Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MfBox · 06-01-2018, 03:39 PM

So i have a 1969 C10 with a 6.0 Ls swap on air ride suspension. I realized quickly i dont want air ride anymore. Im looking for a quality comfortable ride. Ive seen the full coilover options for front and rear run about 5k to purchase. Anything that i could buy thats a little cheaper? Im not looking to autocross this thing just a nice cruiser with a soft comfy ride. Any suggestions or links would be crazy helpful. Also right now i have CPP disc brakes all around and 20" weld racing wheels.

demian5 · 06-01-2018, 04:31 PM

Interested in your air ride...

I installed a CPP suspension in a 69 Chevelle and it handles amazing afterwards. Full tube control arms front and rear. Almost went with with the coil overs, but that would just lend to adjust ability of ride height.

MfBox · 06-01-2018, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demian5

Interested in your air ride...

I installed a CPP suspension in a 69 Chevelle and it handles amazing afterwards. Full tube control arms front and rear. Almost went with with the coil overs, but that would just lend to adjust ability of ride height.

Cool! What does that full system cost installed?

demian5 · 06-01-2018, 06:07 PM

I installed it myself, but the kit costs are here. If you have the $$ I recommend

Deluxe Chassis Kit:
http://www.classicperform.com/Store/.../6770DCU-K.htm

Or the pro touring kit
http://www.classicperform.com/Store/.../6370PTK-1.htm

Ekliptix · 06-01-2018, 07:18 PM

Those kits in the links would be good.
Cheaper, you can go with ECE (early classic enterprise) kits.
The street grip kit here also looks pretty good, depending on your budget. I think it's more performance focused then CPP or ECE. https://www.ridetech.com/application...72-c-10-truck/

MfBox · 06-02-2018, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekliptix

Those kits in the links would be good.
Cheaper, you can go with ECE (early classic enterprise) kits.
The street grip kit here also looks pretty good, depending on your budget. I think it's more performance focused then CPP or ECE. https://www.ridetech.com/application...72-c-10-truck/

that kit looks great. In your guys opinion if i slapped this ridetech kit in and ripped the bags out would it be a nice normal truck ride? Im sick of bouncing down the road

MfBox · 06-02-2018, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demian5

Interested in your air ride...

I installed a CPP suspension in a 69 Chevelle and it handles amazing afterwards. Full tube control arms front and rear. Almost went with with the coil overs, but that would just lend to adjust ability of ride height.

yeah its a nice kit just isnt for me way too much bounce for these colorado roads. Ill let you know when its off the truck.

4oldcars · 06-02-2018, 03:53 PM

I got rid of my air ride many years ago and went back to stock with drop spindles and springs. Never looked back.

Andy4639 · 06-02-2018, 05:18 PM

I have had a whole air ride system for 4 years now and for the life of me can't bring myself to doing it. I love the ride in my truck. Honestly I would rather have my 71 under me than my 08 Tahoe are wifes 13 Treverse.

My 71 has 3" dropped coils all around with air lift helper bags in all four of them. With 20lbs of air each and I'm telling you it rides unbelievable!
Nothing fancy just done right. I have the rears hooked to a compressor for loads in the truck. The fronts stay at 20lbs all the time.

Robznob11 · 06-03-2018, 12:43 AM

My air ride is a great ride....your problem is likely the large rims or you are not running the best pressures for ride. If you adjust for the look you probably wont have the best ride....for me I run 65psi up front and 25 in the rear. Above 25 in the rear and it's a harsh ride...it will hook up a little better with more psi tho. You will also probably benefit from the no limit shock relocation kit.

MfBox · 06-12-2018, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robznob11

My air ride is a great ride....your problem is likely the large rims or you are not running the best pressures for ride. If you adjust for the look you probably wont have the best ride....for me I run 65psi up front and 25 in the rear. Above 25 in the rear and it's a harsh ride...it will hook up a little better with more psi tho. You will also probably benefit from the no limit shock relocation kit.

i do have the large rims but ive ridden in another truck with bigger rims and the ridetech streetgrip system and it rode like a new silverado. Thats what i want. Plus a little less body roll would be nice. Does anyone have the kit on their truck?

abohler1 · 06-12-2018, 07:02 PM

Are you running shocks at all now? That may help and not need to rip and replace.

Another option that is expensive but the best of all worlds is hydroshox. You can set the ride comfort with a coil over, and adjust height with the hydraulic. Kits are about 5k though.

MfBox · 06-12-2018, 07:21 PM

Yeah i have new shocks front and rear. Still a super bumpy ride and the valves leak so i need to adjust them on the bags because the air only holds for about 2 hours. Then the truck leans one way or the other depending on which bag goes low.

**HO455** · 06-12-2018, 09:33 PM

Air ride is not for everyone. You have to really want it to put forth the effort to make it ride well. That being said I would bet those 20's your riding on are not helping the at all ride. What tire brand and size do you have mounted on them? Do you have dropped spindles on the truck?
New cars have thousands of engineering hours into making them ride well with large low profile wheels and tires. Spring rates, control arm lengths, mounting location, bushing sizes and material selection, bearing diameters, range of travel, and not to mention all of the variables in the shocks. That is just the tip of the iceburg. You may get lucky and throw a set of wheels on and have them work to your satisfaction, but I wouldn't be so lucky. So learn all you can. Drop on over to the suspension side and spend a week reading. I also recommend talking with various manufacturers about packages that will deliver the ride quality and the look you want. Take notes. Find someone local and have them take you for a ride. Ride quality is an opinion. Every selection you make is a trade off. Your knowledge is the only way to keep the costs under control.
For the ride you describe, the lower you go, the harder it is to achieve. The same goes for tires, the lower the aspect ratio, the harsher the ride. Our truck suspensions were designed to be cheap to build, relatively safe, and not much else.

slowcpe · 06-13-2018, 11:05 AM

I've ridden in Ridetech old shop truck Gumby and its what sold me on air for my '67.

I've also driven Ridetech's shop truck equipped with the Street Grip kit and was amazed at how well it drove and handled. I keep tossing the idea back and forth to put that on my '72.

06-01-2018, 03:39 PM	#1
MfBox Registered User Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Glendale Colorado Posts: 84	Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! So i have a 1969 C10 with a 6.0 Ls swap on air ride suspension. I realized quickly i dont want air ride anymore. Im looking for a quality comfortable ride. Ive seen the full coilover options for front and rear run about 5k to purchase. Anything that i could buy thats a little cheaper? Im not looking to autocross this thing just a nice cruiser with a soft comfy ride. Any suggestions or links would be crazy helpful. Also right now i have CPP disc brakes all around and 20" weld racing wheels.

06-01-2018, 04:31 PM	#2
demian5 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Lake Forest, CA Posts: 2,177	Re: Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! Interested in your air ride... I installed a CPP suspension in a 69 Chevelle and it handles amazing afterwards. Full tube control arms front and rear. Almost went with with the coil overs, but that would just lend to adjust ability of ride height. __________________ "Work hard, use your vacation days." 1970 C15 GMC Long Bed 1986 C20 Scottsdale 1983 K2500 Sierra Classic Suburban 6.2 Instagram: C10sofOC

06-01-2018, 06:07 PM	#4
demian5 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Lake Forest, CA Posts: 2,177	Re: Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! I installed it myself, but the kit costs are here. If you have the $$ I recommend Deluxe Chassis Kit: http://www.classicperform.com/Store/.../6770DCU-K.htm Or the pro touring kit http://www.classicperform.com/Store/.../6370PTK-1.htm __________________ "Work hard, use your vacation days." 1970 C15 GMC Long Bed 1986 C20 Scottsdale 1983 K2500 Sierra Classic Suburban 6.2 Instagram: C10sofOC

06-01-2018, 07:18 PM	#5
Ekliptix Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 683	Re: Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! Those kits in the links would be good. Cheaper, you can go with ECE (early classic enterprise) kits. The street grip kit here also looks pretty good, depending on your budget. I think it's more performance focused then CPP or ECE. https://www.ridetech.com/application...72-c-10-truck/ __________________ 1972 Cheyenne Super SWB PS, PB, Tach, A/C, Tilt. Drivetrain: Built 402BB, TCI Streetfighter 700R4, 2,500 stall, Eaton posi, 3.73. Suspension/Chassis: ECE 4.5/6.5 drop, CPP nitrogen shocks, CPP front and rear sway bar, CPP cross members. Exhaust: 3" exhaust with x-pipe, Spintech 3000 mufflers, Hooker ceramic coated headers. Best 1/4 mile time: TBD.

06-02-2018, 03:53 PM	#8
4oldcars Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: On The Beach, S C Posts: 613	Re: Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! I got rid of my air ride many years ago and went back to stock with drop spindles and springs. Never looked back. __________________ 4oldcars Driving: 1971 Jimmy w/68 Chev front clip, 1953 Bel Air 2 dr hdtp, 1996 Roadmaster wagon, 2000 Eldorado The ones I let go: 1931 2 dr sedan, 1935 pick up, 1938 2 dr sedan, 1962 SS 454, 1963 409 wagon, 1970 short bed, 1972 short bed, 1972 sub, 1976 short bed, 1986 long bed, 03 short bed

06-02-2018, 05:18 PM	#9
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,945	Re: Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! I have had a whole air ride system for 4 years now and for the life of me can't bring myself to doing it. I love the ride in my truck. Honestly I would rather have my 71 under me than my 08 Tahoe are wifes 13 Treverse. My 71 has 3" dropped coils all around with air lift helper bags in all four of them. With 20lbs of air each and I'm telling you it rides unbelievable! Nothing fancy just done right. I have the rears hooked to a compressor for loads in the truck. The fronts stay at 20lbs all the time. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

06-03-2018, 12:43 AM	#10
Robznob11 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: brownfield texas (west texas) Posts: 1,936	Re: Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! My air ride is a great ride....your problem is likely the large rims or you are not running the best pressures for ride. If you adjust for the look you probably wont have the best ride....for me I run 65psi up front and 25 in the rear. Above 25 in the rear and it's a harsh ride...it will hook up a little better with more psi tho. You will also probably benefit from the no limit shock relocation kit. __________________ The Ghost 67 short wide full custom. 550 hp LSX, 4l80E, narrowed 9". Body dropped w/air ride! ........................ ___ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(⊙)___//___/__(O)_/ @disciple2.rc 💪instagram💪 LED TAILS

06-12-2018, 07:02 PM	#12
abohler1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 51	Re: Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! Are you running shocks at all now? That may help and not need to rip and replace. Another option that is expensive but the best of all worlds is hydroshox. You can set the ride comfort with a coil over, and adjust height with the hydraulic. Kits are about 5k though.

06-12-2018, 07:21 PM	#13
MfBox Registered User Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Glendale Colorado Posts: 84	Re: Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! Yeah i have new shocks front and rear. Still a super bumpy ride and the valves leak so i need to adjust them on the bags because the air only holds for about 2 hours. Then the truck leans one way or the other depending on which bag goes low.

06-12-2018, 09:33 PM	#14
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 11,350	Re: Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! Air ride is not for everyone. You have to really want it to put forth the effort to make it ride well. That being said I would bet those 20's your riding on are not helping the at all ride. What tire brand and size do you have mounted on them? Do you have dropped spindles on the truck? New cars have thousands of engineering hours into making them ride well with large low profile wheels and tires. Spring rates, control arm lengths, mounting location, bushing sizes and material selection, bearing diameters, range of travel, and not to mention all of the variables in the shocks. That is just the tip of the iceburg. You may get lucky and throw a set of wheels on and have them work to your satisfaction, but I wouldn't be so lucky. So learn all you can. Drop on over to the suspension side and spend a week reading. I also recommend talking with various manufacturers about packages that will deliver the ride quality and the look you want. Take notes. Find someone local and have them take you for a ride. Ride quality is an opinion. Every selection you make is a trade off. Your knowledge is the only way to keep the costs under control. For the ride you describe, the lower you go, the harder it is to achieve. The same goes for tires, the lower the aspect ratio, the harsher the ride. Our truck suspensions were designed to be cheap to build, relatively safe, and not much else. __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

06-13-2018, 11:05 AM	#15
slowcpe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,774	Re: Ditching the Air ride. Need suspension suggestions! I've ridden in Ridetech old shop truck Gumby and its what sold me on air for my '67. I've also driven Ridetech's shop truck equipped with the Street Grip kit and was amazed at how well it drove and handled. I keep tossing the idea back and forth to put that on my '72. __________________ Ryan 1967 Red Stepside..."Laymond" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...40#post6441840 1972 Medium Olive SWB-Chester http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=759628 1967/71 Blue SWB C10..SOLD 1977 SWB K10..my grandpa's.....never should have sold



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