Hunty's Jeep JK Airbag Suspension
08-29-2014, 04:50 AM
#1
JK Newbie
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sydney, OZ - Australia
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08-29-2014, 12:35 PM
#5
I had air springs on my previous Jeep (in the picture at the left).
4 air valves (toggles) controlled each wheel separately – which allowed body adjustments for any situation.
Stock height for DD, and continuous lift choice, up to about 9” lift. The pressure needed for more than 5”-6” made them too hard to my taste.
Ride quality was what every metal coil could only dream of: Air springs are the ultimate progressive (in fact, exponential) springs, as they become really gradually harder.
Near the end of the travel they were strong enough to prevent bump stop hits, even when sprinting at 50+ on trails.
Other Jeeps could not reach that speed on that trail, they got way too bouncy – while I could have gone at an even higher speed if the trail didn’t have a sharp turn. The Jeep felt completely comfortable and controllable, and bounced like a Jeep with a good lift at 20 mph.
BUT…
The suspension & steering geometries are set for a specific lift.
You can’t have correct geometry at both 0” and at 3” or 4” lift – this means eventual damages.
I sold the Jeep when I had a tempting chance to get a Rubi.
I never had any problem caused by the air springs, but I was careful with it – lifted only when necessary and then lowered it.
Still, the damage accumulates, and it’s only a question of time before the new owner will have to repair or replace parts.
The bottom line is that air springs are terrific, if used at a fixed lift, and if you're willing to replace a simple metal coil with a complicated system, which may eventually require servicing. A metal coil never leaks.
4 air valves (toggles) controlled each wheel separately – which allowed body adjustments for any situation.
Stock height for DD, and continuous lift choice, up to about 9” lift. The pressure needed for more than 5”-6” made them too hard to my taste.
Ride quality was what every metal coil could only dream of: Air springs are the ultimate progressive (in fact, exponential) springs, as they become really gradually harder.
Near the end of the travel they were strong enough to prevent bump stop hits, even when sprinting at 50+ on trails.
Other Jeeps could not reach that speed on that trail, they got way too bouncy – while I could have gone at an even higher speed if the trail didn’t have a sharp turn. The Jeep felt completely comfortable and controllable, and bounced like a Jeep with a good lift at 20 mph.
BUT…
The suspension & steering geometries are set for a specific lift.
You can’t have correct geometry at both 0” and at 3” or 4” lift – this means eventual damages.
I sold the Jeep when I had a tempting chance to get a Rubi.
I never had any problem caused by the air springs, but I was careful with it – lifted only when necessary and then lowered it.
Still, the damage accumulates, and it’s only a question of time before the new owner will have to repair or replace parts.
The bottom line is that air springs are terrific, if used at a fixed lift, and if you're willing to replace a simple metal coil with a complicated system, which may eventually require servicing. A metal coil never leaks.
Last edited by GJeep; 08-29-2014 at 10:55 PM.
08-29-2014, 12:45 PM
#6
JK Super Freak
That is a very good point actually. I had brief visions of low riding it in town and lifting it for the trail but your point makes that impossible for the long term.
08-31-2014, 09:00 AM
#7
