Air Rides new complete rear kit w/ trailing arms

[1LoC10]

anyone have any input on this kit? Do you think this set up would lay out? or would it be best to just back half it with a four link
http://www.ridetech.com/news/default...hownews&id=110

[gringoloco]

I'm gonna say no on the lay-out. Looks like a CPP style notch, which will not lay you on the ground.

Looks like a nice set-up, but $pendy I'm sure. I like the fact that everything isn't big and bulky. Looks like they tried to make it light and strong.

You could do a suicide doors 4-link, bag/shock brackets, and a KPP step notch. Much cheaper and should put you on the ground or very close (depending on tire height)

-Chris

[Rokcrln]

One problem I can see here is they should have mounted the track bar on the pass side arm. This would keep the rear end shift to a minimum. In the stock location like they have it you will get more side to side motion when you cycle the suspention.
Other than that I like the look of their design.


Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Damian]

wow!! thats the first kinda bolt on kit for the c-10. looks like a nice design, but the notch looks only to be a c-notch and from what i know it take 8' to lay frame, looks like a lot it cost a few $$$$$$$$$$$$$

[67Fleet]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

One problem I can see here is they should have mounted the track bar on the pass side arm. This would keep the rear end shift to a minimum. In the stock location like they have it you will get more side to side motion when you cycle the suspention.
Other than that I like the look of their design.


Kevin
LFD Inc.

Yeah, you'd think a company such as they are would have done some R&D on the panhard mounting location. Heck, it's simple geometry. Then again, it doesn't look like it gets much travel anyways so it's probably not that much side-side motion. Bet it's over a thousand less the bags & shocks.

[1LoC10]

They have a shockwave upgrade kit also for another $600

[phantom dually]

You can bet they have done extensive R&D on that piece.

[Shane]

Im with the other guys ... by the looks of the panhard mount point, I think they could have done a lot MORE R&D.

And, I can't for the life of me understand why someone would pay big money for a tubular trailing arm set-up that doesn't appear to get the truck any lower than the stock set-up with a C-notch.

Sorry, but I can't see spending that kind of money and do all that modification for something that only duplicates what came on the truck originally. They even admit this is a copy in their "press release."

Then again, I'm not much of a fan of ART and their over-inflated egos and prices. I tried to do business with them ONCE ... apparently I didn't look like I had enough money for them to take the time to talk to me. Oh well, their loss.

My money made the ride back from Louisville, KY with me that day.

That was, and will be, the ONLY opportunity they will ever have to get any of my hard earned money.

[JayG]

Appears to be bolt-on. That is a big plus to people who don't weld or have a buddy who does. Track arm does appear to be shorter than I'd like. I always go for as long a track arm as possible.

[el curioso]

This is what really caught my eye

All of our welded assemblies are jig assembled and hand MIG welded by certified welders for consistency and strength

It got me thinking I have a MIG welder and can make a jig with some spare trailing arms that I have just buy some metal and get burning.
The other thing that they state is

The next problem builders of these trucks typically encounter is exhaust clearance issues. The factory trailing arm crossmember does not allow enough clearance to clear any kind of sizable exhaust so that would require you to either build your own crossmember or run the exhaust under it…. It will work… but it is not clean enough in our book so our crossmember provides enough room for you to run it through bars

My 2 cents

[Rydn2L0w]

Originally Posted by 1LoC10

anyone have any input on this kit? Do you think this set up would lay out? or would it be best to just back half it with a four link
http://www.ridetech.com/news/default...hownews&id=110

Are the bags mounted in the exact location as the factory coils? If so would it be considered a "cantilever" setup? How much lift would you get out of it compared to a traditional over the axle bag setup?

[matthufham]

if that's for a longbed where are we supposed to bolt the 2 piece driveshaft to?

[67Fleet]

Ya know, the more I look at that "kit" the more puzzled I get. If they spent so much time doing R&D, why the "f" didn't they at least mount the shocks at a more vertical position? Would be the logical thing to do in my book.

[Alvin]

Maybe the shocks are mounted that way to make the shockwaves a bolt-in? Maybe the shockwaves would sit a little close to the driveshaft if they were more vertical? I don't know.

[jlaird]

I agree with most of you. I don't think this particular product has much to offer. In fact, I think it's a waste of money. If bolt-in is what your looking for, save your cash and get the bolt-in cpp notch and but some bags in place of the coils. Other than that, this setup is too close to stock to warrant the cost. Good job Air-ride.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by 67Fleet

Ya know, the more I look at that "kit" the more puzzled I get. If they spent so much time doing R&D, why the "f" didn't they at least mount the shocks at a more vertical position? Would be the logical thing to do in my book.

If they were mounted straight up the suspension travel is limited to the shock length. This way the suspension can travel more that the shock length. Its a common practice.

[Rydn2L0w]

Originally Posted by jlaird

I agree with most of you. I don't think this particular product has much to offer. In fact, I think it's a waste of money. If bolt-in is what your looking for, save your cash and get the bolt-in cpp notch and but some bags in place of the coils. Other than that, this setup is too close to stock to warrant the cost. Good job Air-ride.

What would be the benefits of going to a 4 link opposed to staying with the stock 2 link setup?

[LUV2XCLR8]

I kinda like it, but I am sure the price will kill it

[Rydn2L0w]

Originally Posted by LUV2XCLR8

I kinda like it, but I am sure the price will kill it

$1700 for bags. Cpp offers tubular trailing arms as well. $599. for just the arms and $779. with the crossmember.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by Rydn2L0w

What would be the benefits of going to a 4 link opposed to staying with the stock 2 link setup?

There is no advantage unless your drag racing every weekend. This type of suspension has one of the best ride qualities there is. Thats why most all nascar's use it. they call it truck arms because they used to pull them out of the trucks and use them in the cars. Of course if I'm selling 4 bar and 4 link suspension kits this ART kit sucks.

[Rydn2L0w]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

There is no advantage unless your drag racing every weekend. This type of suspension has one of the best ride qualities there is. Thats why most all nascar's use it. they call it truck arms because they used to pull them out of the trucks and use them in the cars. Of course if I'm selling 4 bar and 4 link suspension kits this ART kit sucks.

I havnt even driven my suburban yet, so im not sure about the ride quality. My dad has spoke very highly of the truck bar suspension. He has owned his 67 stepside shorty for nearly 30 years now. I intend to stay with this setup as well in my truck. However I would like to upgrade to tubular since I have tubular front control arms.

[Rydn2L0w]

Originally Posted by el curioso

This is what really caught my eye


It got me thinking I have a MIG welder and can make a jig with some spare trailing arms that I have just buy some metal and get burning.
The other thing that they state is

My 2 cents

weld me up a set while your at it!

[bagged74]

One of the only problems with the stock trailing arms suspension(in my opinion) is that the trailing arms bottom out on the frame befor you actually get very low. I got around this somewhat by building new trailing arms that are notched where the bag mounts.
As most of you have stated this ART kit is very overpriced for what you are getting. I mean i accomplished more with a little time in fabrication and less than $100 in materials. Oh and I have a longer panhard bar than the kit also, so that should help.

[bagged74]

Oh yeah I have exhaust clearance too

[67Fleet]

Are you mounting the mufflers before or after the crossmember?