air ride suspension question

[Tom Kuznicki]

Hello everyone. I was wondering if anyone here has converted their rear axle to a conventional coil spring setup ? If so, are you satisfied with it ? . The compressor took a dump on our Marauder and I am considering the conversion. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[Blk Mamba]

Try this till you decide.

OK, heres what you do to get the car back up to ride height (if its the compressor that died, not the bags that blew.)

This works a little easier w/ 2 people, and an air compressor with a rubber tipped air nozzle (worked well for me, the tube type may as well if thats all you have) a small 5 gallon (@ 80ish psi) tank should have enough air in it. It doesnt take much air to get the bags back up

Pop the trunk, you will need access to the air ride switch. Remove the air box (if you have it, or other intake assembly) to reveal the suspension compressor beneath. locate the air line coming out of the small tank attatched tot he pump. remove the air line. Push the colored ring in and pull the tube out to remove it.
with the air ride switch in the on position,and the air compressor all ready to go, have a buddy hop in the car and turn the key to 'On' but dont start it. in a couple seconds you will hear the compressor kick on/grind/howl (whatever noise it makes if any) and/or you will hear the solenoids 'click' from the rear bags. once you hear either of those, start pumping air from the compressor into the air line you removed. that will start to inflate the rear bags. keep filling until the suspension pump stops, or the rear solenoids click shut, or until you get whatever rear height you want.
once you get to the desired height, go to the trunk and flip the air ride switch off so that the computer doesnt make the solenoids open again and you lose all your air. FYI having the air bag switch off will also make the 'air ride' light come on in the dash.

thats how you can manually add air to the bags and still drive around with a broken compressor. I did that for a week when mine went out..



also, my pump died because of the windshield washer reservior. You cant fill it more than 3/4 full otherwise it will slosh out of the little vent hole in the top of the cap and leak down onto the suspension pump and corrode it until it dies.

[Tom Kuznicki]

Try this till you decide.

OK, heres what you do to get the car back up to ride height (if its the compressor that died, not the bags that blew.)

This works a little easier w/ 2 people, and an air compressor with a rubber tipped air nozzle (worked well for me, the tube type may as well if thats all you have) a small 5 gallon (@ 80ish psi) tank should have enough air in it. It doesnt take much air to get the bags back up

Pop the trunk, you will need access to the air ride switch. Remove the air box (if you have it, or other intake assembly) to reveal the suspension compressor beneath. locate the air line coming out of the small tank attatched tot he pump. remove the air line. Push the colored ring in and pull the tube out to remove it.
with the air ride switch in the on position,and the air compressor all ready to go, have a buddy hop in the car and turn the key to 'On' but dont start it. in a couple seconds you will hear the compressor kick on/grind/howl (whatever noise it makes if any) and/or you will hear the solenoids 'click' from the rear bags. once you hear either of those, start pumping air from the compressor into the air line you removed. that will start to inflate the rear bags. keep filling until the suspension pump stops, or the rear solenoids click shut, or until you get whatever rear height you want.
once you get to the desired height, go to the trunk and flip the air ride switch off so that the computer doesnt make the solenoids open again and you lose all your air. FYI having the air bag switch off will also make the 'air ride' light come on in the dash.

thats how you can manually add air to the bags and still drive around with a broken compressor. I did that for a week when mine went out..



also, my pump died because of the windshield washer reservior. You cant fill it more than 3/4 full otherwise it will slosh out of the little vent hole in the top of the cap and leak down onto the suspension pump and corrode it until it dies.I believe that's what happened to ours. I did manage to pump up the bags and shut the switch off so at least we can use the car. Thanks for the tip.