Air Lift 1000 Helper Springs with OE compressor, etc.

[iamdub]

Get with it, I’m tired of waiting to find out! Come on man you’re killin me....talk talk talk...

I'm trying to get to LKQ to get another set of Jeep coils to cut on. Was out of town last weekend and I'm on call this weekend plus I gotta swap the rockers on my bro's truck. Then the following weekend is Jenn's bday weekend and we may be in Florida. LKQ tends to do 40%-off sales around the holidays so I'm hoping they do for the Memorial Day weekend.

After the COVID-19 stuff halted the flow of parts, I gave up on rushing to get my Tahoe back together.

 

[Rocket Man]

I'm trying to get to LKQ to get another set of Jeep coils to cut on. Was out of town last weekend and I'm on call this weekend plus I gotta swap the rockers on my bro's truck. Then the following weekend is Jenn's bday weekend and we may be in Florida. LKQ tends to do 40%-off sales around the holidays so I'm hoping they do for the Memorial Day weekend.

After the COVID-19 stuff halted the flow of parts, I gave up on rushing to get my Tahoe back together.

I’m not having any problems at all getting parts. Auto parts are deemed as critical. I get deliveries almost daily and nothing has run behind until today, when it looks like Fedex has misplaced my u-joints. But my trans and converter will be here tomorrow, on time, and all the other parts and supplies have all been on time. Rock Auto had stuff to me in 3 days. Excuses excuses lol.

 

[iamdub]

I’m not having any problems at all getting parts. Auto parts are deemed as critical. I bet deliveries almost daily.

Custom parts are what's slow since the companies making them are on skeleton crews. Shipping has been slower across the board as expected but it's also been a mess with some parts just "getting lost" in transit. My biggest wait was for the Cometics. Specialty head gaskets aren't so "essential". Getting my heads done was a drag as well since the guy works for himself and had other obligations. Summit Racing is on point, though!

 

[Rocket Man]

Custom parts are what's slow since the companies making them are on skeleton crews. Shipping has been slower across the board as expected but it's also been a mess with some parts just "getting lost" in transit. My biggest wait was for the Cometics. Specialty head gaskets aren't so "essential".

Wilwoods came on time. I had brake lines made. Custom air fittings for my Silverado. On time. You must be in the wrong place, maybe Cali clients are messed up but my Wilwoods came from there. On time haha.

 

[Rocket Man]

Oh, I for got my Airlift 3H air management system, on time. I have bought literally dozens of custom and off the shelf parts over the last 2 months and haven’t had a single problem. What have you ordered that has taken forever?

 

[Rocket Man]

And I forgot, I just ordered a hatch glass for my 02 that’s coming from LKQ in Cali that will be here Monday, 3 business days! What problems, I’m not having problems...damn I shouldn’t have said that. Now I’ll probably have problems. But seriously, I shipped my trans to Pennsylvania and it took 5 business days there, 2 to rebuild it, 5 days back. And the torque converter to Florida, even faster since I forgot to ship it for 2 days after I shipped the trans. It will be here tomorrow with the trans. Maybe I’ve just been lucky. I bought those Kooks, they only took 4 days across the country. And Vinci High Performance ground my cam in 3 business days from the time I ordered it even though Roger said they were slammed. I got it, springs, pushrods and seals in less than a week.

 

[iamdub]

What have you ordered that has taken forever?

I didn't mean to sound like I was speaking generally for all custom parts manufacturers. Just the ones I was dealing with, the head machining included.

The head gaskets were the main hitch. They're made-to-order, Cometic doesn't stock a warehouse. Then the heads took forever. Just one of those things that I needed before I could move on to the next step- had to have the heads to measure for pushrods, etc. I used the original gasket and just subtracted .006".

 

[Rocket Man]

I didn't mean to sound like I was speaking generally for all custom parts manufacturers. Just the ones I was dealing with, the head machining included.

The head gaskets were the main hitch. They're made-to-order, Cometic doesn't stock a warehouse. Then the heads took forever. Just one of those things that I needed before I could move on to the next step- had to have the heads to measure for pushrods, etc. I used the original gasket and just subtracted .006".

Ahh gotcha. That sucks. I think I’ve been lucky. And I was just messin with ya.

 

[iamdub]

Ahh gotcha. That sucks. I think I’ve been lucky. And I was just messin with ya.

Ain't nuttin. I'm used to the universe ******** on me when I undergo big projects. Things always happen (or DON'T happen), my work schedule changes hour by hour, obligations arise... you know how it goes. I had planned to get the short block back in the engine bay this past weekend which would've kicked off some good progress. Instead, I had to go 7 hours away to see off Jenn's grandma to her afterlife. She didn't waste much time with that so I came home Monday to find them pushrods at my door. They're really just a tease since I won't be able to do much for another two weeks.

Anyway, gotta get the motor stuff done first, then I'll get back to beating that dead horse of a Frankenstein'ed rear suspension.

 

[Rocket Man]

Ain't nuttin. I'm used to the universe ******** on me when I undergo big projects. Things always happen (or DON'T happen), my work schedule changes hour by hour, obligations arise... you know how it goes. I had planned to get the short block back in the engine bay this past weekend which would've kicked off some good progress. Instead, I had to go 7 hours away to see off Jenn's grandma to her afterlife. She didn't waste much time with that so I came home Monday to find them pushrods at my door. They're really just a tease since I won't be able to do much for another two weeks.

Anyway, gotta get the motor stuff done first, then I'll get back to beating that dead horse of a Frankenstein'ed rear suspension.

Sorry about the grams. I understand about priorities. I just want things to go smooth reinstalling my trans this weekend. I have a 2-3 day window of good weather before it starts raining so I can’t afford problems. I have all my ducks in a row as they say. Fingers crossed.

 

[Big Mama]

I'm trying to get to LKQ to get another set of Jeep coils to cut on. Was out of town last weekend and I'm on call this weekend plus I gotta swap the rockers on my bro's truck. Then the following weekend is Jenn's bday weekend and we may be in Florida. LKQ tends to do 40%-off sales around the holidays so I'm hoping they do for the Memorial Day weekend.

After the COVID-19 stuff halted the flow of parts, I gave up on rushing to get my Tahoe back together.

you forgot Mother’s Day. just tryin to help a brother out

 

[Rocket Man]

you forgot Mother’s Day. just tryin to help a brother out

 

[iamdub]

Sorry about the grams. I understand about priorities. I just want things to go smooth reinstalling my trans this weekend. I have a 2-3 day window of good weather before it starts raining so I can’t afford problems. I have all my ducks in a row as they say. Fingers crossed.

Thank you. It's all good, though. She was ready a long time ago and was relieved that her time was finally coming. Really cool and tough ol' broad, she was.

Be safe under that truck this weekend. Watch them pinch points.

 

[iamdub]

you forgot Mother’s Day. just tryin to help a brother out

Hmm. They may have a sale for Mother's Day. I'll have to swing by this weekend. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[RobH]

Using an onboard compressor for the Air Lift rear coil bags controlled from the front seat is a more expensive and higher tech way to control the air in the bags. People typically put 5 psi in them unloaded and then put in what is needed to level the vehicle when loaded or with a trailer tongue load on the hitch.

I'd rather spend my money on an air compressor at Lowes or Home Depot which I can have in the garage to air up tires, blow crud away from spark plugs, etc. Or, air them up when needed at a gas station.

FWIW and YMMV.

 

[durbancic]

This is correct. The airlift bags are only designed to hold a max of 35 PSI in each bag. The factory air compressor would way overload them.
@PLohr
As to your replacement shocks question it totally depends on what you’re going to use the vehicle for. If you’re not doing any sort of towing then a standard shock and resistor worked into place for the auto ride sensor isn’t a bad way to go, it’s way cheaper, however I believe changing out the coil spring is also required on that solution.
If you plan to tow at all replacing them with the arnott air ride shocks is 100% the best way to go. It keeps the air ride shocks and the soft and stable OEM ride quality, plus if your towing it keeps the auto level function which I think is a major benefit when towing.
I have a 2006 xl Denali with factory air ride. I replaced my blown factory air shocks with the arnott air shocks and couldn’t be happier. It rides really well. Their shocks are the best. I also have a set of airlift springs installed in my rear coil springs as I do a lot of towing and the airlift bags help tremendously. My truck is incredibly stable when I’m pulling the near 6,000lb sea ray speed boat that I help with. I run air to them from a separate compressor.

I know that I am digging up and old thread...found it through search.
I have an '11 Denali XL and the rear shocks are blown. Not sure if the compressor even works. I tow a 21' Travel Trailer. Was thinking about converting from the air suspension to shocks but this thread has convinced me to go w/ the Arnott's. However, I was also looking at the Air Lift 1000 al60769 but etrailer says that they do not work for auto leveling suspension. But you did use them? Were there any modifications needed to make them work w/ the auto-leveling?

 

[adventurenali92]

I know that I am digging up and old thread...found it through search.
I have an '11 Denali XL and the rear shocks are blown. Not sure if the compressor even works. I tow a 21' Travel Trailer. Was thinking about converting from the air suspension to shocks but this thread has convinced me to go w/ the Arnott's. However, I was also looking at the Air Lift 1000 al60769 but etrailer says that they do not work for auto leveling suspension. But you did use them? Were there any modifications needed to make them work w/ the auto-leveling?

Most sites say they don’t work with air ride. But they do. I use them in tandem with my Z55 suspension. And as it turns out the sea ray that I pull is quite a bit less than I thought. I finally had the opportunity before pulling her up the mountain to weigh her and boat trailer came in at 4,360lbs… lol. She looks massive sitting on her trailer.

Anyways no special modifications necessary. The bags fit perfectly inside my rear coil springs. It’s not too difficult of a DIY job. I just didn’t have the time to do it myself. Been running them nearly three years now I think without any issues. And I travel a lot but those bags have held up perfectly and make a huge difference when towing. I keep them full at 35PSI when towing and when unloaded I run the about 15ish PSI and ride quality is great that way.

 

[Slider2012]

Raising an old post from the dead here! I recently put rancho5000’s all around on my 04 Yukon Denali. Ride quality is outstanding but with a lot in the back plus a trailer full of junk it has the poopy toddler diaper look going on.
I’m interested in adding helper bags and using the OE compressor.
Is there any reason a guy couldn’t hot wire the compressor to a switch in the cab with a PSI gauge and add a regulator so it can’t overload the bags? I was shocked when I started googling that no one had done this. Any thoughts or builds I could follow?

 

[Big Mama]

The rear springs on rigs with auto leveling are very soft. Sure you can do what you’re proposing but I’m not sure how long the OEM compressor would take to fill bags or how long it would last. Why not get factory style shocks?

 

[Scrappycrow]

While I have not done so myself, there are a number of discussions in the forum that explain that Trailblazer airbags will fit inside the springs and are compatible with the original compressor.