Aftermarket air ride (air ride 5000) concerns.

[Dschweiger15]

Is it normal for there to be a gap between the truck and the bottom plate of the air bags? The plate has 2 hook brackets on one side and carriage bolts on the other but with my truck sitting on Jack's, there is a sizeable gap between the 2.

Im looking for a clunking noise that has been coming from the rear of my truck and im thinking I've found it, is this normal? Is welding the air bags to the truck an option or suggested? And why does my driver side bag look crooked?

 

[DILLIGAF]

Use airbag cratles

 

[Dschweiger15]

Does that eliminate the plate bracket at the bottom where the gap is?

The clunking noise im hearing is fairly loud and would more than likely affect the handling/suspension of the ride IF it was something other than this gap. Not saying that's the cause for sure but im not finding anything else that looks like it could produce the same clunk. It really only happens at slower speeds or that I notice is when im going slower.

 

[Dschweiger15]

I should have looked up better before replying. Lol I did a quick Google search of them to see what they were and replied. After my message, I went to see which ones I would need and looked at AIR RIDE's site.

So with these cradles, it leaves the air bags suspended similar to the jounce bumpers?... thats neat. I'd have to make sure everything is installed straight and square then hey? So when inflated, it's positioned correctly in the cradle.

 

[buckeyexx]

It will eliminate the bottom plate on the bag all together. No need for bottom bracket or plate. When you install the cradles the bottom of bag will rest on cradle allowing the bag to lift when needed. As bad as the rust looks I hope you able to get the bottom plate off without issue. To me it looks as if whoever installed them in the first place was trying to do what the cradle is for but not smart. You are probably hearing the plate smack the bump stop pad.

 

[buckeyexx]

Oh and they won’t be suspended like the picture when on ground. They will rest on cradle like normal but not attached to anything. Hope that makes since.

 

[crash68]

And why does my driver side bag look crooked?

With the suspension fully extended like that, it's the arc of the panhard bar that causing the driver's side of the axle to swing twords the passenger side.

 

[wtgmd1]

Hi everyone-
I am a newbie to all this, so just looking for some helpful answers. Have spent a couple of hours searching this site's forums, but cannot seem to find an answer. I have a 2022 Ram 3500 DRW Limited Longhorn, which is mostly a daily driver but occasionally I use to tow a 20K 5th wheel RV. I know the ride is super stiff (as designed) just driving around unladen, and it seems that lowering the rear tire pressures (Falken Wildpeak A/T3W) 10-20 PSI from the 65 PSI they are at now is about the only thing one can do to make the ride less harsh (is this accurate?). My question is this: what would adding Air Ride airbags do to the unladen vs laden ride quality? I just do not know what adding airbags to the rear would offer, and so am opening up the question to you more-experienced nice people. Thank you for any help!

 

[olyelr]

Hi everyone-
I am a newbie to all this, so just looking for some helpful answers. Have spent a couple of hours searching this site's forums, but cannot seem to find an answer. I have a 2022 Ram 3500 DRW Limited Longhorn, which is mostly a daily driver but occasionally I use to tow a 20K 5th wheel RV. I know the ride is super stiff (as designed) just driving around unladen, and it seems that lowering the rear tire pressures (Falken Wildpeak A/T3W) 10-20 PSI from the 65 PSI they are at now is about the only thing one can do to make the ride less harsh (is this accurate?). My question is this: what would adding Air Ride airbags do to the unladen vs laden ride quality? I just do not know what adding airbags to the rear would offer, and so am opening up the question to you more-experienced nice people. Thank you for any help!

It would do absolutely nothing.

Yea, definitely lower the air pressure for sure when not towing.

 

[crash68]

My question is this: what would adding Air Ride airbags do to the unladen vs laden ride quality?

What your up against is the leaf springs, there's nothing just adding airbags to stock suspension would.
Keldermam makes a 4-Link air suspension kit for 3500s, this removes the leaf springs and rides on air bags.

https://kelderman.com/product/2019-ram-3500-p-u-4x4-4-link-rear-air-suspension/

 

[wtgmd1]

Thank you both (olyelr and crash 68) for responding!