One of the keys to a smooth ride in your diesel truck is found in its suspension. An Air Bag Kit will replace the old coil spring with tough bags made of rubber or plastic. These are inflated to a specific pressure setting and height in order to mimic the functionality of the coil springs. Making use of such tools as an air compressor, electronic controls, and sensors, these air bag kits provide several benefits that all-metal springs simply cannot. They can be tuned on a whim, and quickly adapt to handling varying loads and different types of terrain. The most simplistic of kits simply replace the coil springs and come with a compressor and air lines, but often produce the negative result of body roll. The highest quality of the kits utilize a four part system combined with an advanced controller. The air bags are linked, but controlled separately with an electronic controller; allowing for static or dynamic control. These bags are constructed from a rubber and polyurethane mixture. This mixture is tough against light abrasion from debris and dirt, chemical corrosion, and provides for air-tight construction.

Key Features of Air Bag Kits

Air Bag Kits typically come in three types: -Double-convoluted bag: these are shaped like an hourglass, providing a greater degree of lateral flexibility than the other designs. -Tapered sleeve: this style will perform just as any other sleeve does but is specifically created to fit into a more compressed area, offering more adjustability on ride height. -Rolling sleeve: rolling sleeves are very similar to tapered sleeves, with notable exceptions including ride height and spring control.

Newer air suspension systems typically include on-board air compressors, which is basically an electric pump that shoots air into the bags through a system of air lines. This part is usually mounted on the frame of the truck, or in the trunk. The most advanced systems utilize an air tank to pressurize and transition between pressure settings, while more basic systems rely on the compressor itself. These compressors can be controlled manually, through an electronic system, or just by the driver. Some even are accompanied by a drier which draws the outside air into the pump, but require a desiccant to absorb the moisture found in outside air before it passes through the system. In addition to the bags, these systems utilize a valve system to offer improved handling. These are basically entry points for the air to enter the system; they isolate and control air flow by directing it to where it belongs. Electronically controlled systems make use of solenoids to fill and vent each individual airbag. As the system compensates for its specifically sensed terrain condition, it will command each one of these to open or shut, varying the amount of available air for each bag. Adding ride-height sensors into the electronic mix will bring these kits to a new level of performance, monitoring precisely how much a car raises or lowers while monitoring the necessary pressure to reach each level.