Thread: Air Bags??

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Some one talk to me about Air bags for the back of my coupe?
I have coil overs now but like the Air bag thing for the back.
Anyone?
Dave

Mini truck?

why do you want bags only on the rear ? ride quality ? height adjustment ?
for ride quality , they are great for this also BUT a properly set of coilovers will ride just as good .
height adj. , great for this .
but i would not do a car with only the rear end on airride because you still have to run a tank,compressor,valves,and switches so why not do both ends ?
the days of bags for only " mini trucks " are old days , like NSRA or retired flordia residents . lol

If height adjusment is what you are looking for, air shocks would be cheaper if you want to raise the rear. If you want to lower the rear, lowering blocks work fine (providing you have leaf springs).

Jack

i have coil overs now. But would like to be able to adj hight and ride on the fly.
I am just at the mock up stage now. But close to pulling down and start painting.
I was think of a comp from a junk yard and 2 new air bag shocks.
i think a comp from a junk car would be cheap.
Well let me know if you have any links or info.
Dave

If you look at the rear of my truck I have bagged it. the reason I did it was I wanted the old look in the back with the model A spring but the ride of air suspension. I am only using an air compressor to inflate it. These cars are so lite you don't really need an air tank. The larger the bag you use the less air you will need and the better the ride will be. It's just volume of air verses pressure. Air shocks are good if you are only interested in raising or lowering if you are after ride quality you need bags. they are cheap.

give me a link to some info
pls

There are several distributors of this stuff. I buy mine here, a local guy that does installations. But one place comes to mind, www.airridepro.com

Originally Posted by daveyboy1956

give me a link to some info
pls

Get hold of Kenny D, he's installed a bunch of these and can give you the low down on what's good and what's junk. I've done a couple and know enough about them to know that buy the best components is the only way to go.....Please don't ask how I learned that......

In my opinion...on the right car...air bags are great! For example, on a driver which isnt intended to be a "period perfect" car...they ride better than any set of buggy springs or coil-overs out there, no matter how "perfectly matched" they are to the weight of the car. Again...this is only my opinion...I could be wrong!

I put them on the back of my sedan because it is a driver 1st...and I enjoy the car more when Im not worried about the harsh ride due to the limited travel...because it just has to sit right! Sedans are very difficult to get right because they can be set up perfect for stance and ride...but as soon as someone jumps in the back seat, you're back at square one. It is amazing how just a couple of hundred pounds changes everything.

Im not going to say there is no way you could talk me out of them, but I will say you would have your work cut out for you. The car rides better now than it ever has. I don't have a storage tank either since I am not into "up&down"...just changing every now and then for the highway or cruise when someone jumps in the back. And the small air pump handles this just fine.

If you have a rumble seat, or fill up the trunk often...air bags would work great to solve the problems of adjustments when needed. I know they work great on sedans!

Cool tell me what you used?
thanks Dave

i will only use air ride tech. parts , yes they are expensive BUT the quality is the best . i would recomend a shockwave on rear slipper style i think the part # is a 7000 , cost about 700.00 for a pair .it has a shock made into the bag ,and is adjustable on the shock valve.
i have used air ride with only a compressor in the old days , take a long time to air up( about 30 - 40 seconds ) but yes it will work . dont go to the junk yard to get a compressor order a cheap one from airride .
the biggest problem with air ride is people who try to use cheap or used parts
and them have problems with it . then they blame the air ride not the cheap parts .

Originally Posted by kennyd

i will only use air ride tech. parts , yes they are expensive BUT the quality is the best . i would recomend a shockwave on rear slipper style i think the part # is a 7000 , cost about 700.00 for a pair .it has a shock made into the bag ,and is adjustable on the shock valve.
i have used air ride with only a compressor in the old days , take a long time to air up( about 30 - 40 seconds ) but yes it will work . dont go to the junk yard to get a compressor order a cheap one from airride .
the biggest problem with air ride is people who try to use cheap or used parts
and them have problems with it . then they blame the air ride not the cheap parts .

I'm sure you have a lot more experience with this stuff than me. So this is just my opinion from personal cars I have built for myself. I have used the shockwave products and wasn't satisfied with the ride quality at all. They are much easier to install because of the compactness. The only way I have got an acceptable ride is with the largest bag and independent shock, so I could control the travel and the dampening.
Maybe I'm just to picky.

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

I'm sure you have a lot more experience with this stuff than me. So this is just my opinion from personal cars I have built for myself. I have used the shockwave products and wasn't satisfied with the ride quality at all. They are much easier to install because of the compactness. The only way I have got an acceptable ride is with the largest bag and independent shock, so I could control the travel and the dampening.
Maybe I'm just to picky.

shockwaves are double adjustable on dampening , plus ride is not made on air pressure alone , correct installed height of the bag at ride height is where your ride is made .

I use the Shockwave 7000. And they work great for me. I agree with kennyd...proper installation so the unit can work within designed specs is a must.