xB- Air Ride - Bags

[Toast]

I've been thinking about air ride forever now. So I've been reading through all the forums I can find on the Scion sites. However I'll ask here too.

Has anyone recently installed Air ride?

If so, did you build your own kit? or buy one already assebled (from where?)

There are a lot of threads on all the forums out there, but a bunch of them are old, talking about air ride kits that don't exist anymore.

I'm just looking for the place to find the most up to date info on air ride for the xB.

Thanks for your help.

[Krdshrk]

PM "l0st" here - one of my NJ members (Though he's really NY). He's got air ride on his xB and can help you out.

[Toast]

I've decided to piece together a kit by myself. I can get exactly what I want that way, and I can also do it all for a lot better price.

I'm leaving some of the smaller stuff out, but here's the basic run down.

Front struts from FBIrides.com - Easy street air lift - $550
Rear Bags- RS52 slam specialties - 75$ ea
Rear bag brackets from fbirides - $85 ( I might go billet from randode - $200)
Compressor - Viair 450 - $210 Shipped from candospecialties.com
Tank - 5 gallon 8 port - $55 from gaugemag
145 pressure switch - $15 from gaugemag
water seperator - $23 from gaugemag
9 switch plexi switchbox - $20
Lots of DOT brass fittings - ~$60 fom suicidedoors
50 ft 3/8" tube - $20 gaugemag
50 ft 1/8" tube - $8 gaugemag
(2) Easystreet dual needle gauges 0-200psi -$29ea ($58 total)
(8) SMC Valves, 10mm orfice, 3/8" ports w/ brackets- $48 ea ($384 total)

Total is somewhere around $1600.00

Maybe more if I need $200 for Cusco camber plates


I have a couple questions, I posted a thread up on clubxb.com, I'll copy the questions over here to see if any of you guys have answers.

Here's my post at clubxb.com with questions:


These questions will probably be answered easily by anyone here with air ride already installed.
This is my first post on the subject, and I am sort of new to air ride. I'm looking for a little help/insight/answers. I'm working on piecing an air ride system together because there are no built kits on the market that have what I want. I have a few questions though for you experienced people out there.
I plan on using Easy Street Air Struts for the front end. I've heard there are problems with them getting stuck.
1.They can be replaced by warranty if they seize up, but is there a better product on the market yet?
2.If not, best price for Easy Street front struts I've found is $550 at FBI, anyone know of a better deal?
3.I've read about ending up with positive camber after installing the Easy Street front struts. Does it stop the rims from tucking since they are leaning outwards?
4.Do I need to get something like Cusco Camber plates to fix the problem? Or is it just optional?
---------------
A few qestions about rear bags. I'm planning on using RS52 Slam Specialties Bags. I can buy the rear bag brackets from FBI for 85$. But, I was thinking I may go with Randodes new Billet bag brackets that claim to drop another 3/4" in the rear. Does anyone have experience with Randodes brackets? Opinions/thoughts?
-------------------
I'm in Iraq right now, FAR FAR away from my scion. So I'm wondering if anyone has pictures of the area underneath the rear bumper. I am planning on installing the air tank/compressor there, and I'm curious to how it will fit. If you have pics with a tank down there, that would be even better, but if not, any pics of underneath the rear end will help.
Does a 5 gallon tank fit underneith the xb? It's 12 1/2" x 20"
I'm going with a Viair 450 Compressor. Any problems with mounting this underneith?

-----------------
Exhaust question- I have a magnaflow Gen 2 axleback exhaust from precisionmuffler.com. I noticed in the .pdf walktru of the installation for the rear bags, they removed the muffler/heat shield, then reinstalled it when they are done. For people who are on air, do you have any problems with aftermarket exhaust rubbing/dragging/getting crushed?
-----------

I thank you all in advance for any help you can provide me. I've got around 2 months left here in Iraq. I'm just trying to get the final kinks worked out of this, so I can start ordering parts in time to get home to the states.. Thanks for your help!
-James

[Toast]

I made up a diagram last night of what my set up will look like. Anyone with experience in air ride: Can you look this over, and see if everything is correct?

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i918398_DIAGRAMOFSYSTEM.jpg


Questions:



1. What fitting is used to connect 1/8" line to the dual needle gauges
2. What fitting is used to connect the 3/8" line to the front air bag struts
3. What fitting is used to connect the 3/8" line to the rear air bags?
4. What size is the line coming out of the Viair 450 compressor. The water
seperator has 3/8" female holes. So, I need a bushing with 3/8" threads on one end
(they go into the water seperator) but what connects to the compressor/what size/m/f?
5. What size fittings on pressure switch? how to connect to 1/2" port on tank?


I of course will be spending a while now trying to find answers to these questions, if you can help out it would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

James

[dirtyred]

try suicidedoors.com.
they have strutbag kits for xb's. they are great people to deal with. excellent service. thats where most of my stuff came from when i bagged my old s10.

[Toast]

dirtyread.. thanks for the help.

I know about suicidedoors.com. I am using them, FBIrides.com, Guage-Magazine store, and maybe some others.

I was hoping some people here could help me out with some more technical questions... anyone?

[moonray]

Looks like you've done your homework. I would suggest using a gauge from Dakota Digital instead of pressure type gauges. Less lines - less leaks.

[Toast]

I am trying to do the install on a budget. I MAY (dunno yet) end up going with FBIrides preconfigured kit for the xb ( I don't like their compressor or use of 1/2" everything) if it saves me money, but as of right now I am sticking with a kit I build myself.

The problem with using the digital guages is that it costs more money. I will be maticulous with my install, and when leaks do arise they will be taken care of. I promise you this much.

-------------------------------------

Other than these, most of my questions have been answered. Thank you for your help, everyone that has contributed!


Questions:



1. What fitting is used to connect 1/8" line to the dual needle gauges
2. What fitting is used to connect the 3/8" line to the front air bag struts
3. What fitting is used to connect the 3/8" line to the rear air bags?
4. What size is the line coming out of the Viair 450 compressor. The water
seperator has 3/8" female holes. So, I need a bushing with 3/8" threads on one end
(they go into the water seperator) but what connects to the compressor/what size/m/f?
5. What size fittings on pressure switch? how to connect to 1/2" port on tank?

[ROFL Box]

Valves
http://www.suicidedoors.com/38SMCValve8Pack(FreeShipping).php

with the easy street bags, you do need the cusco plates... you will end up with +3 deg camber

you will need a 3 gallon tank if you want to go under the bumper... i had a 5 gallon, and it didnt fit

[Krdshrk]

Also keep in mind - small tanks like that won't hold much air - you can't do too much with the air ride at one time...

L0st has 2x 5 gallon tanks in his trunk, I believe... and 2 pumps... he can make that box dance!

[Toast]

Also keep in mind - small tanks like that won't hold much air - you can't do too much with the air ride at one time...

L0st has 2x 5 gallon tanks in his trunk, I believe... and 2 pumps... he can make that box dance!

I was hoping I could tuck two 3-Gallon four-port tanks underneith the bumper... at least that's what I'm hoping. I drew it this way on the diagram above.


Valves
http://www.suicidedoors.com/38SMCValve8Pack(FreeShipping).php

with the easy street bags, you do need the cusco plates... you will end up with +3 deg camber

you will need a 3 gallon tank if you want to go under the bumper... i had a 5 gallon, and it didnt fit

Hey, thanks for looking out Don! $220 for 8 SMC valves is exactly the kind of thing I am looking for.

As for the bags... Cusco is the only way to go to correct the positive camber problem eh? I see the plates running around $200, just wondering if there was a cheaper way to do this.

Will the camber change as I raise the front up and down? Or is it +3 Camber all the time, slammed, or high in the air?

I'm wondereing because when I get it aligned, after the bag install, I want it at 0 Camber for minimal tire wear and normal ride height.

[moonray]

I have the FBI setup and the 1/2 lines and valves are way too much. 3/8 or even 1/4 lines and valves would be way better and much easier to control. Your correct about the compressor. There are much better units that the one supplied by FBI. As far as the camber issue goes if you modify the lower bolt holes by grinding them out to match the upper bolt holes you will be able to a grip of adjustment - ie - "free mod". I'm currently at -.5 degree negative camber but have a lot more adjustment than that.And I don't have to spend the money on camber plates. I also have had no problems with this little mod and I drive this car daily.Check out this post ...............
http://www.clubxb.com/forums/f26/10190-easy-street-easy-camber-fix/

[Toast]

Thanks Moonray! This is exactly what I'm looking for, the SAFE DIY way to save money on camber plates.

I know I don't want the 1/2" valves, that is a big thing keeping me away from the complete FBI kit, that and the compressor.

So for now I will stick to piecing the kit together...

I've pretty much got everything figured out...except the darn FITTINGS!

There are a couple spots that I just don't know what fittings go where.

These all correspond to the diagram below...

(Repost I know)

1. What fitting is used to connect 1/8" line to the dual needle gauges
2. What fitting is used to connect the 3/8" line to the front air bag struts
3. What fitting is used to connect the 3/8" line to the rear air bags?
4. What size is the line coming out of the Viair 450 compressor. The water
seperator has 3/8" female holes. So, I need a bushing with 3/8" threads on one end
(they go into the water seperator) but what connects to the compressor/what size/m/f?
5. What size fittings on pressure switch? how to connect to 1/2" port on tank?


http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i918398_DIAGRAMOFSYSTEM.jpg

I've never really asked, but two 3-gallon tanks will fit underneith won't they?

[Toast]

WOW. I just checked out that link

http://www.clubxb.com/forums/f26/10190-easy-street-easy-camber-fix/

What a great write up, and done by non other than Randode himself. That is exactly the type of thing I need to get this project on the road and completed sucessfully.

Thanks for the help moonray!

[moonray]

Yes two 3 gollan tanks will fit underneath but I don't think I ever took a pic of them after the install.:oopsp:And about the fittings I can't remember. We did more runs to Lowes than I want to count.

[Toast]

If you can buy all these fittings at Lowes...is there any reason to buy them online? I've heard that you only want to buy DOT brass fittings...does this mean I should say away from buying my stuff from Lowes?

[moonray]

They have to get there stuff from someone. Just like lowes/home depot/ ace hardware. It's pretty much all the same quality.