Is Deleting Air Suspension as Easy as...

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Curt Gobbell

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1. Replacing the front air springs with same yr coilovers?
2. Replacing the rear air spring with same yr springs and isolator
3. Using alfaobd to remove warnings?
 

crash68

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pretty much yeap, but they should come off a similar body/bed combo and trim level if your thinking of going with OEM
You could use aftermarket coilovers, springs and shocks. Lots of members like Fox coilovers and shocks and TufTruck is to goto for upgraded rear springs.
 

Nick@GotExhaust

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We can get you some great parts to replace the air suspension. You would need to get OEM rear coil spring isolators but we can get you the rest. Message me if interested and we can discuss options and pricing
 
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Curt Gobbell

Curt Gobbell

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I finally did it! After repeated failures with my OEM air suspension, I had enough and removed it and replaced it with coilovers in front and coil springs in the rear.

The entire job took only 5 hours and I am very happy with the results. No more sagging, intermittent let down etc.. She stands tall and firm and I wish I would have done this months ago

My parts list is:
Rear coil spring - Bilstein 36-286539 (comes as a pair)
Rear coil spring isolator - MOPAR 2855789AB (2)
Front coilover struts - Rancho RS999930 & RS999944 (one PN is left, the other is right)
I also added a front 1 1/4" spacer to level the truck (already had the spacer)



1653865361740.png
 

jelyse

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Currently looking to do the same thing with my always-failing suspension. I have two major concerns - how is the ride compared to the air suspension, and how did you know you wouldn't lose towing capability with this setup? It sounds silly, but with the truck's ability to auto-level with the air ride, I want to make sure I don't suddenly have a sag! Maybe I'm thinking too far into this...
 
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Curt Gobbell

Curt Gobbell

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Jelyse, your questions are spot on.

Let me answer your questions like this:
1. Ride comparison - no spring setup will match the smoothness of air ride (period...end of report), which is why 'air ride' is a premium option and costs a pretty penny.
2. Reliability - air ride will fail. Not an issue of "IF", but "WHEN" and the "WHEN" is very frustrating. I kept an air nipple in my truck to add compressed air to my system when needed
3. The Rancho coilovers in the front allow me to set the front as firm or soft as I want which is really nice
4. The Bilstein coils in the rear are fine. Nothing special about them, but they are 1" oversized

I have not towed anything since I swapped the air ride for coilovers, but I have had several loads of sand and/or mulch (1 yard at a time) in my truck with no problems. Yes, the truck will ride low in the rear without air suspension, but it doesn't bottom out on the bump stops anymore :).

- Am I glad I replaced the air ride with coilovers? ABSOLUTELY
- Is the coilover suspension as soft as air ride? NOPE...but not far from it. I'm pleased with it.
- If I had to do it over, would I change anything? Perhaps...I may swap my rear Bilstein 4600 shocks for Rancho adjustables to allow me to firm up the rear like the front. But that is the only thing I would change.

The air ride just had too many issues that kept popping up and the cost to fix it was too high. I no longer have to worry about my suspension dropping on the bumpstops!!!!!!!!!!
 

Hemi395

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How are your CV angles with that setup in the front?
 
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Curt Gobbell

Curt Gobbell

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Cv angles are fine

The 3" body lift doesn't affect the suspension, and the 1.25" strut spacer (hockey puck) is minimal.
 

JAH18

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Curt, what Parts did you use for the 3" lift and the spacers?
 

WY-Dave

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3. The Rancho coilovers in the front allow me to set the front as firm or soft as I want which is really nice
When I had my Jeep, I got the Rancho adj shocks thinking that I could firm them up when towing the ATV and it's trailer, them back soft for day to day. I don't know if it was the WY winter, but they were the biggest POS I have seen. I had to use pliers to move the knobs. The guys on the Jeep forum had similar issues . I sent them back to Rancho and they "rebuilt" them. I had already worked out a deal with the shop that I bought them from for credit against the Fox shocks that I replaced them with. The old-timer salesmen usually advice against them, but of course I got one of the newbie salesmen. The shop were standup and after taking it from stock to this through them(can't see the regear and TruTracs, didn't hurt either haha
1706587033955.png
 
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Curt Gobbell

Curt Gobbell

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JAH18, I can't remember the brand name but it was a very inexpensive 3" body lift.

I'll look for the name...
 
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