I have an nbs but I thought this would be good info for an obs owner that wants to bag their truck. The info is genaric with some nbs specific stuff so do your best to weed out stuff you don't need.
copied from other site:
I know there has been multiple threads on this but I want to show how I bagged my nbs. I tried to keep most of the info generic but I also threw in some nbs specific information. I have recieved multiple private messages asking for my build thread or general air bag questions. So here is my explination, opinions and how I did it. If you have any general air bag questions or nbs air bag questions feel free to ask me and I will update this thread to answer the question.
To start off I want to explain how an air bag system works. The heart of an air bag system is the air management. You have to have a way to compress the air and then store enough of it to fill the 4 seperate air bags that will support the truck. I use an engine driven compressor but some other people use 1 or more electric compressors. The compressors are turned on using a pressure switch. When the pressure drops in the air tanks to a certain level the pressure switch shorts and completes the electric circuit to turn the compressor on. I use 2-5 gallon tanks to store air which is plenty to lift the truck to ride height from the ground. The minimum pressure switch I would recomend would be a 150psi, and the maximum I would recomend is 200psi.
With the air stored in the tanks there has to be a way to transfer the air to the bags. Some people choose to control the front air bags together and back air bags together but I prefer to contol each bag separately. To control each bag separately you will need 8 valves. 4 of them will fill each bag and 4 will dump the air out of each bag. When I first bagged my truck I used an avs-9 switch box to control my 8 valves. It has 9 switches that can control each bag individually, the front, back, left, right, or all bags at once. Asside from 8 individual valves there are valve manifolds availible also. I have upgraded from 8-3/8" valves to 1 Accuair VU4 manifold. And instead of the avs-9 switchbox I upgraded to the Accuair E-level. For more info on Accuair go to gmfullsize.com and search accuair or go to accuaircs.com.
Installing the front air bags is simple. All you need is the air bags and some cups to make the desired length between the lower control arm and the spring pirch. I also used a 2" drop spindle. But, on an obs, to lay out, you will need to do some trimming to the spring pirch and make room for the tie rod. When you get to that stage you will have to figure out what to cut.
The back is way more complicated. There is an infinate number of ways to do the back so I will just explain the basics and go more into depth with what I have. No matter what you choose to to do you have to get rid of the leaf springs and the hangers that hold them to the frame. To control the axle you can use a 2, 3, or 4 link. I have what is considered a 6 link but it is basicaly a 4 link with extra attachments to attach the bags to the axle. You will also need a way to keep the axle from moving side to side (unless you use a tri-4 link or wishbone). I used a watts link but a panhard bar works also.
I will continue to add info to this but this is atleast a start for now. If I left something out or you have questions please feel free to let me know.
copied from other site:
I know there has been multiple threads on this but I want to show how I bagged my nbs. I tried to keep most of the info generic but I also threw in some nbs specific information. I have recieved multiple private messages asking for my build thread or general air bag questions. So here is my explination, opinions and how I did it. If you have any general air bag questions or nbs air bag questions feel free to ask me and I will update this thread to answer the question.
To start off I want to explain how an air bag system works. The heart of an air bag system is the air management. You have to have a way to compress the air and then store enough of it to fill the 4 seperate air bags that will support the truck. I use an engine driven compressor but some other people use 1 or more electric compressors. The compressors are turned on using a pressure switch. When the pressure drops in the air tanks to a certain level the pressure switch shorts and completes the electric circuit to turn the compressor on. I use 2-5 gallon tanks to store air which is plenty to lift the truck to ride height from the ground. The minimum pressure switch I would recomend would be a 150psi, and the maximum I would recomend is 200psi.
With the air stored in the tanks there has to be a way to transfer the air to the bags. Some people choose to control the front air bags together and back air bags together but I prefer to contol each bag separately. To control each bag separately you will need 8 valves. 4 of them will fill each bag and 4 will dump the air out of each bag. When I first bagged my truck I used an avs-9 switch box to control my 8 valves. It has 9 switches that can control each bag individually, the front, back, left, right, or all bags at once. Asside from 8 individual valves there are valve manifolds availible also. I have upgraded from 8-3/8" valves to 1 Accuair VU4 manifold. And instead of the avs-9 switchbox I upgraded to the Accuair E-level. For more info on Accuair go to gmfullsize.com and search accuair or go to accuaircs.com.
Installing the front air bags is simple. All you need is the air bags and some cups to make the desired length between the lower control arm and the spring pirch. I also used a 2" drop spindle. But, on an obs, to lay out, you will need to do some trimming to the spring pirch and make room for the tie rod. When you get to that stage you will have to figure out what to cut.
The back is way more complicated. There is an infinate number of ways to do the back so I will just explain the basics and go more into depth with what I have. No matter what you choose to to do you have to get rid of the leaf springs and the hangers that hold them to the frame. To control the axle you can use a 2, 3, or 4 link. I have what is considered a 6 link but it is basicaly a 4 link with extra attachments to attach the bags to the axle. You will also need a way to keep the axle from moving side to side (unless you use a tri-4 link or wishbone). I used a watts link but a panhard bar works also.
I will continue to add info to this but this is atleast a start for now. If I left something out or you have questions please feel free to let me know.
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