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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 3,608
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softer ride
How much does it really help in creating a smother more comfortable ride when you install air bags instead of coils? and is it worth it? Does it hurt your ability to corner? Is it cost effective? is there another way?
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#2 |
It's Better With Nitro
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
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Re: softer ride
In my experience, carefully matched coil springs (to the weight of the vehicle, etc.) and shocks are comparable in ride comfort to air springs and same shocks. If you go with a individual air spring control, you can eliminate the need for sway bars to help reduce weight. There can be a substantial cost difference just in the added equipment required for the air spring conversion, and then how you want to control the air springs.
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1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes |
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#3 |
Who Me?
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 4,067
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Re: softer ride
I have had bags in my 65 and current 61. To me its night and day.. The bags on the rear of my 61 make it ride like a Caddy!! I had coils in my 65 and it rode like a truck (no pun) until I bagged it.
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![]() 1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD) 2001 Blazer 4D 2WD 1961 Apache 10 (sold) 1965 C10 Stepper (sold) |
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#4 |
Registered Loser
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Elyria, OH
Posts: 1,523
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Re: softer ride
If you are not looking to slam your truck then you don't need an air management system to run airbags, just airlines with Schrader valves at the ends mounted somewhere you can easily access but still hidden. It would basically be like a static suspension you can tune to get the ride you want. Just don't "T" the airlines into each other, keep each bag a separate line, or you would have pressure transfer from bag to bag resulting in some extreme body roll.
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((..)) ((0)) '63 GMC lwb, 383, th350, lays frame, genuine patina. The Build Thread - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=374267 '88 Astro cargo bagged, shaved, phantom grille. *SOLD* '50 Chevy 2 door sedan awaiting attention. 2014 Silverado Ext cab, 5.3, daily driver. |
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#5 |
Who Me?
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 4,067
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Re: softer ride
Look thru my build thread and you will see my simple low buck air system.
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![]() 1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD) 2001 Blazer 4D 2WD 1961 Apache 10 (sold) 1965 C10 Stepper (sold) |
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#6 |
But Found Her 25yrs Later!
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Oregon City, Oregon
Posts: 10,525
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Re: softer ride
I notice a huge difference in road vibration/roughness transfer between my high profile tires and my low profile tires.
With my low profile tires, every bump gets transferred to my aching body. I'm still planning on doing the simple conversion like 61_FL_Apache. I'm hoping the bags will absorb some of that road vibration/roughness. I'm guessing it will.
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I lost my 65 - Found it 25 years later: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=426650 66 C20 Service Truck: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=428035 |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dallas, GA
Posts: 1,497
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Re: softer ride
Is it the OE setup now, or has it been lowered or something? (I've honestly always thought the half ton trucks ride like they are on marshmallows...)
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#8 |
But Found Her 25yrs Later!
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Oregon City, Oregon
Posts: 10,525
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Re: softer ride
I have two sets of wheels and tires. One set is 31/10.5 R15 on 8" wheels. The other is 295/50R15 on 10" wheels.
The ride is only rough with my 295/50R15
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I lost my 65 - Found it 25 years later: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=426650 66 C20 Service Truck: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=428035 |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dallas, GA
Posts: 1,497
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Re: softer ride
Yeah, the extra sidewall height certainly smooths everything out
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 3,608
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Re: softer ride
It is so true. Over the last couple of years I have owned a few honda accords. A 2001, a 2003 and now a 2008 and every year the wheel diameter gets larger and the roughness of the ride increases.
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