Firestone suspension air bag part numbers

[skoller]

Could someone supply me with the part numbers for Firestone air bags and any other bits and pieces needed for the rear coils on my 110 Puma. Also what is the accepted method of attaching the top plate to hold in the air bag, welding or bolting down. The Puma is getting a bit saggy with the Tvan attached, even with the rear seats removed. Thanks if someone can help.

[Hamish71]

Cost fitted is negligible at Pedders....and if you drive it in with the trailer, they can pick the right bag for you....saves you guessing wrong.

[87County]

You will save substantially if you buy from truckspring.com Truck Suspension, Bilstein Shocks, Firestone Air Bags, Timbren, Leaf Springs - TruckSpring.com (http://www.truckspring.com/)

[130man]

Hi, Check out the thread by Tim NZ in the Projects and Tutorials section and all your questions will be answered, assuming the Puma spring mounts are the same as the Earlier Defenders. Cheers, 130man.

[MTB]

Skoller
If you are looking for the blue helper bags that go inside your existing coils, than you are after the Firestone part number 6010 and the hose kit 2131. You will also need some spacers, either from Polyair or make your own.
This is still on my too do list, so let me know how you go.

[skoller]

130man. I checked out TimNZ instructions,very good but I want to install air bags that fit inside the springs. I want to get Firestone bags and they call them a Coil Rite air spring.

[skoller]

MTB. Thanks for the info. I reckon the spacer will have to be about 30 -40mm thick . Im still not sure what to do about the top plate, weld or bolt. I sure more info will be coming (I hope).

[Loubrey]

I bought a set of the Firestone bags (blue helper bags) for my 90 as the tail hangs a bit when I'm loaded for travel.

They came with a very tidy looking spacer and airline holder (black poly) that fits in the top. The problem I'm having is that there is nothing on the bottom of the bag to protect it from the two bolt heads of the spring retainers.

Do you need spacers or shields of some description to protect the bottom of the bag or does it "grip" the coils enough not to push down that low?

Advise would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Lou

[MTB]

Lou
From what I have heard you ought to have something protecting your bags at the bottom.
Some people add a rubber or nylon spacer, recessed for the bolt heads.
Other people swap out the bolts for dome head once.

Frank

[skoller]

Loubrey.
How thick are your spacers and does the bag fill the spring , top to bottom.

[Loubrey]

Lou
From what I have heard you ought to have something protecting your bags at the bottom.
Some people add a rubber or nylon spacer, recessed for the bolt heads.
Other people swap out the bolts for dome head once.

Frank


Thanks Frank,

I'll first see what the options are on a poly type spacer. If the bag does touch, there is more than just the bolt heads to do damage.

I'd say around 20mm with around 10mm recess drilled with a 16 - 20mm timber bit.

Cheers,

Lou

[Loubrey]

Loubrey.
How thick are your spacers and does the bag fill the spring , top to bottom.

Skoller,

I have only on spacer per bag which is the specially shaped top one (around 40mm) that fits into the actual spring and retainer at the top. I've not fitted them yet and I'll try and take a picture this evening to post.

The bottom is my main concern as the manufacturer/ distributor claim that the bag wont touch as you maintain some presure at all times. From the replies on the forum this is obviously not accurate.

Cheers,

Lou

[steveG]

I've got around 40mm lift on my County, and have fitted Coil-Rite bags from Truckspring.
I bought the Nissan Patrol kit that Rick130 posted up a number for somewhere.
Made up some 4mm steel discs with a hole in the middle for the air line to pass through and tacked them into the upper spring mount.

The poly mount/spacer that came with the Patrol kit I used as the spacer under my bags. I simply cut a slot in them to clear the spring retaining strap and bolts and pushed them into the spring.

I've got about 6mm clearance between the bottom of the bag and the spacer at normal ride height.

Steve

[vnx205]

I turned up a couple of spacers for the top and bottom from some scraps of HDPE about 13mm thick. They can easily be turned up on a wood lathe.

At the top, I made a plate from thinner HDPE. In fact it was a cheap kitchen cutting board. That plate completely covers the top of the spring mount and the top spacer inside the coil is bolted to it.

I had read some suggestion about the possibility of stones falling falling down in there, so I thought the idea of a full plate would eliminate that.

[Loubrey]

Hi Skoller,

Pictures attached of the top spacers. Like I said they are pretty well made and my concerns are just on the bottom.

Cheers,

Lou

[Allan]

I seem to remember the kit I fitted to my Puma had top and bottom mounts/spacers. Check with Jacko44 as he may be of more help. He should have the kit info in the service history somewhere. I think I looked up Firestone air bag to suit Defender This link may help
Defender - 4WD World (http://www.google.com.au/url'sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CGUQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4wdworld.com.au%2FCategory%2F 4wd_accessories%2Fby%2Fmake_and_model%2Fland_rover %2Fdefender%2F&ei=TN38UIKjH8mwiQfNmoHoBg&usg=AFQjCNHLIwJWOKLPNb8TnyNfKncQQSuV0g&bvm=bv.41248874,d.aGc&cad=rja)

Cheers, Allan

[Loubrey]

Hi Allan,

Looks just like my kit, minus the two bottom spacers. Time to e-mail Airbag Man...!

Cheers,

Lou

[Allan]

Hi Allan,

Looks just like my kit, minus the two bottom spacers. Time to e-mail Airbag Man...!

Cheers,

Lou

Hi Lou, Glad to help.

Allan

[skoller]

Thanks everyone for the airbag part numbers. My order is on its way from Trucksprings and I hope its got all the bits I need except maybe the bottom spacers. I must say the person that returned my email enquiries was not overly helpfull ,not like previously when I ordered bits for my Jackaroo. Just said No we dont have any that will fit, no suggestions at all.

[MTB]

skoller - how is this project coming along?
It is still on my list of things To Do, but I am hoping you will find a source for both the top and bottom spacers ;-)

Frank

[skoller]

Fitted the the bags yesterday.It took a while to do. I made up another set of spacers and fitted them to the bottom. I used the supplied spacers at the top. Welded a plate across the top of the the spring housing,I am not a brilliant welder but I am sure its all good and the bag is a loose snug fit top and bottom. What concerns me is what happens to the bag when the suspension is on full droop,will the bag travel down with the spring or stay up at the top of the coil or stay someware in between. I have left enough air line just in case the bag does travel to the bottom and wont pull out of its fitting. I hope what I have done is all o/k. It was alot more difficult than when I fitted a set to my Jackaroo.

[Loubrey]

Skoller,

Talking to Firestone (Airbag Division) they recommend a minimum air pressure to remain in the bags at all times (as per the fitting instructions).

This will apparently prevent the bag sliding down on articulation and is also the reason the 90 kit doesn't have a bottom plate or spacer. They recon the "kick" in the bag sidewall pushes in between the spring coils and holds on...

Those two spring retainer bolt heads still scare me, so I'll definitely be looking at some protection for the underside of the bags!

Cheers,

Lou

[Allan]

I think they tell pokeys Loe. I had the full kit in my 110 and had it loaded to the max on north of Broome roads with boat in tow at maximum flex with no problems at all. I cannot see how they could recommend not using the lower mount. Yes with 7lbs of pressure in the bags they stay in the springs well but all that hardware at the bottom of the bag cannot be good. Contact Jacko44, he bought my S.V.X. and ask him to take a couple of photos. The vehicle had no lift kit so should show well the kit recommended for the Defender.

Cheers, Allan.