I'm making a shopping list for the air ride on my truck and I'm contemplating using only 4 valves. Is there a way to eliminate air "washing" from side to side with only 4 valves, or do I need to spring for 8 valves and be done with it.
if you dont want side to side,or individual wheel just go with the 4 valves. I have 2 cars bagged one has 4 valves and the other has 8. it really depends on how much extra you want to do. if you just want to lay the car out just go with 4 valves
Large car? If it is, you will need 8 valves and sway bars to make it work really nice. I just went through this! (that is with AirRide Tech stuff, I am open to other solutions.)
there is a way to use 4 valves and not have it sway. that is to use all 4 in the front. seriously. if you HAVE to go cheap run 4 in the front and two in the rear. most of your "sway" will come from the front. it can be made more managable by isolating the front bags from one another and just "T"ing the rears together with 2 valves. AirLift refers to this setup as a 3 path. a 2 path would be 4 valves and a 4 path is the best way to go and would include 8 valves (2 per bag). if you don't have a supplier yet, let me know and i can get you anything AirLift carries.
The truck is a 55 f-100 with a mustang II front end. I've already got 4 1/2" valves, 50' of 1/2" DOT line, 2 bags, 2 3 gallon tanks and a compressor. The plan is just to have the F/B motion I don't really care to have side to side but I don't want it to ride like crap since its my daily cruiser. I think I'm clear on the rest of the setup. I'll be fabbing my own brackets for the bags and shock relocation. I'll probably take KustomBuilders advice and spring for 2 more valves to isolate the front bags. The only things I'm lacking at this point are bags for the front, gauges, switches, a pressure switch, a relay, and some fittings. Thanks for the feeback guys.
Your suckin if your not sport truckin. But really just do 8 valves so you dont change your mind or "upgrade" later. plus you can level your truck when you give fat kids rides.
Just do the rear for now with what you got. the front is easy to do later. Word of advice: If you set it up but plan on taking things apart and change it later. Then just use teflon on the fittings because that stick of thread sealer is a bitch to get apart once it seals. Plus we have used teflon on juice and they didnt leak, so just dont be shy with it.
Heres my set up on the '61. 10 switches and no body roll. You definatly want 4way independent. (1) Viair 450 100% duty cycle compressor (1) Square D Adjustable pressure switch (1) 5 gallon, 10 port tank (4) contitech 1/2" ported bags. (8) 3/8" mac 380 valves (2) dual needle Viair analog gauges 3/8" lines and all nickle plated fittings Front and rear mounts. Shock relocators (4) shocks (1) 10 switch switchbox
Do 8 valves, you most likely wont be happy with the handling if you do 4. You can also do what kustombuilder said and do 4 in the front and 2 in the rear. That will work well also. I do airbags everyday, and I just got done doing a '56 F100 with a Mustang II front end in it with no sway bar. It was set up with 8- 1/2 inch valves, 2- 5 gallon tanks, 2- viar 380c compressors, and a 175psi pressure switch. It handles great. I had an S10 with a swaybar and a 4 valve set up, it was like driving my old 1970 Pontiac Bonneville convertible!!! It handled like a boat!! Spring for the extra valves, you'll be happier you did. Later and good luck.
ok, im gonna catch alot of shit here for this but i dont care, my buddy ricky (1low54ford) and i both have only 4-- 1/2'' valves, and they ride likea friggen caddilac!!! just put shocks back in it relocate them. i have seen alot of people on here talk bad about using shocks, but they are fools, shocks work great, takes the roll out of it. and stop it from floating back and forth. btw my truck is a 54 chevy 1/2 ton and ricky's is a 54 ford f-100 so believe me when i say this applies. and we drive eeeeeeevvvvvveeerryyy where out of state shows local shows and to and from work everyday
I guess I'm just going to have to set it up and see what it feels like on my truck. I'll get the 4 valve system setup first, I've already got 2 more valves on order so they'll be here if I need them. Hey GRSMNKYCUSTOMS, are you guys running simple bag over leaf or what? Thanx for all the information.
You can get away with 3 valves to the front with no air shift. One lift valve for both front bags-T fitting-1 check valve then the dump valve t'd off each front bag. With the check valves the air can't shift from side to side but with individual dumps each corner can be droped individualy. I useto have my ranger that way when it was on air.