Alright, I have a KW with a 8bag AirGlide 100 suspension. I want to be able to dump my left and right side bags independently. What do I need to know and what parts do I need to do this? Do I just seperate the left and right side lines, and run each to a dump valve in the dash? What about the ride height control valve? Is it possible to have three dump control switches on the dash, one left side, one right side, and one for both sides?
Dumping left and right side bags seperate
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by kwforage, Feb 28, 2009.
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Where I used to work, KW converted one the company owned T800s to a two leveling valve system, trying to cure a leaning problem. I couldn't tell you what parts were needed, nor the cost, (warranty issue). Driver dropped it off at KW, I picked him up, went to lunch, and stopped for parts at parts house, when we returned to KW, the truck was ready. No, didn't solve the lean either.
I fairly sure some KWs came from the factory with the two valves. Dealer can do a "research project" to give you an idea.
Hope this isn't for a dump truck; if so, you may regret the conversion. -
It's a silage truck, I want to be able to dump the upper side when driving across a steep hillside. We run in some very steep fields. It's only a matter of time until one of our trucks ends up on it's side.
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Understood, and good luck,
hope you'll carry soft sided lunch boxes, just in case.....lol -
My KW came with two leveling valves, it shouldn't be that hard to covert yours. Move the valve assembly to one side and do the other side just like it
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I understand your problem, but I think you are trying to get a truck to do something it isn't designed for. For the most part, in the past trucks with dual leveling valves had two valves for speedier response. I think everyone has gone back to just one valve because it wasn't worth the hassle. Two valves have to be timed just right, if not they are always fighting each other. Now, for your situation, I will just give my 2 cents. It would be bad for your frame, suspension, and driveline to have just one side inflated at a time. Your frame will have uneven loading and you are subjecting your frame to frame twist. The suspension will be relying on half the air bags on one side and the frame stops on the other to support the load. Everyone knows that a loaded truck frame banging against the stops will break something, possibly a banjo housing. With your suspension half dropped it changes your pinion angles on your axles with increases the working angle of the u-joints causing stress. I honestly think you are asking for trouble operating your truck like this. But if you must, a quick way without having to mount a second valve would be to make a "Y" off of the delivery port of the leveling valve. Each branch would feed each side of the air bags. Between the first bag and the leveling valve you could have one of those electric dump valves that are used in trailer lift axles. You would have to get the type that dumps just the outlet to exhaust and blocks the supply to the outlet so that when you are dumped the valve just doesn't exhaust supply air from the leveling valve or allow the air in the air bags on the other side to drain out too. You would have a dump valve for each side, wired to 2 switches in the dash. That way your regular suspension dump will still work too. Good luck!
kwforage Thanks this. -
I understand and have already thought of the problems you describe. These do concern me, but I do not know if they are worse that a truck on it's side. I would only dump one side in the very worst of situations. I do have Timbren suspension blocks in place of my bump stops, so even with the bags dumped I still have a little bit of suspension, not just bump stop on frame. Thanks for the advise.
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Good luck with that, just be safe!
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