Help, Rear springs after air bag installation

[Greenleaf88]

I am in the middle of installing Firestone air bags and have a question. After i installed the bags and got the sway bar and shocks attached again i let the rear axle down off the jack. I notice the rear spring are not compressed at all and i can move them around with my hand. They couldn't be removed completely but definitely are loose. I didn't have much time to look into it last night but the suspension should be at full travel and the spring should be compressed a little. Anybody have an ideas of what i missed or whats going on?

 

[ARunner]

Maybe post a picture of what you're describing. Are you referring to the air bags or the coil springs? The air bags being a bit lose if not inflated isn't a big concern. If you're saying your coils are lose that is sometning alarming, as they should be holding the weight of the entire rear of the vehicle. If they aren't, sometning is significantly wrong. Post some pictures and we can have a look.

 

[Greenleaf88]

The coils are actually loose but the rear end is still in the air. I have the car jacked up by the frame and the axle is at full travel. A couple of guys at work just told me that when the car is lifted in the air the coils could be loose, i figured the shock and sway bar would stop the axle from traveling that far.

 

[blackoutt]

yes the springs can be loose enough to wiggle around at full droop (frame on stands, axle hanging it's own weight. Just make sure you line the springs up when it comes off the stands. it's fine.

 

[ARunner]

Oh. If you still have it lifted then the coils being loose shouldn't be a concern. Generally with the sway bar and stock shocks attached it limits travel to keep them from being very loose. But with aftermarket shocks with more travel it's very possible. As mentioned, make sure they are positioned properly when you put it back down on the ground so they seat properly in their perch.

 

[Greenleaf88]

Thanks guys

 

[RPS13]

This is normal on Bilstein 5100's and stock springs. The 5100s have more extended length so the rear springs aren't preloaded at full droop. Just make sure everything goes back together the right way and you're good to go.

 

[jow]

Will the Firestone Air Bags eliminate making contact with the rubber block on the frame (as leveling or Etc.)? Can the Rubber blocks be extended down 2-3” for leveling with a “Mild Load”? The objective is to only get extra help when needed vs a constant stiff ride.

Thanks and please excuse this “Jump”!

 

[RPS13]

You can adjust the assistance the air bags provide by pumping them with more air. So yes, you can keep off the bumpstops (within reason) in the rear. If you overload the rear with 2000+ lbs of stuff, it'll still have an issue, but for mild 400-800 lb loads that normally leave you very little suspension travel, it'll definitely get it back up to normal.