I decided I want to bag my chevy...now do you think the bags and such on ebay are decent? like these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33586&item=2479095279&rd=1 I am just trying to get an idea together of how cheaply I could put a system together. Sorry the post is kinda vague, kinda tired
i have a set of air bags a tank and compressor that are brand new that i pulled out of a car that i will be selling. im a firm believer in building the car to ride at the lowered hight in stead of loweing it with bags so you can look cool when parked.
tell me what make model and year you got and ill tell ya what a kit for you car will cost ya... i can probably wholesale you a kit....
So what kind of car did they come out of?? How much are you asking for them.. guess this is the wrong section to post or ask questions about stuff for sale, but shoot me an email or let us know if you put it up on here for sale. thanks,
Cheapest place I found that carries quality parts is Suicide Doors.com . I picked up most of my system from there and it cost me under $600 for a 4 corner setup on 1/2 line. Although I did get my valves off ebay stupid cheap, so that helped. But you'll still walk away with a good system for a good price.
Just a little friendly advice. Take it or not. Find a shop around you that has a good rep (usually in the minitruck crowd). Go talk to them and if their good guys they should be happy to give you some tips on how to do it right and what to look out for. It is rarely just a "bolt on the cups" and go situation. I have a shop on the side and about 85% of my business is fixin shit that the guy who does it the cheapest does or that they've messed up themselves. Any decent car guy can put them in correctly but all I'm sayin is do your research so that you don't have a system that rides like crap, leaks, or worse yet blows bags at highway speed. If you don't feel completely confident that you can do it correctly let a shop do it or you can usually find someone like me that does it on the side more for the satisfaction than the money. Good luck.
Some thing that keeps your ride from ending up in a ditch is not something that you want to buy based just on price, this is something you should not skimp on. You only have to buy a quality part once.
Airrde Tech. has it all figured out. They aren't the cheap, but your shits right when your done, and safe.
AirRide Tech makes good stuff and does specialize in old cars but it can be done just as well, ALOT cheaper with as good and in some cases better quality stuff. AirRideTEch really only has a big following in the old car crowds. Don't get me wrong, they make good stuff for what they are trying to do and the crowd they target. Most shops that specialize in air suspensions and extreme lowering don't use much of their stuff because it's not cost effective. Not bashing them, but there are alot more options than them.
The nice thing about Arride TEch is they sell you a bolt on application, it makes life easiers is all.
You can also get the same air bags or BETTER using your local diesel service !! I just took the firestone #s into them and they pulled out the catalog and BAM !!!! Also got my airline and fittings from them at a fraction of the cost ! Of course this was easier for me with the nearest air store being a couple of hours away.....And there wasnt a kit available for what was going on under my car !!
My buddy got his bags here www.masterimagecustoms.com they use the firestone bags also. They have some nice stuff.
I'll tell you what. My first system was from Air Ride Tech. Good stuff, but very pricey. The nice part about them is their valves. They come in a nice, clean, easy to work with manifold that is basicly pre wired. They charge out the ass for their bags and braketry though. But they do put time into their R&D for their kits. Also, their shockwave coilovers are a nice piece too. Had them on my last car and they handled pretty well. Made install a snap too. I've used MIC's manual valves as well. I liked them, but I've heard mixed reviews. Some have said they wear out and leak kinda quick. I didn't have mine long enough to find out. They've also gone under new ownership since I last delt with them and people have been complaining the parts they are selling now aren't as good anymore. Also a bit on the pricey side. I'm not a big fan of Firestone bags anymore. They do the job but they are kinda flimsy compared to the other bags on the market. Also a couple bucks more then the compotition. I run Air Lift Easy streets and I'm very happy. They are designed to take 200 psi, and have an intigrated bump stop feature. They also come with this huge plate system for mounting that acts as a gaurd for the bag when fully compresed. I welded them on to my lower control arms for the mounting point and it worked out really well. You're best bet is to build the kit yourself. If you know what you're after performance wise and what to look for you can seriously walk away with a good setup with in reason.
Go to Firestones site they are the largest manufactuer of Air bags and springs I installed air rides pieces and parts in my daughters blazer and having to replace the bags 4 times I found the the prices went from 100.00 per bag From air ride tech to 50.00 at a local dealer the bags air ride sell are nothing more than firestones RV bags also look to truck dealers at the bags that are used to mount the cabs Air Ride tech sucks just ask me why
[ QUOTE ] I installed air rides pieces and parts in my daughters blazer and having to replace the bags 4 times [/ QUOTE ] dude WTF Why are you replacing bags so much?
Thanks for all of the replies...I will check the local firestone dealer. Do you think that JC whitney's stuff is any good? I'll also need to find all of the fittings, lines and tanks.
Also, I am wanting it to be independant, so that all 4 bags have their own adjustability, and not sharing air.
[ QUOTE ] Also, I am wanting it to be independant, so that all 4 bags have their own adjustability, and not sharing air. [/ QUOTE ] Thats a very good point. When you have all four corners seperate, you dont have to worry about all the air rushing to one side when you take a corner and getting a ton of body roll.
I am not a big fan of bags, either, But the cheapest parts you cn get are those that do the job and last for a while with little or no maintenance. My advice is not to worry about initial cost, but go for the long haul. If the cheap set has to be replaced often, it will cost you more in the long run. My opinions are cheap. I give them away, regularly.
I wasnt a huge fan of them, but I want to be able to slam it...but still raise it enough to get over things
do not cut costs when getting bags......i ONLY trust firestones.....think about it. your life and everyone on the road around you depend on a good set up and installation....find a reputable shop....not the cheapest!.....i was against bags for a long time.afer seeing my buddies cars either break and allmost kill them. or always having to fix em..then i found THE guy ....talked to him , saw his work and did some checking on his past customers....now i feel safe. it costs alot to do it right .....but then again if you save your money there you will have money left over for funeral...harsh but true.....please dont take the cheap way out....oh yeah by the way....i love having my car bagged.....
after the sweet taste of a super bargin fades the bitter taste of poor quality remains...also applies t tattoos ask my freind with the blob on his shoulder.. however cheaper is not always lesser well thats my 1/2 cent
i would recomend checkin out slam specialties bags. they are much more durable than firestone, and only slightly more expensive. the reason they are more durable is because of the way they are attached to the end plates. firestones are more prone to splitting away from the bases. just remember that blown bags are no fun. but for that really low look, bags are the only way to go
Blown good bags are due to 2 things. To much pressure or incorrect installation. THe smallest firestone used for vehicles is rates at 2500lbs a piece at 100 lbs of pressure. the most common are rated at 2600 and 2800 respectively. You can hop a car on them and not blow them. THey blow when hopping due to to much pressure trying to get them faster. Ekstensive metalworks hauls a 60ft enclosed trailer with a Hummer and another vehicle plus all their displays, etc... behind a dually with 2800's on the back all over the country. It has NEVER blown a bag. THey have broken the 2-link bars and still did not pop a bag. SlamSpecialties makes great bags but they are stiffer and don't ride as well. Alot depends on where you mount them( over the rear, on the links). Firestones have been used in indusrial applications such as semi's, dumptrucks, and mass transit since the 40's or so. There are even subways cars that ride on Firestone bags. Also most of your big cadillacs and lincolns as well as Tahoes etc... ride on air. They are very durable when installed CORRECTLY. FireStone, Slam Specialties, and Contitech all make great bags. I have seen way to many AirRide Tech bags blow for no apparent reason. As a rule if the bag has metal straps around the top it WILL give you trouble. I ahve replaced piles of them and the brackets that come with them.Thats why I say find a shop with a good reputation, look at their work and talk to people that have had stuff they did on the road for a few years. Then either see if they will help you or just have them do it. You will be much happier in the end and all our families will be safe.
The Jalopy Journal
