I thought I'd give everyone a quick run down on fitting rear airbags to my tow vehicle. I chose Coil-Rite airbags due to good reports that I had heard about them and the suitabilty to fit my raised 2'' springs.I fitted the airbags about a month or so after fitting the new coils and shocks.
This thread is relevant to 100 series Cruisers but the princible is similar to most makes of vehicles with coil suspension.
This is the fitting kit, the 2 donut looking things are the spaces required for the 2'' raised coils
After jacking the car up and making sure it was safley sitting on jack stands it was time to remove the rear coils which involved removing the sway bar mounts, diff breather, lower shocker mounts and brakeline bracket as not to damage the brakeline. (Very important not to strecth the brakeline!!)
Once this was done the bump stop needed to be removed to make way for the airbag and airbag line. the airbag now acts as the bumpstop.
The next job was to drill out the bumpstop mount to allow the location and postioning of the airbag and airline. This is done carefully with a holesaw.
When feeding the airline through a suitable location also needs to be found to mount the valves so they are easy to get to but also can't get damaged. The airline also needs to be protected from any moving suspension parts so it can't rub through. I unsulated my airline in flexible electrical conduit. Another thing to consider is making sure it isn't near your exhaust. I secured my airline with cable ties but allowed a little movement for suspension flex. Also clean any surface that the airbag will be mouted against.
This thread is relevant to 100 series Cruisers but the princible is similar to most makes of vehicles with coil suspension.
This is the fitting kit, the 2 donut looking things are the spaces required for the 2'' raised coils
After jacking the car up and making sure it was safley sitting on jack stands it was time to remove the rear coils which involved removing the sway bar mounts, diff breather, lower shocker mounts and brakeline bracket as not to damage the brakeline. (Very important not to strecth the brakeline!!)
Once this was done the bump stop needed to be removed to make way for the airbag and airbag line. the airbag now acts as the bumpstop.
The next job was to drill out the bumpstop mount to allow the location and postioning of the airbag and airline. This is done carefully with a holesaw.
When feeding the airline through a suitable location also needs to be found to mount the valves so they are easy to get to but also can't get damaged. The airline also needs to be protected from any moving suspension parts so it can't rub through. I unsulated my airline in flexible electrical conduit. Another thing to consider is making sure it isn't near your exhaust. I secured my airline with cable ties but allowed a little movement for suspension flex. Also clean any surface that the airbag will be mouted against.
