Airbag?????

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Do airbags help these trucks handle better when used in conjunction with normal suspension?
Thanks
Shane

[XXL]

Originally Posted by Chevrolet4x4s

Do airbags help these trucks handle better when used in conjunction with normal suspension?

Not particularly. What are you trying to accomplish?

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Nothing in particular just thinking about how cool it would be to build a 2wd slightly lowered(2.5/4)that would handle like a sports car(well mabe not that good)and wondered if air bags would help
Thanks
Shane

[XXL]

Originally Posted by Chevrolet4x4s

Nothing in particular just thinking about how cool it would be to build a 2wd slightly lowered(2.5/4)that would handle like a sports car(well mabe not that good)and wondered if air bags would help

You'd be better off going with springs, sway bars, and various other stiffening components. Air bags' real purposes are to 1) adjust suspension height on the fly, or 2) provide for overload capabilities on demand. Neither really deal with "sports car handling" per se.

[pebbleboy]

Originally Posted by XXL

You'd be better off going with springs, sway bars, and various other stiffening components. Air bags' real purposes are to 1) adjust suspension height on the fly, or 2) provide for overload capabilities on demand. Neither really deal with "sports car handling" per se.

It all depends on the set up. If your not looking to lay frame you can set up an airbag suspension to handle as well or better as a static one

There were two guys on a different board that had similar chevy trucks and similar goals of handling and one used bags and the other used static.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by pebbleboy

It all depends on the set up.

I disagree. As the bags get compressed and decompressed at every bump and turn, the air inside heats up. Heated air expands (was that Charles' or Boyle's Law?... I think one plagiarized the other ). When the air expands, you've got a significant change in bag behavior. Not so for traditional wound springs. While the spring rate does change as the coils heat up, the change is insignificant, and that heat dissipates almost as quickly as it is generated, thanks to the spring acting as its own heat sink.

[pebbleboy]

Originally Posted by XXL

I disagree. As the bags get compressed and decompressed at every bump and turn, the air inside heats up. Heated air expands (was that Charles' or Boyle's Law?... I think one plagiarized the other ). When the air expands, you've got a significant change in bag behavior. Not so for traditional wound springs. While the spring rate does change as the coils heat up, the change is insignificant, and that heat dissipates almost as quickly as it is generated, thanks to the spring acting as its own heat sink.

If the air heats up and expands it will just make the ride stiffer. I'm not shure how much it would affect it real world but it seems like a plus being tighter. I figured the main problem you would have would be it being too soft. Plus I would like the ability of more adjustment unlike what you would get being with a traditional suspension.

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Thanks
Shane

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Kind of what I thought...........Bench racing in my mind.
Thanks
Shane

[7T7]

Originally Posted by Chevrolet4x4s

Do airbags help these trucks handle better when used in conjunction with normal suspension?
Thanks
Shane

Compared to most stock suspensions.....definitely!
Compared to "normal suspension" well........jump over to this link and read what Popular Hot Rodding had to say about air suspension.
http://popularhotrodding.com/tech/0603phr_air/
I'm may be a little bias because I happen to love air suspension.
If I were building for pure road course/ auto cross, coilovers would be the plan.
However for street, it would be air. Such a great ride and handling to boot!

I'm not looking to start a big debate here, I'm just giving a you my thoughts on the subject..

[pebbleboy]

Originally Posted by 7T7

Compared to most stock suspensions.....definitely!
Compared to "normal suspension" well........jump over to this link and read what Popular Hot Rodding had to say about air suspension.
http://popularhotrodding.com/tech/0603phr_air/
I'm may be a little bias because I happen to love air suspension.
If I were building for pure road course/ auto cross, coilovers would be the plan.
However for street, it would be air. Such a great ride and handling to boot!

I'm not looking to start a big debate here, I'm just giving a you my thoughts on the subject..

I agree I would probably stick with the coilovers for road cores also

You can have the best of adj ride hight and handling. Show and Go
Is there any other way?

[JayG]

My '67 is lowered 5/7. Stock style springs in front, only shorter, sleeve bags in back on ladder bars with large front and rear sway bars. I went from coil-overs in back to sleeve bags because my "honey" couldn't handle the awful bouncing of the coilovers(they were like an old 4x4 CJ4 Jeep), she has slight neck issues. Might have been the wrong rate coils, I don't know. But, the truck handles like it's on rails, rides very nice, and I can increase the air pressure when I loadup for a road trip and the ride stays the same. With some forthought, a bit of fabricating, and not alot of money(always my case), a person can have the best of both worlds, Good ride and good handling! IMHO

[camaro__thunder]

XXL is a masterdebater

[XXL]

Originally Posted by camaro__thunder

XXL is a masterdebater

Wrong smiley... :happy: