I am looking at adding a Cool Ride air bag system to get the best handling and stance i can out of my 70 chevelle.
Is there other suspension kits that get the same handling and stance for the same money?
the cool ride kit is about $2k

McFadyen,

Depends on what kind of stance you want. What are you looking for? 2" drop? Maybe more? With the Airride, you can constantly adjust it, plus lay it on the ground when you're at shows. The air ride gives a very different ride. Not bad at all, but its just alot different feel. Maybe like a diesel vs. a regular gas engine...both produce lots of power, but very different feels.

i would want minimum 2" drop.

Ait Ride is top notch stuff. I put a ART system on a 59 Impala & everything fit & worked great. 4 years and only problem was a burnt up compressor.

LK

Be aware, withthe "cool ride" set up you have to cut the frmae to clear the bags. Also you have to weld on the shock mounts to the frame. Just something to think about. I didn't mind cutting my frame since it's back halved. I have some pictures of the cool ride in my siganture. I think it's the second or third page. FWIW it does ride nice with the bags up front.

Also be aware that is does not improve the geometry at all; it corrects nothing in terms of camber gain, bumpsteer etc. If you want to adjust ride height it rocks, if you want an improvement in handling you need to alter the geometry with SC&C parts or our AFX spindle.

Tyler

The front of my frame is cut to make room for the bags. The rear is stock, no welding or modifications.

I agree with Tyler. His spindles and a Air Ride set up is absolutely killer, best of all worlds.

I only use and sell product we use and know are top shelf. We sell Air Ride Technologies exclusively

I've never heard anything but good things from Air Ride Technologies, but my air ride setup is all custom done. A shop out in my area called Bio Kustumz did all the work. It looks stellar, professional, and works great. And it was alot cheaper than ART stuff. Its just an idea, getting air ride from someplace other than ART. Good luck!

Tim, did Bio Kustoms use Slam Specialties bags on your car? If so, which bags did they use? I have some RE6's and some RE7's. Was wandering how they would ride on my Chevelle.

Jason,

I'm really not sure. I think they are Firestone brand. Is there someway that I could check for yah?

I know in the front they used a bag style(looks like two balls sitting on top of eachother), and in the rear a sleeve style(looks kind of like cylinder). I cant remember the reason now, but this gives it the best ride. I notice that ART does the same thing. Obviously its something in the design of the bag.

Yes. Using a tapered sleeve air spring on a straight axle rear suspension will give the best ride quality and most travel. A double convoluted air spring must typically be used up front to ensure enough load capacity.

They also have a company called www.airbagit.com (http://www.airbagit.com) which sells custom shockwave looking front bag setup. They are a 10 way adjustable strut for like $460.00. Even after finding this site though I'm still planning on going with air ride. To me, you get what you pay for and air ride is the best for a reason.

I just finished installing Air Ride shockwave single adjustable air bags with SC&C uppper control arms and tall upper and lower control arms. The handling is night and day compared to the stock control arms and air bag (essentially cool ride kit) With the initial air bag set-up ball joints would only last around 5000 miles and the bottom of the shocks would seperate from the shock body after extending the bags a couple of times. You do have to clearence the frame for the bags and or the shockwaves.

You can't go wrong with the SC&C and air ride combo.

I went with airbagit.com and its cheaper but you get what you pay for. Some of the parts didn't fit and it didn't come that complete. I ended up on going with air ride for the rest of my kit, my compressor and controller. I think the back bags that I got from airbagit are the double convoluted ones. They have the double rounded surface instead of the angled sleeve design. Sounds like this will sacrifice some of the ride quality.

i have the shockwaves in the front with the upper and lower strong arms

just as with the cool ride kit, you have to cut away a decent chunk of the fram so the bags can clear. It's not tough, just a bit intimidating i guess.

i love them tho! regular (not drop) spindles and i have my fender right below rim height, and i'm running 18's in the front. it rides GREAT and the ability to adjust is amazing. No more having to worry about scraping on weird parking lot/driveway entrances

as for the compressor/valve block/switches/tank, i just pieced it all together.

It was ~$1200 (at the time) for the bags and strong arms. Another 150 for the valve block, $60 for the tank, $75 for the switch box, and then the hoses/fittings/pressure & shutoff sensor

for the rear, if you plan on going with the shockwaves (since the whole set is only $300 difference) make sure you measure your rear shock compression at your current ride height. i have 19x10 in the rear and am about as low as i can go right now on springs without rubbing, but the shock is compressed to 16", when parked. i went to order the rear kit yesterday, but they do not have the 7" stroke kit coming out for another 6 months or so

let me know if you want any more info.
pictures of the car can be found at the website in my sig.
i can take pictures of the air setup this weekend if you want

EDIT: i would definitley go shockwaves over cool ride... cool ride IS cheaper, but a lot more hassle to put in, especially having to weld in brackets and everything. it also wont allow you to go as low in the rear as the shockwave kit (from what i understand)

i love my airride tech setup i have on my 65 chevelle.. i wouldnt change anything

Do you guys have any alignment issues by having such a variable ride height up front?

alignment at ride height (which is the important alignment) is no issue at all.....I aligned the car myself using the fasttrax tool, had no issues to hit the specks....

you don't care about alignment at the other 2 settings (all the way deflated and all the way inflated) as you will not be driving the car on these settings...

you don't care about alignment at the other 2 settings (all the way deflated and all the way inflated) as you will not be driving the car on these settings...

That's pretty much the way it is when you're running adjustable suspension.
Pick a ride height, set the alignment, and hope that you're close to that height when you hit the switch. Computer controlled height sensors really help in that regard, but it's still not perfect.

I've been dwelling on this decision for 6 months now, and finally went with a set of coils and some good adjustable shocks to compliment pretty much every part that SC&C offers. The lack of consistency in the ride height and alignment settings makes Air Ride a setup that leaves one with a few sacrifices when it comes to performance.

That's pretty much the way it is when you're running adjustable suspension.
Pick a ride height, set the alignment, and hope that you're close to that height when you hit the switch. Computer controlled height sensors really help in that regard, but it's still not perfect.

I've been dwelling on this decision for 6 months now, and finally went with a set of coils and some good adjustable shocks to compliment pretty much every part that SC&C offers. The lack of consistency in the ride height and alignment settings makes Air Ride a setup that leaves one with a few sacrifices when it comes to performance.
We're thinking along the same lines. I was wondering how consistent a particular preset ride height setting is. I guess there's no way for sure to keep it as consistent as possible (small air leaks, air temperature, etc?) but you're given the awesome option of variable ride height. Even with height sensors doesn't it variate based on if you're on flat ground or not? That's my ignorance speaking. I guess it's a personal decision for each at the end of the day.

I'm definitely a performance over function guy right now. I took 66 up in the local canyons this weekend. It's almost dialed in. I was able to keep up with the slower sport bikes and it felt darn good. A few more tweaks needed but I'm almost there with the setup. Will keep it on traditional springs/shocks for now and deciding on stiffer front springs.

Wish I had the funds to try this and that... I'd love to try out a set of shockwaves.

We're thinking along the same lines. I was wondering how consistent a particular preset ride height setting is. I guess there's no way for sure to keep it as consistent as possible (small air leaks, air temperature, etc?) but you're given the awesome option of variable ride height. Even with height sensors doesn't it variate based on if you're on flat ground or not? That's my ignorance speaking. I guess it's a personal decision for each at the end of the day.

I'm definitely a performance over function guy right now. I took 66 up in the local canyons this weekend. It's almost dialed in. I was able to keep up with the slower sport bikes and it felt darn good. A few more tweaks needed but I'm almost there with the setup. Will keep it on traditional springs/shocks for now and deciding on stiffer front springs.

Wish I had the funds to try this and that... I'd love to try out a set of shockwaves.

I'd love to try out an airride setup as well. I would be less concerned about the above with a car built for weekend fun than a car built to DD. Alignment and airpressure becomes a compounding issue as the miles wear on. Keeping an eye on tire condition, pressure monitoring and sensor health could be quite a task all on it's own, along with the normal maintenance routine for any car.

All that being said, there's is something about being able to adjust on the fly and lay-out to park that makes me want to dismiss all the little stuff. Then again, the price is an inital shock. :p

I am not really following you guys......the E3 controller that I have has a an auto setting that sets the car to the Ride Height preset every time you start the car....with the level sensors it achieves that same height within 1/8" every time....

And why would alignment and air pressure become an issue as "the miles compound on?" There is a compressor that adds air to the springs and any time, either automatically (see above) or manual with the push of a button as you please....

So are you concerned that the car will lose its ride height as you are traveling down the road?

Keeping an eye on pressure monitoring is as simple as looking at the LCD and seeing the air pressure of each bag....

Also, why would you not want air suspension on DD cars? Many come with air, and don't forget that all cars ride on air filled subjects, i.e tires :)

I think you are confusing yourselves or have not looked in to exactly how these systems work....

I have the Air Ride, Cool Ride air bag system on my 72 Chevelle and love it.

with the level sensors it achieves that same height within 1/8" every time....

<snip>

I think you are confusing yourselves or have not looked in to exactly how these systems work....

1/8" is far enough out that it will affect the alignment settings. Plus, it's not consistant enough to tune around it. How do you know which wheel it out? Now I have to look at a computer screen as I'm driving down the road?

I know the Air Ride guys competed with their 66', but I bet they set the alignment, and didn't touch the car prior to their runs.

And why?
Because it's not consistant enough for me to confidently "compete" with it.
So maybe it's you who's confused?

Wish I had the funds to try this and that... I'd love to try out a set of shockwaves.

Me too.
But for my next g-body project.

The a-body is built for consistant track whoring, and the odd weekend taking the family out for fun rides.
:beers:

1/8" is far enough out that it will affect the alignment settings. Plus, it's not consistant enough to tune around it. How do you know which wheel it out? Now I have to look at a computer screen as I'm driving down the road?

I know the Air Ride guys competed with their 66', but I bet they set the alignment, and didn't touch the car prior to their runs.

And why?
Because it's not consistant enough for me to confidently "compete" with it.
So maybe it's you who's confused?



Me too.
But for my next g-body project.

The a-body is built for consistant track whoring, and the odd weekend taking the family out for fun rides.
:beers:

What in the name of earth are you talking about? I really have no clue....

Why the heck would you have to look at a "computer screen?" Do you understand what the LCD displays and what these valuers represent, and how they change as the car travels, and how meaningless that is? Why would you want to check the air pressures in the bags as you are driving down the road? Doesn't your current suspension change as you drive down the road and do you monitor it constantly?

And what is not consistent enough? The ride height? If 1/8" is so important to you and you are a serious racer (since that 1/8" makes that much difference) measure the ride height at the fenders, and add a couple of psi in the bags (after the computer does not set it exactly where you want it to the thousands of an inch) and then you are at the exact height every time.......takes 2 minutes that any serious racer surely has prior to a race, right?

Lastly, I think you read too many magazines if you think 1/8" will change your alignment setting to the degree that you can't "confidently compete with it" !!!

You make so little sense for a guy so sure of himself...

When you have access to the tools like a laser alignment machine, and the knowledge of a crew that's done this for years, you become confident stating facts such as "changes in a vehicles height WILL CHANGE THE ALIGNMENT SETTINGS." Read it again, and come up with a viable argument against, rather than state I'm reading too many magazines. What a douche thing to say.

Ever see one of these on the machine?
Do you think that they come out of the factory with inconsistent ride height?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/hypasteve/meets_and_races/dales_meets/IMGP2178.jpg

Now it's time to give your head a shake.

the truth is that serious performers don't use the air ride, or any sort of adjustable suspension outside of coilovers, which have they own inherent issues. If they do use Air Ride, it's set and not touched again. And why? Because when you're going 145mph on the front straight at Pacific Raceways, you want to be as stable and confident as possible.

where does that performance come from, smart guy?
From the most important tuning one can do on their car, an alignment.

As for making those changes, sure you can do it at the track. But chances are you have other things to focus on. Why make it tougher for yourself?

2 minutes here and there turns into wasted hours. The bottom line is that the air ride market now is not at the competitive level yet. It's trinket stuff, built for style, not pure performance.

Come up with a viable argument against my last, bolded statement rather than whine into your keyboard like some sort of jaded teenager.