As any of you who have ever tried to tow anything heavier than a roller skate know, stock "Limited" series Excursions have no sway bar, and springs so soft the rear of the vehicle will "bottom" if you sneeze on it.

So, many of us have installed after-market sway bars (as SOME Excursions equipped with a "tow package" have) and air-bags to control the riding height when loaded.

My air bags have been driving me NUTS with slow leaks. FINALLY figured out what the problem is. For those of you who have air bags, and are having trouble with slow leaks, check the fitting on top of the air bag, and how it connects to the plastic filler hose. You MAY find that there is a brass ferrule "compression type" connection there. If so, that is probably your problem!

For about twenty bucks, you can get a "air shock kit", which includes a "T" fitting with Schrader valve, so you can get equal pressure on both air bags. The PROBLEM is the brass ferrule that comes with some of the fitting kits, WILL NOT SEAL TOTALLY on the plastic hose.

Cut off the damn fool ferrule, and use small "off-the shelf" tiny o rings that you can get at any hardware store. Use those just the way the kits have them on the "T" filler fitting. End of air leak problem.

 

Well my 04 Limited X did come with A factory rear sway bar and I added a set of Timbrens on the rear to take care of the weak springs. I have the RAS setup sitting in my gargae for about 4 months now but I am really hesitant to install it because my X tows my TT 8000lbs so nicely that I dont want to screw it up.

Rc

 

you should remove the T fitting and have seperate fill valves for each side. if not, when you make a turn, the air will transfer from one bag and inflate the opposite bag actually making it lean more. it makes it worse. good idea on the fix for the leaking though.

 

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Yes, in theory you are quite correct. However, if you use the CORRECT fittings, they have a "restrictor" in them that slows the air down so much, this does not happen.

 

True enough.

There's a company...Land Rover, I think that uses 4 wheel independent suspension that is supported by airbags. They actually have it designed so that the air goes back and forth between bags mimicking a solid axle. Pretty neat.

 

On my 8th year of the same Air Lifts on two different vehicles with '0' air leaks.

You must have 'lemons'.

 

think you mis-read what I was pointing out.

First of all, I dont have Air Lifts. I am not knocking them - I just like air BAGS better. Let me explain - Air Lift shocks are fine for what they are, but air BAGS have a MUCH greater air volume, so they accomplish the same given amount of lift with MUCH less air pressure, so you keep a MUCH smoother ride with an air BAG than you do with Air Lift shocks.

Secondly, the leaks were not in the bags - they were in the connection.

Far as I can tell, now that I replaced the little copper ferrules with o rings, no leaks / pressure loss at all.

 

Air Lift Company

Air Lift's ARE air bags. Just pointing out that air bags such as Firestones or AIR LIFT brand bags can be leak and trouble free if installed and maintained properly.

Some threads become 'Timrens vs. air bags' and ridiculous comments abound, mostly from those who don't know what they're talking about.

BTW, the Air Lifts came with 'push to connect' fittings throughout and have been leak free to date.

Glad you got your leak fixed.

 

my mistake -i have seen air lift shock absorbers, and thought that is what you were referring to.

 

air shocks are a thing of the past. didnt they go out in the early 90's? there is too much technology now to want to install them on a truck.