AirLift Air Coil install...

[darreli]

So I installed some Airlift air coils in the rear of the car today. I was originally going to try some spring rubbers but someone told me I should check into some "helper bags" and I found Airlift has a set specific to our car. I wanted to stiffen up the rear end at the track to try to keep the weight on the front wheels for longer. I'm hoping this will allow me to leave a little harder and improve on my 60ft time.

Didnt really need to do an install how-to, they're pretty straight forward, but I know Mike likes how-to's so here it is. (I apologize in advance for the pics, they're from my phone).

1. Jack up the rear of the car and put it on jackstands.

2. Remove the rear wheels.

3. The instructions tell you to remove the shock absorber lower hardware and the swaybar endlink. There are pics of both below. After taking this stuff apart I didnt think I had to on so I tried without it on the otherside....I was wrong...gives just enough space to fit the bags in. (Not gonna lie..they were kinda m'fers to get in there..but with a little patience....)

The nut on the sway bar is 15mm (you also need an open end wrench on the back side) and the shock absorber bolt is 18mm





4. Again, the instructions are pretty good. You now exhaust the air out of the bag, replace the rubber cap on the stem to keep it deflated and squeeze it into the coil spring (This was the hardest part of the install).



5. After you get it in there its time to route the airlines. On our car we have a hole in the top of the upper control arm so you place the bag "stem up" and the airline feeds through the top. They are hooked to the bag over a barbed stem and spring clamped on.

6. I ran the airlines across the control arm and into the spare tire well. Here's a pic with one valve installed and a hole on the other side.



I installed it here because if they work like I want them to I may put a on board compressor in this space as well and run a wireless controller. After the install it's so easy to just hook a compressor up here at the track if I want. Takes about 1 second to inflate to 35 psi (Max) so I'm thinking I will probably skip the controller all together.

7. That's about it...connect the rear shock absorber (a jack under the control arm helps here) torque that bolt to 129 ft/lbs. and connect the sway bar 60 ft/lbs

8. Lower the car back down and inflate the bags to 35psi and check for leaks. Raises the car, maybe, 1/2 inch with the airbags fully inflated.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

For Darrell,

How long did the install take from beginning to end?

They would be great for me, especially when we overload the rear on our trips back north.

Will be interesting to see if you can actually keep more weight on front. I'm thinking eventually you will have to put different types of tires or large variations in air pressure, front vs rear, to get them both to spin together.

 

[darreli]

Yes in fact I really do like reading the "how-to's"......

So to that end Darrell....... great job pal

H&R put this same set on their project SHO car. So, I know you mentioned that by redistributing the load from the rear and back more towards the front tires, you're expecting some better track times.

However, the question that popped into my head was if, at full inflation, those bags raise the car (by your estimate) a 1/2" or so, what's the point of doing the rear lowering springs in the 1st place?

I'm dumb, so forgive me, but I'm thinking maybe leaving the stock/OEM rear springs on would kind of obtain similiar results yea?

This way an owner can theoretically skip the expense and hassle of installing both the rear lowering springs and then these air inflated bags yea?

I suppose for those that don't live at the track as often as you do, that one hypothetically could benefit from having this product by simply compensating for excessive loads being placed in that cavernous trunk of ours huh?

I am interested in hearing what results you may have obtained after installing these.

Please kind sir, keep us posted and thanks again for the write up!

Mike....not dumb at all. This is probably a track only mod for me. Actually I dont even think its 1/2 inch fully inflated. I'm gonna take a measurement tomorrow.

I did it mostly to stiffen up the rear suspension. I was originally going to use spring rubbers but I'm thinking this will actually much easier. Using the stock springs wouldn't tighten up the rear like I want and also, the vehicle stays lowered when I'm driving normally. You're supposed to keep 5 psi in the bags and thats all I plan to do for daily driving. At the pressure there is no change in ride height.

Oh yeah, if I install an enclosure in that cavernous trunk it may help there too!

Make sense??

 

[darreli]

For Darrell,

How long did the install take from beginning to end?

They would be great for me, especially when we overload the rear on our trips back north.

Will be interesting to see if you can actually keep more weight on front. I'm thinking eventually you will have to put different types of tires or large variations in air pressure, front vs rear, to get them both to spin together.

Hey Rob,

I did it at work, in between runs...probably about an hour of work total. It was really pretty simple.

I do think it might help you on the trips.....

I am thinking about going to a 19" wheel with Nitto NT05 tires. It will definately reduce mass and should theoretically help with the launch as well.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

DAMN... More necessary MODS.... When will it end????:thankyou:

 

[zeus268]

Makes perfect sense..... you mean an enclosure somewhat along the lines of this?? (pictured below).




*sigh* I still kind of miss my old Charger *sigh*

Yup, those Charger trunks were almost as cavernous as the SHO. Perfect for a nice big enclosure like that. Nice work on that mod Mike! Any chance of replicating on the SHO?

 

[LMSRick]

They work well. I had these on my Cobra to help with wheelhop at the track.

-Rick

 

[darreli]

So....here's my update on the air coils. Went to the track tonight for the Friday night King of Street racing. Went basically to work on my reaction times and test out the coils since the air wasnt really conducive to bettering my 12.38 pass. Ran very consistent 12.51-12.54's (which I was fine with, staging deeper and working on reaction time mixed with the air I new my times would be down a tad)

Anyway back to the point.....they seem to work pretty good. My car launched better but my 60ft's were a little slower 1.82-1.88. Just need to work on the psi plus again, not sure about the air and track prep. I look forward to giving them some more testing before I'm sold on them for.

Speaking of reaction times.....check this one out!


So ultimately I broke out running a 12.46 on a 12.52 dial in.....didnt really want the $500 anyway :angelnot:

 

[Unknown_Driver]

foul


and i'm going to type this load of text because i need to have 5 characters

 

[darreli]

foul by .0001!

 

[darreli]

foul


and i'm going to type this load of text because i need to have 5 characters

5 characters????

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Kwik Draw Mc Graw!!!!!!!

This ain't horse shoes.....:thankyou:

 

[EcoPowerParts]

I had these bags on my old Impala and they worked great. HUGE PITA to install though, sliding those between the coils sucked.
I was thinking these would make a huge difference in the squatting of the rear of the car. I was doing a ton of research today on AWD drag suspension setup and stiff rear combined with limited travel front is the key. I'm talking to a buddy of mine that knows where I can get some shocks made that will be fully adjustable for the front.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Which Rear????

Define Stiff??

 

[EcoPowerParts]

Muhahah, you guys.
Stiff rear suspension....
I really prefer a tight rear

 

[darreli]

I had these bags on my old Impala and they worked great. HUGE PITA to install though, sliding those between the coils sucked.
I was thinking these would make a huge difference in the squatting of the rear of the car. I was doing a ton of research today on AWD drag suspension setup and stiff rear combined with limited travel front is the key. I'm talking to a buddy of mine that knows where I can get some shocks made that will be fully adjustable for the front.

It was kind of a pain to squeeze those in there.

They seem to work decent, so far. I've only been to the track once since the install. My 60fts were actually a little slower but I believe it was weather related. The car seemed to stay flat like I was hoping for.

If you're talking about QA1 (Carrera) for the shocks, I'd think again maybe. I had terrible luck with them on my Lightning.

I too have been reading about chassis set up on the the AWD since this is my first AWD or FWD vehicle. Seems like the trick is to keep it as flat as possible for as long as possible.