air ride
12-15-2004, 06:36 AM
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Car: 92 Z28
Engine: Boosted LSX
Yep, good article. I have that issue..
On a diff note. I was at PRI show last weekend and talked to Darren from ART. I asked him about Strutbags or just a Good Strut (koni,bisistein,etc) and a bag setup.
I said Price is no object and I could wait for AIRSTRUTS if its a better ride.he said with a GOOD STRUT a bag setup would be no difference in ride quality.
also there are NO strutbags being made at this time. The set You had Jeff was one of 3 prototype sets. All which are to short. he did say they finally pulled a firebird in the bay to start working on a setup for 3rdgens.
Prob talked to him for 20min.
On a diff note. I was at PRI show last weekend and talked to Darren from ART. I asked him about Strutbags or just a Good Strut (koni,bisistein,etc) and a bag setup.
I said Price is no object and I could wait for AIRSTRUTS if its a better ride.he said with a GOOD STRUT a bag setup would be no difference in ride quality.
also there are NO strutbags being made at this time. The set You had Jeff was one of 3 prototype sets. All which are to short. he did say they finally pulled a firebird in the bay to start working on a setup for 3rdgens.
Prob talked to him for 20min.
12-15-2004, 09:07 AM
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
chris, so going off what he said, if i run standard spring replacement airbags, and a good strut like bilstein or koni, it'll have a killer ride?
btw is this "too short" problem, the reason why QA1 refuses to make a strut for our cars?
btw is this "too short" problem, the reason why QA1 refuses to make a strut for our cars?
12-15-2004, 12:27 PM
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Originally posted by TPl383
Yep, good article. I have that issue..
On a diff note. I was at PRI show last weekend and talked to Darren from ART. I asked him about Strutbags or just a Good Strut (koni,bisistein,etc) and a bag setup.
I said Price is no object and I could wait for AIRSTRUTS if its a better ride.he said with a GOOD STRUT a bag setup would be no difference in ride quality.
also there are NO strutbags being made at this time. The set You had Jeff was one of 3 prototype sets. All which are to short. he did say they finally pulled a firebird in the bay to start working on a setup for 3rdgens.
Prob talked to him for 20min.
Yep, good article. I have that issue..
On a diff note. I was at PRI show last weekend and talked to Darren from ART. I asked him about Strutbags or just a Good Strut (koni,bisistein,etc) and a bag setup.
I said Price is no object and I could wait for AIRSTRUTS if its a better ride.he said with a GOOD STRUT a bag setup would be no difference in ride quality.
also there are NO strutbags being made at this time. The set You had Jeff was one of 3 prototype sets. All which are to short. he did say they finally pulled a firebird in the bay to start working on a setup for 3rdgens.
Prob talked to him for 20min.
well as long as you got an answer that works for you. hopefully they'll have their parts together soon.
12-15-2004, 12:57 PM
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here is the reply he sent me..
sounds like he just wanted to sell you something.... either way you can make a good setup with the standard bags so go with it. naturally you would have to convert to a coilover k-member to use the airstruts so it's just that much more hassle. i'm currently putting the front kit on my rs project so we'll see the difference, i don't expect much..
We will be having some more struts built but that is gonna be a couple months yet. For now they can just make a CoolRide kit for the front using my universal kit. I have had a few guys use this kit and say it works pretty good.
Last edited by Kandied91z; 12-15-2004 at 12:59 PM.
12-15-2004, 06:02 PM
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Car: 92 Z28
Engine: Boosted LSX
Originally posted by Kandied91z
here is the reply he sent me..
sounds like he just wanted to sell you something.... either way you can make a good setup with the standard bags so go with it. naturally you would have to convert to a coilover k-member to use the airstruts so it's just that much more hassle. i'm currently putting the front kit on my rs project so we'll see the difference, i don't expect much..
here is the reply he sent me..
sounds like he just wanted to sell you something.... either way you can make a good setup with the standard bags so go with it. naturally you would have to convert to a coilover k-member to use the airstruts so it's just that much more hassle. i'm currently putting the front kit on my rs project so we'll see the difference, i don't expect much..
So i dont think it was a blow me off answer. Even when I siad if you do have some id buy em now.
Travis,
Yes thats right. I made sure to ask. which would be better then since you dont have any airstruts to sell me right now. SHOULD I WAIT TILL YOU DO or SHOULD A BAG SET UP WORK.
his reply was to be Honest with a GOOD STRUT your not gona notice a difference.
So jeff why are you just doing a bag setup? Last we spoke via PMs and E-mail you said you keep the ART setup and bear setup?
12-15-2004, 07:02 PM
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2 cars now... i have so many left over parts and i recently came across a great deal so i'm building one that i can daily drive and not worry about where i park or what i do to it. still want some toys on it as well though and air ride is so nice that i can't see spending 4-500 for springs and the rest when i can spend slightly more and put it on air.
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12-16-2004, 09:38 AM
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im itching to do air ride . I wish thier was a complete list of thinsg i needed to do this . I guess im gonan have to go with bags all around if i do it . But i wonder if it can be done for aroudn 1000 bucks for everything .
12-16-2004, 10:01 AM
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
Originally posted by nolanr0413
im itching to do air ride . I wish thier was a complete list of thinsg i needed to do this . I guess im gonan have to go with bags all around if i do it . But i wonder if it can be done for aroudn 1000 bucks for everything .
im itching to do air ride . I wish thier was a complete list of thinsg i needed to do this . I guess im gonan have to go with bags all around if i do it . But i wonder if it can be done for aroudn 1000 bucks for everything .
keep in mind AirRide is a brand.. they are the best out there for complete kits. so if you want a nice pre-made kit like Air Ride does, it'll cost a little more then that.. but you wont be pieceing it together. it'll work right without you having to learn anything about air suspension systems.
your other option would be to buy a GM front coil kit, and a rear kit, and put them on.... the bags themselves arnt tooo pricy, but dont forget, you need lines, compressor and a tank...
and then, so your car doesnt bounce like crazy, you need stiff, modern performance shocks/struts... another $500
overall, that adds up.... if you're going to do the struts/shocks anyway, the price seems lower, but if not, you have to add that in.
if you want the really cool things, like ride height on startup, remote control, ect, then you're looking at even more money.
thats the reason alot more people dont have it.
12-16-2004, 01:03 PM
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yes the extras cost money but the valves, lines, tanks, bags are cheap.
$1,000 is not out of the question. all my parts for the rs are under $1,000 so far and i only need a controller now. i haven't used air ride technologies for this one though just to cut costs.
$1,000 is not out of the question. all my parts for the rs are under $1,000 so far and i only need a controller now. i haven't used air ride technologies for this one though just to cut costs.
12-16-2004, 01:26 PM
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
Originally posted by Kandied91z
yes the extras cost money but the valves, lines, tanks, bags are cheap.
$1,000 is not out of the question. all my parts for the rs are under $1,000 so far and i only need a controller now. i haven't used air ride technologies for this one though just to cut costs.
yes the extras cost money but the valves, lines, tanks, bags are cheap.
$1,000 is not out of the question. all my parts for the rs are under $1,000 so far and i only need a controller now. i haven't used air ride technologies for this one though just to cut costs.
who did you get your bags and compressor from?
12-16-2004, 03:55 PM
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see the thing that i need is to be able to go to a website like art's and just buy a package . I dont even know what i really need. I have bilsteins that have 200 miles on them so they will be fine , and id need front struts , bags , lines , valaves , but i dont knwo what part numbers and how big of line to get . Stuff like that.
12-16-2004, 06:39 PM
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i've answered all of these questions countless times on here...
just research the suspension, if you spend a few hours reading up on it which you should you'll find more then enough info.
my bags are firestone, my tank is generic through a wholesaler as well as my lines and valves are parker and i picked them up for cheap through a local semi dealer here.
just research the suspension, if you spend a few hours reading up on it which you should you'll find more then enough info.
my bags are firestone, my tank is generic through a wholesaler as well as my lines and valves are parker and i picked them up for cheap through a local semi dealer here.
12-17-2004, 09:23 AM
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
Originally posted by Kandied91z
i've answered all of these questions countless times on here...
just research the suspension, if you spend a few hours reading up on it which you should you'll find more then enough info.
my bags are firestone, my tank is generic through a wholesaler as well as my lines and valves are parker and i picked them up for cheap through a local semi dealer here.
i've answered all of these questions countless times on here...
just research the suspension, if you spend a few hours reading up on it which you should you'll find more then enough info.
my bags are firestone, my tank is generic through a wholesaler as well as my lines and valves are parker and i picked them up for cheap through a local semi dealer here.
where did you get the compressor from?
most of them out there are cheap, noisy and slow...
12-17-2004, 12:25 PM
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most....
all are noisy, some are cheap and only the pricey ones aren't slow. i went with the same viair i picked up from airride. a 450 model number.
all are noisy, some are cheap and only the pricey ones aren't slow. i went with the same viair i picked up from airride. a 450 model number.
12-17-2004, 10:26 PM
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Car: Guess
Engine: Crazy 8
Transmission: So close to being a manual I can taste it
I read that article and became very interested in possibly doing an air ride setup on my Z. Then I read that Spohn was about to release their coil over setups for our cars. Currently my car is set up with Bilstein struts/shocks and Eibach Pro kit. Rides okay, handles great. There's more in the suspension, but you get the idea.
What do you guys think(keyword, THINK) would offer and improvement in BOTH handling and ride quality. I have read numerous articles about both and don't have any experince with either in this situation. I don't want to slam the car to the ground and I don't need a car that handles like an F1 car. My car is used for mostly daily driving, but I want a setup that will offer both handling and improved comfort. What do you guys think?
I have read that either air suspension or coilovers could/would improve the handling AND ride comfort of my Z.
Lemme know...
Thanks,
Ryan
What do you guys think(keyword, THINK) would offer and improvement in BOTH handling and ride quality. I have read numerous articles about both and don't have any experince with either in this situation. I don't want to slam the car to the ground and I don't need a car that handles like an F1 car. My car is used for mostly daily driving, but I want a setup that will offer both handling and improved comfort. What do you guys think?
I have read that either air suspension or coilovers could/would improve the handling AND ride comfort of my Z.
Lemme know...
Thanks,
Ryan
12-17-2004, 10:35 PM
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Car: '87 Cam RS V6
Engine: Top Secret
Transmission: DYT700R4 custom inerts and conv.
The only real thing that will improve the ride quality of the car is to either lighten the unsprung weight, or increase the sprung weight. It costs big bucks to lighten the unsprung. Companies like Cadillac rely on a heavier weight chassis to provide the good ride they get. This is done mostly by adding the lush creature comforts into the cars that make them more grand than you average GM family sedan. They are most often the same chassis and suspension for the most part, only the overall sprung weight is increased due to the power everything and lushness inside the passenger areas.
Coilovers due decrease the unsprung weight and give a better ride and performance. Airbags are setup in a manor that give the same priciple as coilovers, but handling carateristics from airbags is less disireable for all out handling- otherwise, you would see racecars with them. Airbags are strictly for load control and people use them for adjusting ride height for looks.
A car with a 5:1 srpung to unsprung ratio with ride and handle much better than a car that is 2:1. Thats 2Lbs sprung weight for every one pound unsprung weight. So for every 5 lbs you drop off the chassis, you should try to at least drop about 1 lb off the moving suspension componants to mantain or better the ride quality and handling characteristics.
Coilovers due decrease the unsprung weight and give a better ride and performance. Airbags are setup in a manor that give the same priciple as coilovers, but handling carateristics from airbags is less disireable for all out handling- otherwise, you would see racecars with them. Airbags are strictly for load control and people use them for adjusting ride height for looks.
A car with a 5:1 srpung to unsprung ratio with ride and handle much better than a car that is 2:1. Thats 2Lbs sprung weight for every one pound unsprung weight. So for every 5 lbs you drop off the chassis, you should try to at least drop about 1 lb off the moving suspension componants to mantain or better the ride quality and handling characteristics.
Last edited by vsixtoy; 12-17-2004 at 10:42 PM.
12-17-2004, 11:54 PM
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Car: Guess
Engine: Crazy 8
Transmission: So close to being a manual I can taste it
Alright, great info.
So I am swaying more towards the coilover setup, mostly because installing all of the support equipment for an air setup would be a hassle to me. ANd I agree that air suspensions are mostly for looks and low riders, I don't need to make my car a low rider. THey look great, but I don't need that right now!! Maybe in a few years I'll buy another 3rd gen and slam it. Right now I want the best handling and ride comfort with the least amount of compromise I can get.
DIdn't some of you guys used to or still run coilovers?
So I am swaying more towards the coilover setup, mostly because installing all of the support equipment for an air setup would be a hassle to me. ANd I agree that air suspensions are mostly for looks and low riders, I don't need to make my car a low rider. THey look great, but I don't need that right now!! Maybe in a few years I'll buy another 3rd gen and slam it. Right now I want the best handling and ride comfort with the least amount of compromise I can get.
DIdn't some of you guys used to or still run coilovers?
12-19-2004, 02:56 AM
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lol.... lowriders. classic! coilovers definately won't give you a better ride then what a good strut spring setup will. at least not the affordable ones. having all the combinations possible all i can tell you is good luck.
12-27-2004, 02:29 PM
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Car: 89 RS
Engine: lo3
Transmission: 700R4 w/ B&M shift improver
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9-bolt posi
sorry to dig up an old topic, but i just got my PHR the other day and was very pleased to see that they ran an article about a 91 z28. It had an Air Ride suspension in it. It was custom installed at the Air Ride plant by the sounds of the article. But this looks promising for future third gen air suspensions. According to the article the car "handled better than the coil over suspension and rode as smooth as the stock spring and strut combination." I'm interested in an Air Ride suspension, but no money right now. I cant find the article online but it was a good write up, its nice to see third gens in the hot rod magazines.
-chuck
-chuck
12-27-2004, 02:34 PM
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Car: 89 RS
Engine: lo3
Transmission: 700R4 w/ B&M shift improver
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9-bolt posi
OMW thats your car! jeez, just noticed that. Beautiful, props on getting into the magazine, i love your car. Cant believe i didnt put two and two together earlier, im just sitting here looking at the pics in my mag, and then your cardomain site. hott. lol.
-chuck
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12-27-2004, 09:07 PM
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lol.... thanks, i appreciate it. if you have any specific questions feel free to pm me. i have alot of links that dig up parts and info on everything you need to do it cheap yourself or get something as simple as a complete kit from air ride.
good luck with your project, air ride is alot of fun.
good luck with your project, air ride is alot of fun.
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