I have 1949 chevy truck with the ACCUAIR suspension system . My son and I took the truck out for the first time sense the rearend was notched and bagged and the front air bags were put on and the ACCUAIR was installed. The ACCUAIR system is a automatic air ride system that gives you levels of ride hieght automatically. I took the truck out and the warning light started to flash. Then I turned the truck around and barely made it back to my street which is gravel and the truck dug right to the ground. I couldn't even get my hand under the running boards. The rear engine cross member is what bug in. I called ACCUAIR on a Sunday afternoon and the tech said I must have got a leak in the air line from the pump to the tank. He was right on the money it was that line. Two and ahalf hours later I got the truck up high enough to fix the leak. Here is my problem, why did the truck drop to the ground? Shouldn't the bags have stayed up? The place I get the costume work done on the truck said the bags should have kepted the air in then. Before I had the rear done the frontend had air bags hooked up to a schrader valve. The bags needed air once a week maybe. Any ideas on how to keep this from happening again? Thanks
This is exactly what it wrong with these type of builds. Imagine if you had been going down the highway at 70 MPH when that happened, in front of a School Bus full of Orphans and Nuns. If it can sit that low without any air, that can happen due to a failure at any time - Not Smart. And while a check valve between the pump and tank might have prevented this, what happens when you have a failure in one of the lines going to each bag, or a bag itself.
Chuck, I have airbags and the AccuAir system on my F100 too. All air valves need back pressure from the tank in order to hold the air pressure in the bags. You can add a check valve in between the tank and the valves to make sure this can't happen, but the main way to stop something like this is to make sure you don't have any leaks in the system in the first place. Airbags are just like any other modification in that you've got to make sure everything is right before you go out driving it. The warning that the AccuAir was giving you was to tell you that you didn't have the correct amount of pressure in the tank to save you from the truck dropping while driving. This would have happened with any air suspension system if there was a leak in the tank. Use a spray bottle of soapy water and spray every fitting to see if it blows bubbles. If it does pull it out, put some more thread sealant on it and put it back in. I always use Loctite 565 thread sealant. It works great. As hotroddon said, it might be a good idea to add some bump stops to stop the truck before it actually sits on the ground. That way if something fails because of installation errors the truck still rolls, and you're still safe. I hope this helps. Let us know how this turns out.
Piloted air valves, read this: http://www.about-air-compressors.com/solenoid-pilot.html Check valve in the compressed air line as close to the air manifold as suggested is a good safeguard.
I have an electric solenoid box that the air from the tank goes through to the bags. The solenoids control all the air bags. They're what maintains the ride heights on all for wheels. Isn't it what keeps the the air in the bags. I thought the solenoid box was like a electric schrader valve. It holds and releases air pressure.
You are not going to appreciate this but springs come to mind. I have a good friend that is Mr Airbag, he even takes the springs out of his regular cars and bags 'em because he likes the ride so well. He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve but one of the things that he is a real stickler on is that your car or truck should have a bump stop that keeps it drivable if the bags go completely flat. Ok commsense advice aside I am going to suggest that there is not a check valve or if there is that it does not work on your particular setup that keeps the air in the backs if you spring a leak in a supply line.
Bump stops are going in I guess. I was even thinking of going to a 6.00-16 from a 6.50-16 so much for that idea.
Chuck you can still go with the smaller tire if you like just adjust the bumps accordingly. You can still park plenty low without using chassis parts as a parking brake. I am not really put out by one that parks on the grass (literaly) I just don't like to see the consequences when the inevitable happens. Bags fail on occaision, certaily more often than springs do. The very best you can do is plan for it to happen.
I just talked to a guy at ACCUAIR he said custom 100 is right. If there's no back pressure the truck will drop. I'm going to get my soapy water and get started checking for leaks. The people at ACCUAIR are very good at there jobs. At least I know to do next.
Nice to work with a company with good customer service isn't it? It will be something to laugh at when you get it all worked out.
I noticed your picture and it looks like it doesnt lay frame. If you live on a street with gravel you should already know that your tires are gonna dig in a little. I live in Alabama and i would love for my car to sit low but that cant happen on my streets. I know that from friends having problems. You should either put coilovers or solve the problem with cups. Good Luck from a newbie
Tried what ? using cups. people always use cups. The way i see it if you ever sell it to someone who lives in a place with street thats paved they can drive it low without cups. Just a simple sollution.
I have used check valves in systems I have built for years. Practically every home and light industrial "air compressor" has one built in between the pump and tank. They should be easy to find at any industrial supply or air compressor repair store.
Need to run a check valve as others stated basically a one way valve there should be one built into your compressor line and you should install one between the tank and valves I have some of the box type valves and they have them built in also they wont let you release the air unless there is pressure from the tank that way in case of a leak your not stranded I don't like the single type one for in one for out type valves if that's what you have im not familiar with ur system.
Accuair does not have check valves in their set up because it is standard procedure for a check valve at the tank. There is also a check valve built into most leader hoses off of the compressor. With a properly plumbed and lined setup there is no reason why the truck should not leak down for 1 month or longer. I suggest using loctite brand liquid teflon tape. You can buy it at most machine shop supply houses.
Does ACCUAIR OR AIR RIDE TECH provide a check valve between the air tank and manifold between there Plug n Play systems.??????????
any air system when installed correctly is safe and reliable accuair is the best system out there and they have excellent customer service that warning light is just that WARNING you so you could stop driving were no athere system dose that Loctite is the ONLY way to go for your air ride plumbing bump stops is an easy fix a taller front cup and a spacer on the lower bag plate in the rear will work as well
Neither Ride Tech nor AccuAir supply check valves for between the tank and manifold valves. AccuAir has chosen not to include them as a standard option for the following reasons: 1.) They CAN FAIL. Every compressor that we ship has a check valve on the leader hose and I can tell you from experience that they CAN FAIL from time to time. 2.) 1 out of every 10 installers would put the check valve in backwards and then call us asking "why don't my bags fill?". If a guy "has to have" a check valve because it makes him feel safer, than we say "no problem... $5". I think that all of this discussion brings up some good emphasis on some really important points: 1.) Your vehicle should ALWAYS be able to roll safely with ZERO air in the system. Air Suspension is safely installed on millions of heavy duty trucks and buses every year because the vehicle is setup to roll safely down the road with zero air in the system. 2.) Don't cut corners on something as crucial as air suspension. Make sure that your air lines are far from heat and use grommets where they pass through sharp metal. Make sure that your air springs have plenty of clearance from other objects. Make sure that your wiring is clean and zip tied. Make sure that all electrical systems are fused. Use quality products to begin with so that you aren't stranded on the side of the road because you tried to save $20.... okay I will stop ranting. In general I would like to think that we (AccuAir) has played a large roll in making air suspension more reliable than ever before. But, no matter how smart we make the systems we are still dependent on you or your installer to get it installed correctly. So take your time, read the instructions, and lets show people how awesome air suspension really is!
I have been installing air bags for years here in Alabama for friends and friends of friends and i noticed people are real quick to point the finger at the installers, yes installers like me and others have made mistakes and ive also trouble shooted for hours and hours to find out that it was a product default. Im new to the hamb and have been noticing people complaining and claiming they know it all . I personally dont know it all and joined to learn and get some ideas.We are humans and so are the makers of most of these products , shit some are made by machines so therefore mistakes will happen . Have you tried to take it back to the shop so they can look at it and trubleshoot with you?
Thanks to Reno at AccuAir I was able to get the truck home. He kept it simple. It turned out to be the air line from the pump to the tank. The line ran through the cross member for the two link rear suspension. I changed the location and stop the leak. Like LIGGAN said installers make mistakes to. What makes the differents is how your installers handle it and my friends at JIMENEZ BROTHERS CUSTOMS have been there for every dumb question I've had. I trusted them with my 1949 Chevy truck and they've never let me down. I would recommend Cain and Jobe for every part of a build. There is nothing they can't do!
If they take good care of you make damned sure that you tke care of them. Too many shops that don't back up what they do.
The Jalopy Journal
