Title says it all. I want to get a lot of rubber under the car as well as add air ride to the car. To do this I will start off with a minitub that extends all the way to just before the shock mount. With the body ready to accommodate as wide a tire as possible, I would move on to the air ride bags. There are two types, bog over shock $$$ and standard bag next to shock. Bag over shock has a 4" diameter spring. The standard bag is 5" and tapered. Not sure what the taper is yet though.

1. First issue is that when you minitub ALL the way out, you loose some of the spring pocket. This is less of an issue with the bag over shock since your shock hole is still there. With the standard spring bag, you mount this to a bracket that offsets the bag down about an inch or so. This is to make room for the air fitting that is on top of the bag. So this is my first clearance issue I will run into I think. If I run the standard bag. Only remedy I see is not tubing all the way out. Just tub to the edge of the spring pocket and hope that everything still fits and tucks.

2. Next issue, more of an annoyance than an issue is the front. I have tubular A-arms and want to mount the standard air bags. I think some custom brackets will solve this. I have herd that someone on here has done it, I have just never seen it.

Anyways, if anyone with airride has any install pics, or anyone with minitub install pics can post them here, please do so.

I would like to get this planned on paper before I buy anything.

Thanks.

 

Bump

 

In the rear, you are going to need to move the whole wheel tub in, not just the outer edges. At full droop, the lip of the rim goes down next to the factory bump stop. You have to move the whole wheel tub in to get full clearance for compression and droop.

I moved the wheel tubs on my IROC in all the way to the rear "frame rail". The inner wall of the wheel tub was moved inboard about 1.25-1.5" or so. The outer wall of the spring perch (where the stock bump stop is) bulges into the wheel well. I cut that completely out and plated it back in with a piece of flat stock such that the whole wheel tub is flush with the frame rail of the car. My outer fender lips are gently rolled in the rear and I'm confident I could tuck a 12" rim in the back easily. I have C4 Grand Sport 17x11 rear rims and can comfortably put my whole hand between the inner sidewall and wheel tubs. I think a 13" rim would fit with perfect backspacing.

Do a search for my IRS swap thread to see what I'm talking about.

 

I know nothing about airbag suspensions, but a conventional coil over shock in the rear works fine with a minitub to the frame rail like 1meanz is talking about.

If you bring the front wheel inboard until you're an 1/8" off the strut the front will probably fit better the rear, especially if you run lots of camber. Rolled fenders are needed of course. You'll need to trim the side ground effects and the back of the front fender for tire clearance at full lock. Also don't forget to extend the steering stops. I welded a chunk of 1/8" thick plate on the end of the stock ones; you don't need a lot but you definitely need it.

I'm stepping up from 315s on 11.5" wheels to 335/345's on 12's this year.

 

Not sure why you would need to do anything to the front. I have 9.5" wide rims now in the front. I think lots of people do and don't need to trim anything.

The rear is another story.

Unless I am remembering wrong. I have ZR1 rims now, the C4s. They are 9.5" front and 11" rear. I am running a 275 tire up front. Minor rubbing on the inside plastic fender well stuff, but thats it. I think I can get rid of that by running a 255 tire instead.

Anyways, happy to see you are stepping up to a wider rear tire. I would love to see how the install goes.

Thanks.