ABOUT AIR RIDE....Is it just me or...
 

....there was a time not long ago when it was starting to get accepted and even started to get used quite a bit on projects as it was finally proven it can perform as well as c/o's, offer a super nice ride AND offers suspension adjustability at your fingertips?

Only now, if im not mistaken, i dont see air ride beeing talked about much? Even the main company that offers them has (seems) started to push its c/o's more than its air line of products?

Im starting to look at the possibilities to put under my newly decided to jump into project and always liked the air ride set ups versatility and altough i have not had the chance to ride an air ride car, many close friends have and all agree on how smooth it is. So, thinking of running either 18/19 or 19/20 wheels on my car has me thinking air couls smooth the ride out for my old a$$ but then...

I realized the subject line.

What do you think? Am i right? Or have i missed on some projects going with air shocks lately?

'Listening...

Lead.

It's not just you. Same thoughts.
I have a Nova that is more resto-mod but I've made it handle better with newer suspension and coil-overs. I also have a 54 wagon that I am building that's on Shockwaves/bags. I want the Nova to ride kinda stiff and track flat with very little body roll. I want the wagon to be more of a cruiser and ride nice and soft but not handle like a 70s Buick.



Interested also in hearing everyone's thoughts.

I think part of it could have been heavy advertising to "let it be known" about air bags. Now that it's "known" they don't push it as much.

Just a thought...

Events like the Optima Challenge have changed the landscape where guys are going for every last fraction of an inch in performance. Which you achieve with coil overs.

Air ride is a fine choice for most around here. Me, I'd rather not have the extra sources for failure. Give me a shock and a spring. Not a racing shock on a pro touring car, either.

Just remember that all the big rigs on the road are all on air ride.

I've been on air ride for 11 years now and haven't had a problem. I wouldn't ever go back to any sort of coil system either. I love that I can have this car ride like a Caddy, but then perform like a road race car with the push of a button.

I think it just takes a little more thought up front than slapping in a coil over or anything like that.

And completely throwing performance aside...nothing looks as bad ass as a car sitting on the ground. :)

When I see it in Nascar, you'll have me sold. :unibrow:

If that's the criteria, why is everyone spending so much money on coil overs? :poke:

Believe me, if it was legal they'd be using it...or some sort of adjustable suspension.

If you perceive that you've not heard as much about air suspension as you used to, please blame me solely.

It is a typical business practice to offer the most promotional effort to your newest products. We launched the coil over line in 2010 and have proceeded to promote that new product line heavily. Since there are only so many promotional dollars to go around, the money we spend on promoting coil overs cannot be spent on air suspension products (or any other product).

If you have ever seen our 66 Chevelle, it is still on ShockWaves. So is Smittys C10 that has been very successful in the Goodguys and Optima series. So is my 69 Mustang. And many other vehicles that may not create the headlines.

I think because I chose to promote our new coil over line via the last two major projects (48 Hour Camaro and my 33Ford) that we've somehow abandoned the air suspension market. In reality, as wildly successful as our coil over line has become, our air suspension sales are still the large majority of our sales..And continue to grow.

Another cool thing about our ShockWaves is that the air spring and the coil over are completely interchangeable. This means that if you start out with coilovers, you can upgrade to ShockWaves just by removing the coil and replacing with the airspring. We've work quite hard over the last 3-4 years making all this stuff compatible.

Look for some headline making cars and trucks on air suspension next year...and beyond. Air suspension is still an unfair advantage :)

I have had the ridetech air suspension on my car and now have their coil overs. I drove the air stuff for about 3 years and I liked it a lot. I am in the finishing stages of major changes to my car and the conversion to the coil suspension was one of them (easy especially since I already had the front and rear brackets in place). I just wanted to simplify things overall.

In my opinion there might be 3 things that sway people towards the coil over system- price, simpler components and space.

Price- comparing a level 2 system, a complete coil system is $4100 and the similar air system is $6250 (ridetech website prices).

Simpler components- the air system has more moving parts including the air lines, the sensor wiring, air compressors and the air tank. The coil over system just has the coil and spring.

Space- having a first gen camaro, trunk space is tight to begin with. If you have ever done a long trip like a power tour (I have done 3), you find out that when you starting putting things in it, it fills up pretty quick. I had the air system with 2 compressors and a 5 gallon tank. I could have gotten by with the smaller tank but I got a good deal on the one I had. i had it configured similar to the air pod and it took up a good portion of the forward space of the trunk. The coil system doesn't take and trunk space.

The air system drove great! I don't have any feedback on the coil over other than a couple of drives around the block. I am a big fan of Ridetech and their products and they put out an excellent product. Either way, I don't think you will go wrong.

I have the Shockwave system for the Chevelle of mine. It was bought back in 2009/10 and Ridetech was very helpful in upgrading my rear setup to a Shockwave setup instead of the regular air bag in the spring location on it.

I have also ridden in the in the Ridetch 66' and Rod's Camaro. I really could not tell the difference in how the cars handled. Am I sold on the air system? Well, not really. As stated by others, when you look at the cost of the air system to make it all work, it really is overwelming. Will I pay it? Of course, because that is what it will take. It will just take me a little longer to save any buy. I hope that by the time it get to that point, we will not be hovering above the rode. HAHA

Bret's got an awesome product. that can not disputed in my book. He also shows how to build and drive the crap out of them. I also like how he supports this board and the guys on it.

I'll just keep saving and buying. Just my thoughts. :G-Dub: