Where to buy air bags (for towing) for Mazda 3?

[Lumberjack]

I am looking at stiffening up the rear suspension as I have a very low motorcycle trailer I want to tow and am concerned about the car dropping too much when loaded. I have Googled and it's not jumping out at me and I am coming up with air kits to lower the car. Not looking for anything fancy just want to be able to use a manual pump to stiffen the rear so the trailer doesn't bottom out as it is extremely low and long and concerned about the the fulcrum point where the car and trailer meet bottoming out. I currently have a 5" rise draw bar and 5 1/2" is the biggest there is by the looks of it and the trailer is actually sitting very nice as is. I have to remove the trailer jack wheel to be on the safe side as there is only 4" clearance with the wheel. I am going to change the jack with one that swivels probably but I still would like to stiffen up the rear as I will be towing about 1000 lbs total.

I know not many people tow as it is not recommended by manufacturer and there isn't allot of information around. Any help pointing in the right direction would be greatly appreciated as it doesn't appear this has been covered in the forum searching.

[sarujo]

Paging Hyperion

[Hyperion]

What some people have done is bought a rear sleeve bag that fits inside their rear spring that they have hooked up to a very simple valve that you can fill with an external source. Perhaps at a gas station. Take a look at Air Lift's universal fitting bags

[silverstarmazda]

^trucks use these all the time, so it might be helpful to look towards that direction too

[Dave_The_BMXER]

http://www.airliftcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/pb-al1000-kit.jpg

http://www.airliftcompany.com/products/air-springs/air-lift-1000/

[Lumberjack]

I can find air bags - just not to fit my car as it isn't listed anywhere.

Found another forum for 3Speeds and bagging so I can't take all the credit. So I climbed under the car tonight and measured.

2012 Mazda 3 GT:

3.54" inside width
6.49" length (total)
5.5" length (to head of bolt)

I just measure to the bottom control arm approx as it is winter here and cold.

So i just got off the phone with Air Lift and they recommended Kit # 80754 3.44 x 5.5 the reason being that the bags can only hold 35 psi and they expand out (not up) and if they can't touch the sides of the springs they will just pop. IMO I would go with this kit on your car too.


Here is the data base from another forum if anyone is interested.

Repl. Kit# Bag# diameter height
60723 60223 46149 3 x 5.5
60793 60293 46149 3 x 5.5
60724 60224 46142 3 x 7
60756 60256 46143 3 x 8
60729 *components only 46144 3 x 9
80754 80254 46166 3.44 x 5.5
60739 60239 46136 3.44 x 7
80777 80277 46136 3.44 x 7
80753 80253 46135 3.44 x 8.75
60713 *components only 48171 3.44 x 10.5
81560 81260 48171 3.44 x 10.5
60789 60289 46125 4 x 4
60776 60276 46091 4 x 5
80702 80202 46091 4 x 5
60727 60227 46141 4 x 6
60795 60295 46141 4 x 6
60806 60306 46141 4 x 6
60774 60274 46137 4 x 7
60785 60285 46137 4 x 7
60751 60251 46129 4 x 8
60797 60297 46129 4 x 8
80590 80290 47162 4 x 8
60783 60283 46130 4 x 9
60788 60288 46130 4 x 9
80765 80265 46130 4 x 9
80545 80245 47078 4 x 10
60736 60236 46131 4 x 11
60738 60238 46131 4 x 11
80531 80231 47039 4 x 11
80537 80237 46131 4 x 11
80539 80239 46131 4 x 11
80523 80223 47027 4 x 13
60748 60248 46165 4.35 x 5.5
60743 60243 46172 4.35 x 6.5
60732 60232 46173 4.35 x 7
60763 60263 46161 4.35 x 8
60702 60202 46159 4.35 x 9
60779 60279 46159 4.35 x 9
60798 60298 46159 4.35 x 9
60799 60299 46159 4.35 x 9
61741 61241 46159 4.35 x 9
60740 60240 46160 4.9 x 4.25
60752 60252 46160 4.9 x 4.25

Kit# Repl. Kit# Bag# diameter height
60754 60254 46160 4.9 x 4.25
60796 60296 46160 4.9 x 4.5
60742 60242 46127 4.9 x 6
60792 60292 46128 4.9 x 8
60810 60310 46164 4.9 x 9
60769 60269 46123 4.9 x 10
60807 60307 46123 4.9 x 10
61792 61292 46123 4.9 x 10
60759 60259 46147 5.38 x 4.5
60777 60277 46147 5.38 x 4.5
60811 60311 46147 5.38 x 4.5
60809 60309 46151 5.38 x 6.5
60812 60312 46151 5.38 x 6.5
60813 60313 46151 5.38 x 6.5
60744 60244 46150 5.38 x 7.5
60728 60228 46133 5.38 x 8.5
60733 60233 46133 5.38 x 8.5
60747 60247 46134 5.38 x 9.5
60750 60250 46134 5.38 x 9.5
60786 60286 46134 5.38 x 9.5
60808 60308 46134 5.38 x 9.5
60755 60255 46132 5.38 x 10.5

[Lumberjack]

I tried installing the # 80754 3.44 x 5.5 bags in my Mazda3 GT (not 3speed) and didn't like the universal fit. The bags aren't tall enough and must use the spacers which I suspect may eventually fall out. I did some more research recently and found a company in Australia that sells Firestone airlift bags for Mazda3 and they appear to be proper height (don't have spacer at top to take up room for shorter bag. I suspect they list lift bags because North America doesn't have tow rating form Mazda3 but Europe does.

Air Suspension Helper Kit for Coil Springs High Pressure (they actually have two kits but I want this one for towing)

MAZDA 3 BK & BL 04-13SKU: CR5094HP
https://airbagman.com.au/collections/999800207-air-bag-suspension-for-mazda-3-bk-bl-04-13/products/cr5094hp?lfdnr=206541

The quote came back
Goods Total: $254.09 AUD
Shipping Cost: $105.00AUD
TOTAL: $359.09 AUD

BTW here is the measurements I took 2012 Mazda 3 GT:
3.54" inside width
6.49" length (total)
5.5" length (to head of bolt)

[G ~ MINI]

COOL Thanks !

[Lumberjack]

My measurement was wrong

3.54" inside width
8" length total to lower point of lower control arm
5.5" length (to head of bolt and top of lower control are)

Air Suspension Helper Kit for Coil Springs High Pressure (they actually have two kits but I want this one for towing)


MAZDA 3 BK & BL 04-13SKU: CR5094HP
https://airbagman.com.au/collections...p?lfdnr=206541


The quote came back
Goods Total: $254.09 AUD
Shipping Cost: $105.00AUD
TOTAL: $359.09 AUD
The bags are 8" tall including the spacers

[jeff7670]

Hey Lumberjack, I towed my Seadoo all the time with no issues and it was around 1500lbs. If you search my profile you will see I posted pictures and did a review.