Air Ride?

[JFreddy]

So I've searched for any info on air ride as to find out that not very many ppl on 3geez are intrested in it. I was just wondering if anyone knew the difficulty on an air cylinder kit. I do have tons of help from very experienced guys to help install it. They are all lowrider guys and a couple have bags on their trucks and I just think its cool to flip the switches and watch the looks on ppls faces so thats why I'm interested, anyone know the difficulty of it?

P.S. www.dragnflycustoms.com these are the guys that gave me the idea and will help, most are very clean trucks.

[b8er]

i think the air ride would be a neat idea, im all for it, it would definatly become a rare car then, i say go for it, keep track of what you do for a future how to if you actually get around to doing it

[w00tw00t111]

Hey guys. An Air Bagged(I use that term loosely) suspension set-up has been a dream for years. Before I could even drive I wanted one. I've been looking for different set-ups and I found this one. At the Air Ride Technologies site I found this http://www.ridetech.com/productinfo/airstrut.asp About half-way down the page you see Honda Accord 94-97. Since 90-97 struts and springs work w/ our cars would these struts work? Or at least fit w/ little modification?

Also I'm a little confused about how an Air Ride suspension works. Does the "air bag" replace the spring and then keep your shock? Or is it vice-versa? If they would take a tad of modification what all would/should be involved?

Thanks for helping a suspension n00b!

[ICEMAN707]

no the airbag system replaces your spring and shock assembly altogether. i believe 96-99 civic bag kits could work, also maybe 90-93 accords...dunno about 94-97 though since those accords weigh more.

[Ludi Mali]

i thought someone on here had an air ride kit i remember seeing pictures. and when he had it dropped all the way it looked like the wheels were broken because the camber was so bad.

[ICEMAN707]

yeah i remember a 3gee sedan with a chameleon purple/green paintjob, zenon bodykit, and 18 inch chromies. i forgot his screen name. he hasn't be on for ages. i wonder if his car is still up and running.

[jigga89SEi]

Yea That was TK... he had 18s 0r 19s with an airride...
I too agree that air ride is very cool... But do keep in mind Baggin a daily driver SUCKS....
I have a couple friends with different vehicles that are bagged..
1st. 93 Civic Hatch w/ DOHC ZC- Very fun car with the engine... BUT.. it does not perform well... you feel every single nook and cranny in the road...
2nd and 3rd one is a 96 ranger and the other an 89 s-10... Both are cool as shit.. the ride does not seem as bad as in the civic... And they have grind plates which are fuckin awesome...

just my .02
Peaces Jigabu

[jigga89SEi]

[A20A1]

There is another sedan silver or champaign in color with hydros or air bags.

[Hash_man_Se_i]

I believe pearldrops old white sedan had bags...

no the airbag system replaces your spring and shock assembly altogether. i believe 96-99 civic bag kits could work, also maybe 90-93 accords...dunno about 94-97 though since those accords weigh more.

all 90-97 accords have basically the same suspension setup/.

[w00tw00t111]

I believe pearldrops old white sedan had bags...



all 90-97 accords have basically the same suspension setup/.

So taking that into account and seeing as though the 90-97 suspensions work on our cars that would mean that the bags should too.

What about the bags makes the ride crap? I thought that was the main reason that they were originally invented for was a nice smooth ride forget the dropping and show-off aspect of it.

I have a friend that works at a premier air bag shop in Houston but, I'm afraid to ask for a price quote b/c he does jobs for the likes of Jesse James, the owner of DUB magazine and the like. Think west coast customs of the South. So, I'm pretty sure that it would be expensive. Also, they are use to doing "balla rides" not rice burners. So add in the difficulty factor and it would probably be even more.

[jigga89SEi]

There's 2 different types of air ride suspension....
There's the kind your talkin about that is completely adjustable, but when you fill up the cylinder it's solid, no shock absorbtion....
The other kind is the air ride on like a lincoln... That is slightly adjustable, but atomatic... and that system incorporates a shock I believe...

I didn't know Pearl Drop was bagged... I though he was just "dropped" with big rims...

Droppin

[ICEMAN707]

here ya go:
http://airbagit-madridbyrlsport.com/...st.asp?id=2195

[w00tw00t111]

here ya go:
http://airbagit-madridbyrlsport.com/...st.asp?id=2195

My friend that works at the air bag shop advised me to do anything I can to stay away from "chassis tech". But it seems that htey are the only guy's that I can find that sell air cylinders to even use w/ our cars much less a whole kit.

There's the kind your talkin about that is completely adjustable, but when you fill up the cylinder it's solid, no shock absorbtion....

So if you were to not fill up the cylinder completely would you have a pretty smooth ride? Also, if I was to do this would I lose all "sport" driving. In other words are air cylinders/bags not exactly made for "precision" driving? Just being able to go "low and slow"? Thanks for the insight!

[jigga89SEi]

Thats correct.. There is no performance with airbags... Handling and ride comfort go out the window...

[Ludi Mali]

I recall seing something on tv a few months ago about older american muscle cars and even some newer cars with some sort of air suspensions for performance. They had some kind of test day In the end a lot of people were suprised with how well the cars rode and handled. wish i could remember more details.

[blahblahblah]

ride comfort should improve if you keep them in a neutral spot

[w00tw00t111]

I recall seing something on tv a few months ago about older american muscle cars and even some newer cars with some sort of air suspensions for performance. They had some kind of test day In the end a lot of people were suprised with how well the cars rode and handled. wish i could remember more details.

Yeah it's BMW and Subaru that are trying them out in conjunction w/ bridgestone. I have an article somewhere in a R&T.

[pearldrop]

You can make air "bags" ride and handle very well. But it takes a lot of work to put bags on a Honda.
What most people do are air cylinders. When you just bolt them in, they ride pretty bad and handle worse. I have spent the last year trying to make my car super low and ride good and I have it down now. A lot of the ride depends on where you mount the valves.

My car rides really nice now, not sporty at all, more luxury, but some people don't even know I have air when they ride in my car.

[jigga89SEi]

Damn Pearl I haven't seen you around in a minute...
Good to see you.. I know you know more about this subject then me...

[pearldrop]

Do not buy from AIM or Airbagit at all.
If you do some research you can buy all the parts separately, much cheaper, and better quality.
If you know how to weld at all, you can build your own mounts for about 10 bucks and two hours worth of work.

[w00tw00t111]

Do not buy from AIM or Airbagit at all.
If you do some research you can buy all the parts separately, much cheaper, and better quality.
If you know how to weld at all, you can build your own mounts for about 10 bucks and two hours worth of work.

Dude pearldrop! I haven't seen you around here in a looong time! Whered you go? I know how to arc and mig but, not tig. In your opinion are air cylinders really the only way that you can go if you have a honda? Since they lower handeling I'm skiddish about buying/building them. Coil-over's are starting to sound better and better even though I can't drop them w/ the flick of a switch.

[pearldrop]

If you want a good handling car, do not get air ride. It doesn't handle bad, but it is not for performance at all.
There are a lot of people with actual air bags in cars, but they are designed to be super low and are a lot more work and maintenance than I'm sure you are ready for.
The easy street strut bags will work in 3rd gens, but they don't get very low. They do handle pretty well and ride nice, but to me, if it isn't going to be slammed, why bother with air.


And just for good measure, here are both my cars on air...

[A20A1]

Finally found the pic I was looking for.



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[w00tw00t111]

Holy crap those wheels look HUGE!!!!