Air suspension system?

streetstang67 · Apr 11, 2006

This summer I'll be finishing the frame and suspension to my car. So far I've relocated the upper a-arms an inch down, added front disc brakes, subframe connectors, and a front 1" sway bar.

Now I need to tackle the springs. I was considering an AIR Ride or similar suspension because it looks like I could do that for the same price as new springs all the way around. AIR-over-leaf universal bolt-on kit for the rears ($230) and coil-rite kit for fronts ($80, and would have to relocate shocks), plus compressor and lines ($250)...Okay, mabye $560 is more than new coils and leafs, but they wouldn't allow variation in stiffness or ride height. What do you think about air suspensions? about this setup? suggestions are needed and appreciated, thanks!

streetstang67 · Apr 12, 2006

I'm surprised this isn't a hot topic...after watching a few tv shows advertising for air-ride, and doing a little reading, it seems like the best suspension option for everybody, nobody has it?

HHStang · Apr 12, 2006

I do, though my 67 is 4-linked and has a MII front suspension. I like the ability to lower it to get the stance right and raise it to make the car more driveable. I got all my stuff from godfathers customs (they are on the web). They seem to be a very large Airride dealer.

reenmachine · Apr 12, 2006

streetstang67 said:
...after watching a few tv shows advertising for air-ride, and doing a little reading, it seems like the best suspension option for everybody...

Boy, is their marketing working on you!

I've attended an Air Ride factory seminar and they certainly have their system tight & together. It probably rides great, and the ride height flexibility would be nice. It's just that most people think it's too much of a PITA to deal with, and don't want to fill their trunk with a tank, a pump, and a bunch of solenoids.

I don't think you'd really get the full benefit of this type of system by using air over leafs anyway. Plus, I think that removing most of your leaf spring would soften your rear suspension in the right-left and torsional directions, which is very undesirable if you actually drive your car.

IMHO, Air Ride is the kind of system that would be great if you go all the way and do it right, i.e. AirBar in the rear and MII in the front (like HHStang).

streetstang67 · Apr 12, 2006

I think your right that I'll loose lateral stability by removing leafs, so heres what i was thinking about. Using some tubing, make a rod to run from the front leaf spring mount back to the rear axle, which will hook up with u-bolts. Pretty much as if I cut the back half of the leaf spring off. Then I could put the airbag over the leaf or axle. Here's another pic, the only thing different is that I want to mount the bag on the front half, leaving the back void. I will also have to add a panhard bar. Please tell me what you think, I really need some feedback on this.

krash kendall · Apr 12, 2006

You will have to use heim joints at the front attachment point of your ladder bars or else the suspension will have next to zero roll (if any).

streetstang67 · Apr 12, 2006

Ok, so a little body roll is desirable then; as opposed to absolutely none?

And do you think this setup would work well?

302 coupe · Apr 12, 2006

not body roll, suspension/axle roll.

looks like you're going in the direction of a ladder bar system, just with airbags instead of coil overs, which to me seems kinda pointless. But, whatever, I don't fall for any of that stuff anyway.

That front cool-ride setup they've got looks really stupid.

what a waste. Sure you could 'lay frame' in the high school parking lot, but thats about the only purpose it could serve.

IMO, its not worth doing unless you do it all the way. Don't half-ass it like you were talking about in the original post. I'm with Reen on this one.

reenmachine · Apr 12, 2006

Well, that's what the Fatman WonderBar system is. He uses the front half of single leaf springs as trailing arms, a Panhard bar to control lateral movement, and Air Ride Shockwaves. I've driven it with regular coilovers and it's OK. The rear of your car rises when you accelerate, which feels weird.

http://www.fatmanfab.com/06page20.htm

302 coupe · Apr 12, 2006

on that Fatman rear kit, do the bags mount to a new crossmember, or do they just bolt into the existing upper shock holes. I think most people know what happens when the upper shock holes are subjected to high load.

reenmachine · Apr 12, 2006

302 coupe said:
on that Fatman rear kit, do the bags mount to a new crossmember, or do they just bolt into the existing upper shock holes. I think most people know what happens when the upper shock holes are subjected to high load.

Unfortunately, it just bolts to the shock holes with a small reinforcement plate. That's one of the reasons why I'm not installing them.

DukeGnarley · Apr 12, 2006

what is it exactly that you plan on using your car for? to me the air ride seems like a waste of money. sure you can change your ride height, but you also have to deal with compressors as was mentioned above. Also, unless you can find a way to make the car ride at exactly the same height every time you bring it off of the pavement, then you're going to run into uneven tire wear on the front due to the camber change at different ride heights. If your car also suffers from any bump steer, then your toe angle will also change with ride height.

THX 138 · Apr 12, 2006

streetstang67 said:
I think your right that I'll loose lateral stability by removing leafs, so heres what i was thinking about. Using some tubing, make a rod to run from the front leaf spring mount back to the rear axle, which will hook up with u-bolts. Pretty much as if I cut the back half of the leaf spring off. Then I could put the airbag over the leaf or axle. Here's another pic, the only thing different is that I want to mount the bag on the front half, leaving the back void. I will also have to add a panhard bar. Please tell me what you think, I really need some feedback on this.

What program is that? Catia? nice work.

HHStang · Apr 12, 2006

DukeGnarley said:
what is it exactly that you plan on using your car for? to me the air ride seems like a waste of money. sure you can change your ride height, but you also have to deal with compressors as was mentioned above. Also, unless you can find a way to make the car ride at exactly the same height every time you bring it off of the pavement, then you're going to run into uneven tire wear on the front due to the camber change at different ride heights. If your car also suffers from any bump steer, then your toe angle will also change with ride height.

All the new stuff is digital with memory, so the "remember what the settings were and alignment issues" aren't issues anymore...

streetstang67 · Apr 12, 2006

This car is just pretty much a weekend car, mabye occasionally a daily driver during the summer, I don't care about 'layin frame', I would not need a resevoir air tank, only the compressor, because I won't be changing it much. The reason I want air is so I can adjust the suspension from haulin ass through back mountain roads to cruising smoothly down the interstate.

I guess I could deal with coil springs and leaf springs, but I'd have to go through every pair to find which stiffness I liked best...I just don't know, thats why i'm checking out all the options

DukeGnarley · Apr 12, 2006

HHStang said:
All the new stuff is digital with memory, so the "remember what the settings were and alignment issues" aren't issues anymore...

I was unaware, and that is good to know

geneos5546 · Apr 12, 2006

well i wanted air ride, till i talked to the ring brothers they build 200,000 show cars all mustangs mostly 65 -68 and they just did one with air ride 4000.00 just for parts from air ride technologies, and cant keep front tires on the car, so i will stick with mostly stock performance up grades, also they said total control rides like lumber wagon

HHStang · Apr 13, 2006

Ring must pay double retail. It shouldn't cost more than $2,000-$2,500. Try godfatherscustoms.com. Call them, not online. Major discounter for Airride.

ForceFed70 · Apr 13, 2006

THe biggest problem with air-ride suspensions is that the firmness of the suspension works backwards for how you would want it.

With the car at it's max height you want a soft confortable ride, instead you get a stiffer ride. With the car lowered, you want a stiff ride for control and to help keep from bottoming out. Instead the ride is at it's softest with the vehicle lowered.

Way better than hydrolics tho!

reenmachine · Apr 13, 2006

HHStang said:
Ring must pay double retail. It shouldn't cost more than $2,000-$2,500. Try godfatherscustoms.com. Call them, not online. Major discounter for Airride.

I think he means $4k for front and rear. That would make more sense.

Air suspension system?

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