Airlift 60743 with LC coils lift

[Seanz0rz]

so i got my airlift 60743 (spec'd for the stock 4runner) kit in the mail. i opened them up and looked, they seemed a bit short. i went and measured from the upper spring pocket to the spring perch on the axle and found a distance of 11" (the truck is sitting mostly level, if not slightly low in the rear). i measured the uninflated bag and rubber spacer together, and came up with a measurement of about 9 inches.

so my question: with the longer FZJ80 front coils in the rear of my truck, should i have purchased air bags that were longer? is the bag going to extend the extra 2 inches to keep me level when im fully loaded? i read every thread on the subject i could find before i ordered, and i seemed assured that the 60743 kit would work just fine with the lift coils.

my truck details: 98 with NO center spring bumpstops (the recall was never performed)
front coils from a FZJ80 landcruiser in the rear of my truck

i could really use your help guys! thanks!

[bamachem]

see if you can get a set of the conical bumpstops from a dealer (since the recall was never done) or pick some up from a member or a junkyard. take a hack saw and cut off about two of the "pucks" on the bumpstops and then intall them as normal. they will also give you 3/8" of lift as well since they go between the body and the top of the coil. the bag will then contact the shortened bumpstop, and the bag will act an an ajustable "bumper" for it of sorts.

[Seanz0rz]

i want to be clear. the bags, uninflated, should touch both the lower perch and the upper spring pocket, correct?

what do you think my chances are of going to toyota and actually getting the recall part with out them installing it? i dont want them touching my vehicle.

[bamachem]

you are correct on the fitment of the bags. when installing on a stock height 99 (1" taller than others), you cut off about 3 pucks and the bag is slightly compressed. when you air them up to 20#, you get about 1/2" lift, and when you go up to 40#, you can get over an inch.

if you're a couple inches taller, then just cut off fewer pucks.

i honestly doubt they'll give them to you unless you know someone there. you'll probably find some from a member, or pay $20 for some at a junk yard.

[Seanz0rz]

i just dont want to limit my articulation for the rear buy adding so much material in the springs that they act as a new, much longer bumpstop.

anyone know of a longer bag with a similar diameter?

edit: ill call airlift on monday (not open on the weekends) and see about getting a bag that is 4.5 inches in diameter and 2 inches longer than the 60743 kit.

[4x4mike]

I have a '99 and the airlift bags. I think Toyota has 3 different bump stops for my year (and highlander edition), I believe I have the middle ones if that means anything. I had to cut about half the bump stop off according to the instructions. I have run 20 psi in my bags since the day I got them and they've been great. Currently if you go out and looked at mine they fill the open gap between the bump stop and the perch. If I deflate them, jack up the rear 3 or 4 inches and inflate them there is a space between the bags and the bump stop. After a few miles of driving they slide or conform to fill the gap. If I were you I'd get the bump stops you need from the recall and go from there. Did you kit come with black hard plastic/urethane bumper thingies about 2.5 inches tall? Mine did and I didn't use them. If you want them, pay shipping and they are yours.

[Seanz0rz]

thanks mike, you have a PM waiting for you.

[CYi5]

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e194/CYi5/4runner/DSC_0242.jpg

Crappy picture...but I did what others are suggesting, more to fit trim packers correctly, but ya, i got the stock bumps off another member and cut some of the pucks off.

The airbags fill up the whole area between coil bucket, rubber isolator, stock bump. I've never noticed any reduce in flex, i can still tuck like a champ.
these are 890's, but they've sagged quite a bit and I will be switching to LC's next year without any worry about the bags.

[4x4mike]

i just dont want to limit my articulation for the rear buy adding so much material in the springs that they act as a new, much longer bumpstop.

My springs are stock and look a lot shorter than most I see on here and online. I have the portion of the bumpstop I was supposed to keep and the bag at 20 psi and have plenty of articulation. I was jumping my junk in pismo all day before I realized I had the bags in there full of air. They are really tough and have put up with me. Here are my landings.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/DSC_0510.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/DSC_0509.jpg

[bamachem]

They won't limit stuffing a wheel unless you have them aired up pretty firm. I would have mine between 10PSI and 30PSI on the street, and when I went wheeling, I would just pull the schraeder valve from the fill stem and let them "breathe".

[4x4mike]

Sean, they went out in yesterdays mail.

[Seanz0rz]

excellent mike!!! thank you! ill try to install them saturday afternoon after my offroading for the day!

[slosurfer]

.....I would just pull the schraeder valve from the fill stem and let them "breathe".


That's a great idea. :thumbup: I plan on getting these for my van and wondered about that.

[Seanz0rz]

ideally at some point i will create a system to inflate the bags independantly from the cab. so im less likely to flop the vehicle(fill the low side, dump the high side pressure), and idea that will be the basis of my senior project.

[slosurfer]

Sean, a guy in my local club has a Rubicon with that kind of system but it is with all 4 corners. He even has it set up where it lowers itself when it shuts off to make it easier to get in and out. I think his has a joystick like thing in the middle. It's cool but annoying when he's right behind you on the trail because the air noise makes you think you lost a bead or tore a sidewall LOL till you get used to it. :)

[CYi5]

ideally at some point i will create a system to inflate the bags independantly from the cab. so im less likely to flop the vehicle(fill the low side, dump the high side pressure), and idea that will be the basis of my senior project.


Like the crosslinked airbags on land rovers?

[Seanz0rz]

i havent bothered looking at the landrovers. basically id want to be able to increase the air pressure in one while decreasing the air in the other (or flattening it out completely) to push down a side of the axle to maintain stability on extreme off-camber situations.

[slosurfer]

Yeah Sean, that's how this guys Rubicon is. He can lean it into the hills, lower the front, etc...

[Seanz0rz]

yeah, on the 4runner it would just be the rear axle (i dont want to mess with the fronts) but on my senior project it will be a rather traditional suspension coupled with a secondary hydraulic setup that keeps the majority of the vehicle as level as possible.

hope to get this in this weekend. writeup to come! also going to call airlift tomorrow and see if they make bags that better fit our application for the rear of the 3rd gen with lc coils.

[xcmountain80]

I talked to Airlift about this exact issue and they told me I needed to measure the interior dia. and the length and shazzam they can tell me what will fit and send em out.

Aaron

[Seanz0rz]

4.5 diameter, 8.5 or 9 inches in length.

[xcmountain80]

4.5 diameter, 8.5 or 9 inches in length.
Cool when I get $100 I'll order my new ones, though I might need to add limit straps the keep the nipples on them this time around. I broke one bag flexin on a trail.

Aaron

[Seanz0rz]

ok got the bags in, didnt get to take any pics as i was fighting a falling sun.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/IMG_0968.jpg

and here are my valves, mounted using a stock hole in the bumper brackets:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/IMG_0969.jpg

SUPER easy install, only took me about an hour and that included looking around for some tools i didnt have handy. also took the time to replace some super worn bushings on my upper shock mounts.

truck rides so much better with them in. i have them at about 12 PSI now, and might lower it a bit for every day driving. the spacers worked out perfectly, thanks again mike, i owe ya a beer!

[4x4mike]

Cool to see the spacers in action. It' also nice to see the underside of a 4runner that isn't covered in rust. I hate rust and I don't know why, but it bugs the crap out of me when I see pics of people's stuff covered in the cancer.

[YotaFun]

Cool to see the spacers in action. It' also nice to see the underside of a 4runner that isn't covered in rust. I hate rust and I don't know why, but it bugs the crap out of me when I see pics of people's stuff covered in the cancer.


Hey Hey Hey! Some of us that live in the rust belt can't help it, as much as we try to tackle it, it still finds a way back.

Anyway, Sean it looks good, you will have to give us more feed back as time goes on
and you get a few miles on them, really looking to put these in myself eventually.

[strykersd]

excellent mike!!! thank you! ill try to install them saturday afternoon after my offroading for the day!


Good to see you're excited about taking the 4runner out again. So when are we all doing Big Bear this year?

[Seanz0rz]

i was thinking maybe an august run. i have a couple of events up north in sept (one being pismo, the other up in bay area) so ill have to see how funds are looking in late summer. also there is a big maybe on a death valley run so well have to see about that when the time comes.

ill have to consult with the rest of the SD crew and some local people and see when we want to do something.

[xcmountain80]

ok got the bags in, didnt get to take any pics as i was fighting a falling sun.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/IMG_0968.jpg

and here are my valves, mounted using a stock hole in the bumper brackets:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/IMG_0969.jpg

SUPER easy install, only took me about an hour and that included looking around for some tools i didnt have handy. also took the time to replace some super worn bushings on my upper shock mounts.

truck rides so much better with them in. i have them at about 12 PSI now, and might lower it a bit for every day driving. the spacers worked out perfectly, thanks again mike, i owe ya a beer!


Do you have to run that lower puck in there?

Aaron

[Seanz0rz]

yes, i needed the two spacers for the bags to fit. if you call them and get the proper size bags then you wont.

bags are working great. ive loaded up the truck with 4 people and alot of gear and they kept the ride height and driving dynamics consistant with the vehicle unloaded.

[xcmountain80]

yes, i needed the two spacers for the bags to fit. if you call them and get the proper size bags then you wont.

bags are working great. ive loaded up the truck with 4 people and alot of gear and they kept the ride height and driving dynamics consistant with the vehicle unloaded.


So was the 4.5" dia and 9" length correct (I should just go measure the damn thing) not likes its not in the driveway.

Aaron

[Seanz0rz]

Yes. 4.5 dia. And 9 inches long with one black puck would be perfect.

[xcmountain80]

No I meant the measurement w/o the puck. I don't want no stinking puck, what are you trying to do limit my travel more?

Aaron

[4x4mike]

Even if you don't want a puck your application may require one. The 4runner bags fit many years of 4runners. Sean has non stock coils so he has to go custom.

[Seanz0rz]

that puck will not limit your travel. you will fully compress the shock and hit the frame mounted bump stop long before that puck comes into play.

my recommendation for bag dimensions remains at 4.5 dia. and 9 inches in length. you could try to find a bag that is 2.5 inches longer, but i do not recommend that.

[xcmountain80]

Even if you don't want a puck your application may require one. The 4runner bags fit many years of 4runners. Sean has non stock coils so he has to go custom.


I to am not using stock coil springs as they are for the front end of a Land Cruiser. I'ved used the "4Runner" option from airlift and tore off one of the nipples as they aren't quite as effective given the larger diameter of the spring on the FZJ coil vs. the OE 4Runner coil. There is no problem running these full length as that is how they are on my dads Tahoe from top to bottom and we tow with that vehicle heavily, though we don't rock crawl with it so that might change the dynamic of the air bag when the spring flexes out.

Aaron