Question Installing airbags

heididog · #1 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 10:41 AM

Hello everyone - great site and glad to be a member!
OK - have the 07 Tundra and just picked up an 8 foot Okanagan Camper. Already had Firestone airbags on the bench ready for install - any suggestions for best method to cut off the jounce bumpers - recipro tends to get very smoky - one suggestion was to add a bit of lube to the recipro blade - a knife tends to bind. I know someone out there has done this before.

Next step - create the tiedowns.

Thanks
Neil

d-lo · #2 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 02:11 PM

i used a utility knife with a fresh razor and had them both cut in 15 minutes. it helped a lot to push the stop away from where i was cutting, 'opening' the cut.
someone also loosened the u-bolts enough to remove the stop entirely.

heididog · #3 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 07:52 PM

Thanks - I'll have a look at both methods - any ideas what torque spec would be if I follow the u-bolt method? I also now see there is a section on suspension - I guess scrolling down has its advantages...oops

rainman500_0 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 04:20 PM

Hello I did mine last weekend, i used sawzall it did smell and smoke, gets it done quick.

heididog · #5 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 04:59 PM

Started that way but ended up looking and smelling like the Exxon Valdez on fire - went to plan B - way cleaner. Murphys Law was dictating that I would have probably reciproed through my brake cables and sensor lines anyways so its good I stopped.

Thanks Toxarch for the spec - I also posted in suspension - just ignore that - that torques is quite a bit lower than previous models eh?

Neil

heididog · #6 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008, 02:01 PM

OK, installed the airbags and tightened the u-bolts to 74 ft/lbs - seemed like it was about right as far as pull was concerned. For the heck of it I called my dealer and the service techasked a mechanic who came back with 52 ft/lbs. Great - Is the tech maybe talking about the driveshaft u-bolts (thats probably too high, eh?)
Does anyone have an 07 manual or is that where you got your info, Toxarch?
Thanks again.
Neil

d-lo · #7 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heididog

OK, installed the airbags and tightened the u-bolts to 74 ft/lbs - seemed like it was about right as far as pull was concerned. For the heck of it I called my dealer and the service techasked a mechanic who came back with 52 ft/lbs. Great - Is the tech maybe talking about the driveshaft u-bolts (thats probably too high, eh?)
Does anyone have an 07 manual or is that where you got your info, Toxarch?
Thanks again.
Neil

which u-bolts are you talking about? the airbag u-bolt spec is in the instructions. if you removed the u-bolts that hold the axle to the leaf springs to take off the bump stops, i'd go with the spec a toyota mechanic cited for those.

heididog · #8 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008, 03:02 PM

Thanks for pointing that out - never looked at it that way. This would be the u-bolts that hold the axle to spring pack. I dunno - 52 ft/lbs seems a bit light.

d-lo · #9 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008, 03:21 PM

I agree that 52 ft-lbs sounds a bit light, but a spec is a spec. just make sure the mechanic knew exactly which bolts y'all were talking about.

d-lo · #10 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008, 06:32 PM

well... there ya go... thanks tox!

heididog · #11 (**permalink**) 05-24-2008, 09:43 AM

Thanks Tox -I did have confidence in you - thats what I had torqued to already - did some other poking around - 52 ft/lbs is what the drveshaft to yoke bolts are - communication is the key. Thanks everyone for your help. Now to begin building the camper tie downs....