Excellent Bret. In 2 paragraphs I understand Air Spring theroy.

Jody, if you decide you want to go this route, you know you have a friend right here.

can't make that decision until somebody from Airride answers my question. :lol: I mean it's my thread. :rofl: I appreciate all the tech info but I want to know if I can get a better ride without losing handling. Not by dropping all the air pressure, I mean at whatever pressure it will take to equal my Hotchkis setup, will the ride be the same, stiffer, or softer? :thumbsup:

Thanks Frank.

Jody

Jody,
The above statement might serve as the starting point for your answer. Are the Hotchkis springs progressive? What are rates for your Hotchkis springs? Measure and reply with your installed heights. Maybe Bret can use those measurements as a starting point for comparison.

I don't think the front or rear springs are progressive. It would be easier to call Mark Stielow I think, as I have no idea what he ended up with. I do not believe the springs were the stock ones, I think he figured out what he wanted. Not sure.

Jody

Don't know if you watched the Froza Challenge the other night but Air Ride's '05 Mustang was spanking 2 350Z's, '69 Camaro and '73 Challenger by Year One, and Gilotti's Z06 with a girl driving the Stang. Fastest on the quarter, and would have been fastest on Road Atlanta if not for some problems. I think that answered any of my question of handling with a properly setup system.

Mike

I've been impressed with the reports I've seen with these systems and am not disputing their ability. It's just I would like to know what the ride is like at a comparable handling to what I have now. I was hoping they had swapped over a car to AirRide that already had suspension upgrades like mine.

From what I have been told by guys running Ridetech's system, the ride is softer and more comfortable without any loss in handling. I currently am using the Hotchkis system with Bilsteins on my 67 Camaro and will be installing the full Street Challenge system in the coming weeks and posting details on the install here. I won't have much drive time until after the car is painted(should be done in 3 months or so) but if you are still on the fence at that time I can share my experiences.

thanks, much appreciated.

Jody

Wow! This simple question sure got complicated!!!!:lol:

Look at THIS

It's an air ride system by a company called praxis, it does lower the car and improve stiffness as it goes down in pressure. This article really puts into sharp focus what is going on with that lower piston as the pressure is let out of the bag and it rolls down over it, increasing the spring rate, despite the lower volume of air in the bag itself. it comes with a nifty 3 position switch that goes from normal, sport, and track.

But to put it as short and sweet as possible for airride's stuff, the difference in pressure to go from "normal" to "extremely stiff" is a matter of less than a half inch on most properly set up bagged pro-touring cars. and "normal" to "cushy" even less the other way.

The mind automatically pictures this 4x4 looking car hanging corners, but that's not what happens at all.

Here's another article on praxis' BMW system. Why isn't the pro-touring air ride guys offering something similar?