Air Ride Suspension?

[210jose]

I have heard goog and bad comments on this suspension. I am caught in the middle and don't really know if I should go ahead and use this suspention. Has anybody had problems with this type of suspension. Don't get me wrong, the end result looks great when you can cruise low and slow but how is the performance of it?

[Russell@NerdRods]

Are you asking about Air Ride Technology full kit, Corvettes suspension with air ride shockwaves (air bag over shock) or are you asking about just putting air bags on a stock rear end?

-Russell

[MyMotovation]

I love my air ride system...I have bags with the stock a arms in the front and a triangulated three link in the rear...Im running two pumps and an eight gallon tank...The ride quality is much better than the lowering springs that were on the car prior...My car is more of a cruiser than a performance machine but it will carve a corner without any extreme body roll and it will hook up pretty well when accelerating...

[carls 56]

hi jose and welcome! what you got

[Russell@NerdRods]

Here’s what I’ve learned on the performance end of things on our chassis (Hot Rod Jim Frame for, C4 Corvette suspension). The Air ride is nice since you can fine tune the air pressure on the fly, the same thing as being able to pretention the spring directly but on all 4 shocks at the push of a button or whenever you key on the car. Good for fine tuning with different loads of people and cargo. The only down side id that you end up pushing the car up higher under the spring rates you would need to really throw the car around and make it grip properly. The solution is BIG sway bars. Stuff you would see on most road race cars. Cross that with a the double adjustable shock so you can fine tune the chassis rebound and compression and you’ll be off to a good start.

But that’s on one of our Corvette Suspensions I don’t know the real weak points of the stock suspension other than your working with 50 year old technology, bad geometry and a weak frame old.

-Russell

[Chevy57Ray]

Hi, Hello, Bienvenue, Welcome to trifive, Jose. I got Air Ride ShockWave at the front on stock arm suspension & still on leaves at the rear and I like it more then stock ride. It is stiffer & the handling is great. If you got some fear questions, just ask for it.

[210jose]

I have 1957 bel air 210 model. No pics yet, but I just got it from my grandpa. It was sitting in his ranch for probly over twenty years or more. It is deffinatly going to be a restoration project.

[Russell@NerdRods]

When you get it you need to start a project page to keep us all up to date on your 210. What do you want out of the car? drag car, cheap street car, street machine, street fighter?

I'm selling my 150 57 to build a Delray 55 Street fighter class car to compete in some serious time attack and road racing events with the Pro-Touring Crowds but I want it street legal too so I'm going with coil overs, custom shocks and huge swaybars. The car will be a little stiffer than a Z06 corvette but I like it like that.

Jim, my father is building a 57 Hardtop, Project MeTTeor if you search for it. He wants something more cursing oriented but with some power too. So we’re going with a twin turbo LS1. We also want the car to do a 200MPH run at the Texas Mile when it’s done. So for his car we're going with Air Ride Shockwaves on our chassis and our sport kit. A nice soft ride and the turbos will only give you power when you get up to 2400 RPM’s so it will be tame beast too.

Same TriFive bodies same frame with similar chassis components 2 different ends of the stick. So that’s why I ask what you want to with the car. If its not comfortable you won't drive it and after all that work (and money) that’s the last thing any of us want. You wouldn’t use a 5 year old cell phone why would you think a 50 chassis would work like a new car unless you work it over with the right combination of new technology to do what you want.

Good Luck and feel free to ask us any questions you might have, A dumb question is better than a dumb mistake anyday and we’re not all born into the car world either.

-Russell

[Godzilla4995]

I finally have the time, but limited funds to begin working on my 55 bel air (married and our first child is due soon). My first job is to update the suspension with some sort of air ride to get a smoother and lower ride. The first issue is that the front clip was removed and I believe a camaro clip was welded. My father had the vehicle for many years and did most of the work, however, he passed away and I am finally ready to work on it.
Would any of you have any options on determining the type of front clip that was installed. I tried locating the person responsible for putting the clip on, but cannot locate him.
In addition, would you all have any suggestions on the brand and type of air ride suspension I should look at?

Thanks!

[Chevy57Ray]

Originally Posted by Godzilla4995

In addition, would you all have any suggestions on the brand and type of air ride suspension I should look at?

Air Ride Technology at the below site is among the best with a stock, Corvette or Camaro front Clip. A bit price, but the best of the industry.

http://www.ridetech.com/index2.html