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Air bag rear suspension. For towing?

bablazer73

bablazer73

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c30 3+3, crew cab dually. Back end is obviously wicked stiff with no load. Anybody ever convert to an HD bag suspension? Dump the leaf springs completely?
I have found kits to bag/drop, but not really designed to Carry the load.
 
You should look into how the 72 and older 2wd Chevrolet coil spring suspension was done. Then replace the coils with bags.
Very simple system. Trailing arm with track bar. I would use light coil springs as primary and bags as supplemental.
 
obijuank5 said:
You should look into how the 72 and older 2wd Chevrolet coil spring suspension was done. Then replace the coils with bags.
Very simple system. Trailing arm with track bar. I would use light coil springs as primary and bags as supplemental.
Click to expand...
funny thing. I have a 69 panel truck, I threw away ALL the suspension!!!
:eek::eek::eek::eek:
 
bablazer73 said:
for lowering? this is a tow rig.
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I flipped the arms on top , nets about 6” lift ran bags instead of coils and made the pan hard bar as long as I could without hitting the tires , on 37” tires it pulls a 39ft toyhauler with ease.
 
yellowK20 said:
I flipped the arms on top , nets about 6” lift ran bags instead of coils and made the pan hard bar as long as I could without hitting the tires , on 37” tires it pulls a 39ft toyhauler with ease.
Click to expand...
This is a 2x truck, 85 crew cab dually. Those old stacked springs are rough. Was thinking of converting to a full HD bag suspension, or changing springs and air bag assist. On long hauls empty, it's harsh!
 
if you want fairly easy combo try like you said .even new springs will ride better . older tend to get rusty and act like sand paper between them as they try and flex / slide . but this cant happen with the rust binding them up . i just rebuild / cleaned up and painted a pair of springs i have for a build i am doing and i bounced the truck frame before and after and WOW what a huge change in flex / movement of the pack .

new lightest spring pack 22-547 part # at 2800 lbs capacity per pack .

then a firestone air bag kit 2071 .

then a auto compressor kit . lets you set 2 preset pressures . set 1 for empty and 1 for loaded .

or do a man control kit with gauge and fill as you want .
 
if you pull leafs start at the bottom and do every other leaf .

but good clean / grind / or blast of the leafs + paint = smother flex .
 
bablazer73 said:
This is a 2x truck, 85 crew cab dually. Those old stacked springs are rough. Was thinking of converting to a full HD bag suspension, or changing springs and air bag assist. On long hauls empty, it's harsh!
Click to expand...


Just don’t flip the arms then,
 
yep weld a new set of spring perches on the bottom side and bolt in the arms .

trailing arm truck suspension is so good at what it does thats why nascar and other forms of road / track racing us it to this day .
 
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