Baggin' A B

[Big Vdub]

I have been looking for an air bag kit for my B. Just looking for some suggestions for the best kit for the money. I don't care about any name brands, just want the most bang for the buck. :thanks: :!:

[mafiamike]

From what I hear, you can build your own kit that's better and less expensive than one you would buy. I think Shannon knows a thing or two about it, Clay's a good resource. Jeremy's gotta know a thing or two with as much trouble as he's had with his. Roger might know some stuff about air suspension, cause he works on Land Rovers.

[JDMBox05]

whatever you do, DO NOT, i repeat, DO NOT get the easy street air ride bags, the sleeve bags are not a good call!

[mafiamike]

Clay had shitty luck with Easy Street too. Apparently it's not so easy to use your car on the street if you've got 'em.

[trebor]

Don't get the easy street bags! :oops:

[mafiamike]

Dude, Vaughn...I'm sure I can figure it out...I mean, if I can do door inserts and my own LED cupholders, I'm sure I could make a DIY bag kit for you. It can't be much harder then glueing fabric to plastic or soldering a few wires and a switch, right?

[trebor]

From what I've seen it's not too complicated at all, it's just a matter of knowing what design is most reliable.

[mafiamike]

Don't semi's have air ride? Or is it a hydraulic system? They have somethin', don't they

[Big Vdub]

Don't semi's have air ride? Or is it a hydraulic system? They have somethin', don't they
They have air suspensions, but I don't work on them. Also you're not dealing with all of the solenoids and stuff. I would like a DIY anyways, so I can buy pieces when I can afford them

[h82goslo]

Bags you just gotta shop for. I found strut bags as low as 180 each. Cant remember where though. SMC makes good valves and I think there were used in Semi Trucks first so maybe you can get a discount on em. Switches dont really matter just get a good 3 way switch. Then theres Line I personally like hard line (copper, Stainless Steel) However its pricey and harder to work with. Most people use the plastic air line. 3/8" fittings would be plenty fast enough unless you wanna hop. Viar makes the best compressors hands down. Other than that a relay for the compressor to keep it from buring up and thats all the parts. Oh and rear bags which could be a standard Firestone pancake bag.

[Big Vdub]

Cool, I'm gonna have to get with ya so we can check this shit out. I am gonna but a little at a time. Just want to know what to buy. Hopefully have it done by Asylum

[mafiamike]

Man...the way Shannon explained that makes me wanna do it real bad.

[2toned_camoxb]

Shannon I need to get some of that info too. I want to be bagged by June 17th. :mrorange:

[Big Vdub]

Shannon I will try to get with you some time next week if that's cool. I still have remove my tint so I can get up there and get it redone.

[h82goslo]

No problem Vdub. Id love to help anyone bag thier Scions. its all "bolt on" mostly and way under a grand. I found strut bags "new" on ebay for 375 for both. A Viar Compressor sill run 200 or so those are the most expensive parts. switches and gauges can get expensive. Rear bags cost 45-65 each and the valve are like 45 bucks. for single way and 65 for 2 way. I recomend 2 way makes a cleaner setup. If anyone need help chasing parts or advise just let me know.

[1lowxb]

what about this kit this is the one i was gonna order today...

http://www.fbirides.com/product.asp?idno=256840

[h82goslo]

Stay away from sleeve style bags!!! Just my 2 cents.

[FrankenScion]

Stay away from sleeve style bags!!! Just my 2 cents.

Word, Clay has has more problems with sleeve-style bags than anything.

Go with a pancake, or convaluted, style bag.

[1lowxb]

so the kit would be ok just swap out the sleeve style bag up front and get something else is that something that can be done?

[FrankenScion]

If you were going to swap stuff out you would be better of getting a different kit or piecing a kit together.
When I get mine I will be piecing a kit together.

[FrankenScion]

Here's a kit I was looking at: http://www.airbagit-store.com/product_list.asp?id=2490

[whatmovesu]

Right here let's bag my A.

[FrankenScion]

We'd love to bag an A, buy the stuff and bring it up.

We've been dying for someone to step up so we can do the install.

[whatmovesu]

What's the cheapest way to hook up the A.

[FrankenScion]

Probably the same as a B, Clay and I have looked around a bit already.
Since he has already played guinnea pig on what works and what doesn't we know what to get.

Looks like minimum price would be around $1200.

[whatmovesu]

Damn tooth. otherwise that would be something to look at. I will let you know in the summer but sounds awesome.

[JDMBox05]

definately stay away from sleeve bags though... i've learned my lesson. I'm looking for some pancake bags for the back and some replacements for the front, but it's still gonna be a while before i can get them. Jon, i didn't know you were gonna bag?

[trebor]

Me either, what happened to the coilover idea?

[Nvdisxb]

what kinda probs have guys been runnin into with the sleeve style bags? i ordered mine while i was deployed and if i woulda known that there have been so many probs with em i woulda gone with the pancake style bags.

[FrankenScion]

The sleeve style bags pop. And it's always at a bad time,

Ok, they don't actually pop but the sleeves work themselves out. Clay has gone through 3 or 4 rear bags and 1 front bag.

Screw coilovers, they aren't any fun.


200th post! :md:

[Nvdisxb]

jon- i was checkin out that kit from chassistech that you were lookin at, and if you were to piece a kit together that fron strut bag set-up they have shown is listed at 799! that shits crazy man, have you found that set-up anywhere else at a better price? bc if thats the case on the sleeve style then ive got to get rid of those somehow and find some to replace them.

[whatmovesu]

799 Damn. I just got my tax check but have to spend it on my root canal.

[FrankenScion]

Shannon knows places to get stuff cheaper, we need to get him posting on this thread.

Clay has a lot of info on this stuff too but he is still MIA.

[Nvdisxb]

does anybody even know where clays been :hiding: ?

[Krazylowgsx]

Word up people. I'm alive... just been busy with other stuff.

Anyway, i'm sure everyone has been waiting for my reply on the bag topic so here goes.........


First and foremost, DO NOT buy sleeve bags! Everyone has said this, and i'll say it again! However, EASYSTREET doesn't not produce the rear sleeve bags any longer. they have convoluted (sp) bags now. they compress to 2.8", the same as the Slams on my car. mine won't drop as low because of the fbi brackets i used, but i would trade reliability over dropping another .75"s. I asked them to send me a rear set of the bags to test out, but he told me that my slams were better.... at least he's honest!

I was the first (says ES) to have bag blow on the front. i'm sure its a line of shit, and they tell everyone that, but i could also be wrong. Anyways, the sleeve bags have alway pulled out of the clamps, and its always been the bottom clamp.

I must say (in ES defense) that Jim took care of me! he sent me an xtra front BAG, and an additional ENTIRE front air strut assembly... FREE of charge...not even shipping.

ok, now for produtcs...... I'm sure you can find some FRONT air struts on ebay, or some off the wall place for cheap, but reliabiltiy is the inportant thing. i know sleeves aren't the best, but the custome service that i recieved from ES kept me as a customer... and a happy customer at that.

REAR bags can be fount pretty cheap... i actually bought 3 when i was buying parts. I used slams, and many other have as well. Firestones, Slams, and Cointech will all work with the fbi brackets.

TANKS are all over the dam place. i still have a 5 gallon tanks in my garage i never used. i used two 2 gallon tanks.

COMPRESSORS can be very expensive, but you can also find cheap ones. When i was searching for my compressor, i based my search on a 200psi 100% duty cycle. I ended up with two Air Zenith compressors. my tanks can fill from
0psi to 175psi in 2 minutes! Thats fast, but also 1/2 the price of some of the "kits" i see out there for sale.

The LINE that most people use for air ride didn't work out very well for me! I hate the hard stupid line that i can't bend in the direction i need it to with out kinking and shit. I hate that, and it pissed me off so bad that i went another route. I ended up using just normal 3/8" air line that you would find in a mechanic shop that runs thier air tools. Its like $20 for 50ft at home depot! Shannon didn't agree with this when he stopped by during the install, but i have not had a single problem with it! Ask Jon... he'll tell you. he knows i've had bags blow out on me, but never a line issue.

I used barbbed FITTINGS, and hose clamps, and i swear that i spent an entire day with a spray bottle searching for leaks. of course nothing is perfect the 1st time, so i'll admit that i had a few leaks, but i fixed them, and haven't aquired any to this day!

I used 8 chrome 3/8" VALVES from ES. If i was to do it over, i'd get a 2-way valve for each corner.

I have a chrome SWITCH BOX with 7 switches, and fits in my hand.... i hate the big ass switch boxes. you could just get some momentary switched for cheap and wire them up.


*****Just a note to everyone that thinks they need 1/2" valves and line..... The fittings on my tanks are 1/4". thats right...1/4". my line and valves are 3/8", and my shit lifts fast.

fell free to ask questions. I'm not air ride expert, actually, this is the 1st vehicle that i've ever installed air ride on, but like someone told me....

"if you know nothing at first, you'll know everything in the end"

[Big Vdub]

That's awesome, thanks for all of the info. Shannon had said something about hard lines, but that seemed like a pain in the ass to me as well. On your air line, is it just a regular air hose, and if so what kind of coating does it have on it. If it is a plastic coated line, I would be worried about it getting hard and cracking. I can get air lines for free from work. They are all Good Year rubber and don't get stiff. Sound like I am going to piece it together for sure. Again thanks for all of the info.

[Big Vdub]

Also if the tanks are running 1/4 inch fittings, wouldn't make sense to run 1/2 line anyway. I wouldn't think it would help much due to the restriction and going from1/4 up to 1/2 is just another weak spot in the system.

[Nvdisxb]

That's awesome, thanks for all of the info. Shannon had said something about hard lines, but that seemed like a pain in the ass to me as well. On your air line, is it just a regular air hose, and if so what kind of coating does it have on it. If it is a plastic coated line, I would be worried about it getting hard and cracking. I can get air lines for free from work. They are all Good Year rubber and don't get stiff. Sound like I am going to piece it together for sure. Again thanks for all of the info.

do you think we might be able to work something out about airline, bc that is pretty much the only thing i need to get before i can install my bags when i get my car back from the shop?? :ponder:

[Krazylowgsx]

its just normal air line, the rubber stuff from home depot. its rated at 800psi

[Big Vdub]

do you think we might be able to work something out about airline, bc that is pretty much the only thing i need to get before i can install my bags when i get my car back from the shop?? :ponder:
I don't know. I say I am getting it free, I am taking it and not getting caught. Not stealing just borrowing without the intent of returning it. I will see what I can do though.

[Nvdisxb]

that is definately the cheaper way to go. anything would help

[Nvdisxb]

its just normal air line, the rubber stuff from home depot. its rated at 800psi

might be able to get it there clay.. but FREEBIES are always welcome where i come from :kid:
i do appreciate ALL the helpful advice you have been giving us on this topic, keeping us from making painful/ pricey mistakes. :up:

[Krazylowgsx]

i made al the pricey mistakes myself already... thats why i have what i have.

[Nvdisxb]

hey clay who did you go through when you got the bags that are currently on the car and what kind are you using again?

[elegancecustomz]

i had universal airstruts...donot buy...........
ES has been good to me since the first day......i think its the lowest you will go for a bolt on kit......
i got mine around 5 hundred but have not had any problems..at all.....
there is Xbox here in houston she wan'ts to bag hers......keep us posted with prices and details

[Krazylowgsx]

Nestor, you should know pricing. hell, you've had to buy new front air struts, and a new compressor. I would suggest you install a water trap also.... you know why :P

Matt- I have Easystreet on the front, and it drops low... i bet i could go a bit lower if i had diffrent offset wheels.
the rear i have Slams RS52's and i bought them from fbimini.com. I bought 3 of those bags, and a set of brackets for the rear.

[Nvdisxb]

Matt- I have Easystreet on the front, and it drops low... i bet i could go a bit lower if i had diffrent offset wheels. the rear i have Slams RS52's and i bought them from fbimini.com. I bought 3 of those bags, and a set of brackets for the rear.

where did you pick up the easystreet setup at?

[Nvdisxb]

Matt- I have Easystreet on the front, and it drops low... i bet i could go a bit lower if i had diffrent offset wheels. the rear i have Slams RS52's and i bought them from fbimini.com. I bought 3 of those bags, and a set of brackets for the rear.

i just looked at their site clay.. they dont have the RS series listed theyve got the RE, HE and XS series listed do u know which would work best?

[JDMBox05]

yeah, i'd like that info also, i looked and didn't see the bags you said would be there. I just got a phone call from my friend back home who is keeping the box for me and he said the back right bag just blew out. F'ing pissed right about now

[mafiamike]

Fuck yo bags nigga!

[JDMBox05]

fuck yo shag nigga!

[mafiamike]

What shag? Shag is so last season...it's '06 bitch.

[JDMBox05]

well then fuck yo chain steering wheel nigga