interested in this as well as I wanted to different height as the liberty is a DD that gets alot of highway time, but I was never able to convince the boss. I did email these guys and they though they could make their product work for the liberty:
https://www.universalairsuspension.com/store/

STINGN · **Posted:** Tue Apr 27, 2010 12:55 am

durangotang wrote:

I have air ride in the back of mine :mrgreen:

I wanted the best of both worlds though so I went with the air lift springs that go inside the coils... in-cab adjustable pimpitude :seuss:

see, your lucky if they fail then you will have coils...but if your heavy in the back, you just add air and you get more lift outa it and you can level it out with a trailer

thats why i loved the air suspension on the ra ro because when i towed my 8k boat it didnt sag at all once they filled up nice...the expedition looked funny towing the boat lol

stumpjumper_09 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 27, 2010 1:30 am

linewarbr wrote:

KJ 119 wrote:

linewarbr wrote:

I want to be off-road capable, but I spend 99% of my time on-road.

Your off-road percentage seems a bit high there LW. :roll:

Pics or the 1% didn't happen. :mrgreen:

Hehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Hehh. :grim:

OK, so it's more like 100% in the KJ :oops:

(did some trails in my old Pathfinder before the KJ) but that's just SO FAR. So my 1% hasn't happened YET. Trying to get it ready so I can make an Eglin run, because you'll never let me live it down if I don't.

Also looking at TexasRock's lift, it just may be too high for my CRD. Awaiting some input from Troy on how well it would work on my ride.

I can definately tell you that lift will take the weight of your CRD and laugh. I have the same front coils and had 3 guys on my bumper and barely sagged it. I'm actually building a bumper to try to preload them a little bit. last week I broke an upper strut/shock mount in the front and would have never known it if it weren't for the clunking. If you want a stiff ride its a great lift. I think the front springs are #425 that is more than any other spring.

linewarbr · **Posted:** Tue Apr 27, 2010 12:07 pm

Oh, no doubt it's a great lift, and for the price, I almost went ahead with it. But it's my understanding that the CV angle on the CRD is different than on the gasser, and 2.25 - 2.5" of lift is all it can handle. Troy's lift would give me about 3" minimum, probably more like 3.5". I asked him point blank if he would recommend putting it on a CRD, and he said no - and I have no reason not to take his word.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Apr 27, 2010 12:24 pm

Yes Troys old lift would be way too much for a CRD
Would be hard to install plus would give you a bunch of CV problems right off!

linewarbr · **Posted:** Tue Apr 27, 2010 12:27 pm

Yeah, it looks like between cost/ safety of my CV's/ ease of install, I'll be doing the generic JBA UCA's and a Frankie IIP.

Now where did I put that $1600. . . . . :banghead:

stumpjumper_09 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:04 pm

I was not aware of the CV issue of the CRD. Too bad cause those springs are TOUGH

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:20 pm

No point in lifting a CRD more since the 2.5" lift fits a 32" tire and that about all the front diff would turn no matter how much it's lifted and tires is what yields ground clearance. Even though you have a 4" lift, I still have 1" more GC cause my tires are 2" bigger. Better fuel economy and less tippy due to lower height makes it a better package over-all.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:31 pm

When I put the Franky II (30K miles) on in 2007, I had an alignment done. Three years and 64K miles later (many offroad) I never needed another alignment, never saw the need for a JBA anything (still have original OEM ball joints).

Install the lift and forget throwing your $$ away on something that will probably break anyway.

Air bag suspension?

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