Airbags - Polyair or Firestone?

Printable View

Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

9th January 2009, 09:04 PM
McDisco

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucy

Straight order over the net, arrived by post. No tarriff/customs problem as under the threshold (which I think is $1000 in value). The whole transaction was easy as. May be a bit dearer at the moment though, with current exchange rates. No problems with the bags either, makes towing our Jayco camper trailer much more comfortable.

And they are still cheaper than buying polyairs in Australia. Seriously, the money you pay for polyairs in Oz is ridiculous for what they are!

I am very happy with my firestone bags.

Angus
10th January 2009, 02:12 PM
Leo109

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick130

Brian, whenever I've gone there the Firestone springs are only suitable for the rear of a 90 (or Disco or RRC) and they have the Airlift springs for the rear of a 110 which look suspiciously like the Aussie PolyAirs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick130

Anyone have any insight ?

Hi Rick et al,

Not sure if this is what you're asking Rick but... we've had a set of AirLifts in the rear of our '97 Disco since mid-2002. Bought them from my favourite UK supplier, delivered to my door for a lot less than the local PolyAir price. AirLift is the only brand they offer for all model LRs. Ours did 80,000 km in our original rear springs, then another 90,000 km in our Lovells HD springs. Maybe half that with caravan in tow + Cape York + Simpson + a year in central Oz + +.

They gave up the ghost just a month or so back (crack near the RH inlet nipple). I've just ordered a new set. Unfortunately I didn't think to check US prices first so I'm paying a bit more than the Trucksprings price (mostly the UK freight charges). But still a long way under the local RRP (Recommended Rip-off Price) for PolyAirs. And besides, I think the Pommie economy needs our support more than the Yanks...

In the original (rather sagging) springs we ran them at up to 25psi towing. After fitting the Lovells HDs we run them at the minimum 5psi when not towing, even with our semi-permanent 200 - 300 kg load in the rear. Maybe 7 - 8 psi when towing with 200-220 kg ball load (but with a properly set-up H-R weight distribution hitch).

Ian

PS: Dont' seem to have restricted rear articulation too much:
10th January 2009, 06:09 PM
rick130

Thanks Ian.
I also found the part # that are used for Nissan Patrol rears (same ID as 110/130 rears ) and IIRC they were a touch longer than the Land Rover ones too.
I'm actually leaning towards complete bags on the rear.
John/Bush65 has done some homework and sussed out the specs from Firestone via Truckspring.
Damned cheap for what they are.

You can install a solenoid valve between the bags and open it off road so that it helps articulation. ie., when one spring is compressed it will help extend the opposite bag. ;)
10th January 2009, 07:25 PM
rick130

Air bag thread on Outerlimits Rover board.

Outer Limits 4x4 Board :: View topic - anyone running airbags in their rover?
12th November 2015, 05:36 AM
Red90

A little resurrection.

The Airlift kit for a 110 is 61724. I verified this with Airlift as the information available is quite suspect. As far as I can tell, it is exactly what Polyair sells for three times the price. I'm guessing Polyair just rebrands them....

Also noticed this place in South Africa that supplies them with a better designed upper retainer that appears to be locally produced.
[ame]http://www.airsprings.cc/4x4/Airlift/AL1000/LAN01.MN285.738.pdf[/ame]
[ame]http://www.airsuspension.co.za/images/GR.LR%20Helper%20Kits.pdf[/ame]
2nd December 2015, 01:46 PM
DiscoMick

Thanks for that.
I notice they supply an airbag for the front of a 110. Can you fit an airbag in the front? Is that safe? Does it have any benefits? Would that be a viable alternative to fitting HD springs in the front? Interesting...
2nd December 2015, 03:36 PM
weeds

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Thanks for that.
I notice they supply an airbag for the front of a 110. Can you fit an airbag in the front? Is that safe? Does it have any benefits? Would that be a viable alternative to fitting HD springs in the front? Interesting...

Are they talking air that replaces the coil spring?

The other point is the shock runs up the middle of the coil spring so it has to be relocated.........I have a gut feeling the shock mounts that are fitted to classic rangie that has factory air bags can be adapted to fit a defender.

The air bag man has brackets to hold the shocks for the airbag replacement of the springs on the front of a defender.
5th December 2015, 10:39 PM
kelvo

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by weeds

Are they talking air that replaces the coil spring?

The other point is the shock runs up the middle of the coil spring so it has to be relocated.........I have a gut feeling the shock mounts that are fitted to classic rangie that has factory air bags can be adapted to fit a defender.

The air bag man has brackets to hold the shocks for the airbag replacement of the springs on the front of a defender.

You keep the front springs. The kit comes with a new shock turret that relocates shock outside of the spring.
21st August 2018, 04:48 PM
DoubleChevron

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graeme

Timbren, Hellwig Helper Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Firestone, Air Spring Kits, Mile Marker Winch is their website and pricing is there.

$169 was delivered price that took about 3 days once despatched. There was a delay at the time as there had been a redesign of the top of all the Firestone airbag inserts (Coilrites IIRC) and had to wait for the LR ones to be produced.

I put their web address and look what happened!

Fast forward ELEVEN YEARS !!! And you just saved me a ****load with this post (jumps up in the search when you search for polyair)... $250aud with paypal screwing you over on the conversion rate from truckstop.com .... A $100 saving on buying from local ebay sellers.

seeya,
Shane L.
21st August 2018, 05:23 PM
vnx205

Several years ago I bought Firestone bags from Michigan Truck Springs for about half the price they were locally.

They did a great job of keeping the Defender level when I had the camper on the back. Unfortunately a few years later the air line was ripped out of one, I think caused by running over a stick. That apparently damaged the fitting in the top of the bag because after that I had a slow leak. Trimming the end of the hose and refitting it didn't solve the problem.

I contacted MTS again to get a replacement bag, but they no longer offer the right bag for the 110. They have one that fits the 90.

Because I was so pleased with how they performed (before I damaged the fitting), I decide to order from Australia, but couldn't get a single bag and had to buy the complete kit.

It was much more expensive, but it seemed to be the only way to get set up again.

Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page