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Bill Hartman (aka Streetrodder007) [ View ] [ hartman@comcast.net ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ] Port Huron, Michigan

I am planning my next Streeetrod build this winter, and I have always wanted a car I can drive, then when I park it, I want the running boards to sit in the weeds, or sit it flat down on the pavement. Anyways, has anyone had good luck with any certain air suspension companies, any bad ones to stay away from. Point me in the right direction. I have built alot of hotrods, but all have had conventional suspension, time to try something new!

Comments

Posted by 31tudor  -  08/16/2006 11:10 AM Yep, Air Ride Technologies is the best available. www.ridetech.com Very nice folks too! Eric Hibbs [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] St. George, Utah Charter Member since January 2002   Posted by da34guy  -  08/16/2006 07:58 AM Bill---------- The only way to go is Air-Ride Tech, Great products and great guys to deal with. A little spendy but ya get what ya pay for. Have used their system in 5 cars now and never a problem. Don [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Prescott, Arizona Charter Member since October 2001   Posted by dixie  -  08/17/2006 06:17 PM Shine maybe its just me,i have drop spindles full length coils i have a very good ride,at least i though so. First time i meet u maybe i can take u for a ride an get your opinion. jim grace [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] dade city, Florida Charter Member since January 2006   Posted by bigdude  -  08/17/2006 06:55 PM I want to take you for a ride too Shine! Ive got a couple of buddies with air ride and theirs ride like bricks. I guess if I was looking for a good ride I would buy a Caddie like rodsandhogs. You know--keep it simple. resident know it all [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Three Rivers, Michigan Charter Member since January 2004   Posted by Streetrodder007  -  08/18/2006 01:47 PM In the next couple of months I plan on selling 1 of my streetrods and buying a late 1930's car, or a 1940 Ford coupe, maybe I will look for a car that already has a nice air suspension setup already on it, then I will transform the rest of the car into something new, paint , motor, trans, interior etc etc. I will be looking in the $30,000 to $45,000 range, if anyone has a hot tip on one, let me know. Pro-street air bagged would be cool, thanks again for the info, Bill Streetrodder007 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Port Huron, Michigan Charter Member since April 2006   Posted by 31tudor  -  08/17/2006 07:13 PM Just because it's 'bagged' doesn't mean it's going to ride good. Just like anything, there's just a few right ways to set up an air suspension and a million wrong ways. The keys to the ride are the right bags for the application and weight, correctly valved shocks and proper angle, appropriate sway bars. I too have ridden in some pretty crappy riding bagged cars, they just require tuning. Nothing beats experience when it comes to suspension tuning, right? Eric Hibbs [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] St. George, Utah Charter Member since January 2002   Posted by BigAlBre  -  08/16/2006 09:22 AM Heidt's has an airbag system that won't let your car go too low (i.e., sparks won't be flying as you slide down the freeway) in an emergency... but it will drop you a couple of inches.... Big Al sittin back in paradise. [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] St Pete Beach, Florida Charter Member since June 1999   Posted by laidout53  -  08/18/2006 04:49 PM Yes, AR tech. is a good compant to go with but just like others they have some thigns they need to clean up! Another GREAT company that I purchase 95 % of my air ride parts from is a site known my the trucks and minitruck crowd. www.suicidedoors.com They sell everything for air suspension and their prices are half that of AR Tech and I have never had any issues with their parts and their service. Great guys with great product. My 5 window lays runningboards on 18/20 wheels. Yet it rides and drives SUPERB!!! laidout53 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] mechanicsville, Virginia   Posted by APLUS  -  08/16/2006 02:48 PM Air Ride Technologies is the only way to go. Just make sure that the air springs are away from heat (exhaust) and as said before make sure that they're not close enough to touch anything because rubbing will cause a "blowout"----not good. The new system, RideProe2 did away with all grounding problems and erratic readings and other problems because it's now voltage based. The old RideProe system is no longer available which was resistanced based. May cost a little more but well worth it for the very best system available in my opinion. APLUS [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Austin, Texas   Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  08/18/2006 09:33 AM if done proper the air ride system will deliver a smoother , less aggresive ride. my black 37 was mll with coilovers. i have done several shockwave cars and each rode better than the 37. edward has plans to change it this winter after riding in both. i have rode in airbag cars that were horrible but due to poor install. to each his own but i prefer the camaro clip if possible over mll. inderweed has an s10 under it because i did not want to go mll or the wider camaro. dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003   Posted by blksheep  -  08/16/2006 11:06 AM Bill,....shine and I had some grounding issues a while back, with the Air Ride Tech. Ride Pro system. The computer, solinoids, sending units and compressor,....REQUIRE SEPERATE GROUNDS, to prevent electrical bleedover. Otherwise, accurate and consistant bag pressure readings won't happen. Also, the pic shows the bottom water discharge hose and a simple, 150# gate valve (Home Depot) exiting outside the car. Without this discharge and like any compressor/air tank system, condensation is created, will enter the bags, give you inaccurate readings and promote corrosion. VERY IMPORTANT. NEVER...let the air bag come in contact with any other part or piece on the car. The bag is very thin and ANY continued contact will blow the bag. This will really suck at 60 mph. Also,... if using air bag shocks, (Shockwaves, Airwaves), set you suspension up with control arm front and rear axel/frame bump stops, that will prevent the frame from scraping and the rear wheels from bottoming out in the fenderwell, IF you should break a shock mounting stud. Remember, that stud alone, is holding the car up. BTW, Air Ride Shockwaves use a 5/8" shock mounting stud. Very strong, but, yes, I did bend one.(#@%^& pothole). Hope this helps. Not sure I know how to do this, but I have learned how not to do this. Shine??? Got anything to add??? blksheep...totally shocked..in Charlotte blksheep [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Charlotte, North Carolina   Posted by jimmothershead  -  08/18/2006 09:10 AM Hey, Bill.......yep, Air Ride Tech, but do not to expect to "ride on air"...a little choppy. However, for profiling, nothin' like Air Ride. Got it on all 4 corners of our Wild Rod. How low can you go? .....never enough! Fun with cars, Jim Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland   Posted by 31tudor  -  08/18/2006 05:03 PM Yep, suicidedoors has a great name in the mini/sport truck world. Nice products and good customer support. Eric Hibbs [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] St. George, Utah Charter Member since January 2002   Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  08/17/2006 10:57 AM if i do air ride on inderweed it will have hard lines with stainless on the corners. dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003   Posted by Streetrodder007  -  08/17/2006 10:05 AM It sounds like everyone is all together on this topic. Thanks everybody for the info ! Streetrodder007 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Port Huron, Michigan Charter Member since April 2006   Posted by zinski3  -  08/16/2006 08:28 AM Airride was very helpful with any issues encountered. Good people to deal with. zinski3 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Edwards, Missouri Charter Member since December 2000   Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  08/17/2006 12:51 PM the ride is way better than the rough mll dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003   Posted by tlp1968  -  08/16/2006 12:12 PM Before you set up your system talk to the guys at Extreme Customs by Erickson. They have been lowering cars for a long time now and they can give you the scoop. Check out their lowwwww rides it is interesting to know that only a few manufacturers actually make the bags StreetRodding.com Marketing Director [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Springfield,, Illinois Charter Member since August 2003   Posted by ahotrod33  -  08/16/2006 08:16 AM Used Air-Ride Tech for the front on the 37 and worked up our own on the rear. I'd have been further ahead to use Air-Ride Tech on the rear as well. VERY helpful folk in their company and helped me out with the rear set-up as well. Like the others said, pricey but worth the extra bucks. ahotrod33 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Glen Mills, Pennsylvannia Charter Member since June 2003   Posted by JAWS  -  08/17/2006 09:35 AM Stay away from firestone bags. POP!!! An electrical headache can make a great car a pain [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Boise, Idaho Charter Member since August 2004   Posted by dixie  -  08/17/2006 12:43 PM Question---If its so much trouble-expensive-not really that reliable[if you drive it alot]an needs looking after all the time p/m.Why put it on. Just thinking out load. jim grace [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] dade city, Florida Charter Member since January 2006   Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  08/17/2006 06:33 PM there is a big difference in the ride. the air ride is a much smoother ride than the mll . dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003   Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  08/17/2006 09:52 AM the electric motor sends pulses into the ground loop. the sensors pic these up and it stops the leveling. ground the motor to the batt , everything else goes in the ground loop. took 2 weeks to figure out what was going on. air ride is the only system i will use. just remember your working with plastic lines. i use rubber coated clamps. dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003

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