air shocks in the rear

[zedsdead]

my rear leafs are sagging so im kinda looking thru my options, i came across a great one it looks like: roadmaster active suspension http://www.activesuspension.ca/index.asp (rear helper spring), but its still in the $400 cdn + plus install range, so i went down to the parts store and they said maybe i could try air shocks? i dont have factory air ride, and he said the main benefit would be that there is no compressor or lines involved (?) just hook up an air compressor at home and fill? does that sound right? probably going to look into it more if i get some responses in the right direction, but just wanted to basically know if it would raise the rear (im gona say maybe 2-3", maybe not 3", thats kinda high, but 2" atleast?) it rides back heavy and i hate that, also would it ride softer in the back? i have bilsteins HD's all the way around right now.

thanks,

98 xlt 4wd 4dr 4.0L sohc

 

[DaExplorer]

I put the rear air shocks on my 97 and enjoy being able to adjust the height and ride depending on the load. I bought them on E-bay for about $80. The hardest part was finding the place for the air lines to go to for the T valve, where you put the air into them using a comperssor as you would the tires. Other than that it was easy.

The other option may be shackles on the rear leaf springs. My son put them on his 95 which raised the rear about 2". He got the Warrior 153 which were also around the $80. mark. It made a nice lift and then we used the torsion bar adjustment to bring the front up even with the rear raise. Gave it a nice look to his ride.

In my opinion they both give about the same ride.
Hope this Helps

 

[corkey]

just a tip for safety,
be careful how much air you put in there if you load the back of the ex up with heavy stuff.
the shock crossmember is not made to support a bunch of weight, and with a lot of pressure in the shocks it will bend.

 

[tsizemore]

I installed air shocks on my 97 also and I installed the T in the removable panel on drivers side where the lug wrench hangs. with 60 psi in them it raised the rear up about an inch and a half.

 

[zedsdead]

thanks guys! i assumed it would be like that, good idea about mounting the t valve inside, i was thinking i would have to bend down under the truck every time to do this....

i dont tow or pack up the back with serious weight, im just mainly looking for some height, i like the look of lower in the front and higher in the back (not that im lowering the truck, just stock height in the front) and maybe a 1/2 in higher in the back which i think should be negligible?

one more thing, when i get them installed, can i just fill them up and once im happy with the height can i leave them be (forever?) or is there maintenance
involved?

thanks!

 

[tsizemore]

just check you pressure every now and then.