Thread: airbags

just trying to find out if any one has fitted poly air bags to the rear axle of a defender ?'there the air bags that fit inside the springs.
do i need special tools,or any equipment to do the job other than basic hand tools....any help will do

I haven't done a defender but I put a set in a D1 about 12 months ago. I don't have any great mechanical skills and only normal tools but from memory I managed it in a couple of hours. You will need a coil spring compressor though to get the springs in and out. The ones I put in had large rubber spacers to allow for the two inch raised springs and the spacers were very tight fit and need a bit of a lube to get into the springs. I put stands under the chassis and then supported the axle on a jack and compressed the springs. I undid the lower shock mounts and lowered the axle slowly until the spring unseated then released it from the axle. A bit of talcum powder or similar helps the airbags go into the springs. This is from memory but I think it was pretty much how I did it. I've had no trouble with them in the 12 months since and they are great if towing or heavily loaded.

Iain