Air ride.....Mini tub poll - Lateral-g Forums

DRJDVM's '69 · #1 07-18-2006, 02:09 AM

I've been considering the Air Ride stuff too for my Barracuda but have heard alot of concerns over safety with an air bag system on the street.... the big issue that concerns me is what happens if you loose pressure in even one bag while driving the car ??? One line melting or fitting coming loose etc and the car hits the ground at 65 MPH. What happens if you have a malfunction with the system and the car is on the ground already ?? How the hell do you get a jack etc under it to even get it up in the air ???

The look and flexability is wicked, but I'm having serious concerns about safety with my car on air bags

novanutcase · #2 07-18-2006, 02:28 AM

Most people on this site know my opinion on Airbags so I won't elaborate. I agree with race rodzs assesment but, honestly Paul, you know that there will be that time that you get a chance to really put your foot into it. Don't you want the suspension to be there for it? Especially after all the work that you've already done to the car? I think you should consider either a 3 link/Watts setup(Definitely talk to Mark Magers on this one since, in my humble opinion, I think he has the best one out there right now! Although.......Art Morrisons got a pretty good one to!) or go the extra mile and commit to an IRS! I have a feeling that if your going to be doing big shows your going to want something that stands apart from the rest and I feel that an IRS(That is correctly engineered!) will do that along with giving you many miles of well mannered driving pleasure! It will definitely require some fab work so seriously consider it especially since you already finished the car and now you have to go back in and tear it up again!

**Sales@Dutchboys** · #3 07-18-2006, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novanutcase

Most people on this site know my opinion on Airbags so I won't elaborate. I agree with race rodzs assesment but, honestly Paul, you know that there will be that time that you get a chance to really put your foot into it. Don't you want the suspension to be there for it? Especially after all the work that you've already done to the car? I think you should consider either a 3 link/Watts setup(Definitely talk to Mark Magers on this one since, in my humble opinion, I think he has the best one out there right now! Although.......Art Morrisons got a pretty good one to!) or go the extra mile and commit to an IRS! I have a feeling that if your going to be doing big shows your going to want something that stands apart from the rest and I feel that an IRS(That is correctly engineered!) will do that along with giving you many miles of well mannered driving pleasure! It will definitely require some fab work so seriously consider it especially since you already finished the car and now you have to go back in and tear it up again!

Do you have any links to where i could find this stuff....

**Sales@Dutchboys** · #4 07-18-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRJDVM's '69

I've been considering the Air Ride stuff too for my Barracuda but have heard alot of concerns over safety with an air bag system on the street.... the big issue that concerns me is what happens if you loose pressure in even one bag while driving the car ??? One line melting or fitting coming loose etc and the car hits the ground at 65 MPH. What happens if you have a malfunction with the system and the car is on the ground already ?? How the hell do you get a jack etc under it to even get it up in the air ???

The look and flexability is wicked, but I'm having serious concerns about safety with my car on air bags

Same thing that i am concered about.....

-PAul

**61Bubbletop** · #5 07-18-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRJDVM's '69

I've been considering the Air Ride stuff too for my Barracuda but have heard alot of concerns over safety with an air bag system on the street.... the big issue that concerns me is what happens if you loose pressure in even one bag while driving the car ??? One line melting or fitting coming loose etc and the car hits the ground at 65 MPH. What happens if you have a malfunction with the system and the car is on the ground already ?? How the hell do you get a jack etc under it to even get it up in the air ???

The look and flexability is wicked, but I'm having serious concerns about safety with my car on air bags

I always question a statement that starts with "I have heard..."

What happens if you break a ball joint at 65mph?, or bust a leaf spring? or hit a pothole with big rims?, or blow a tire out? or an oil line feeding a turbo melts and blows oil all over the exhaust and tires? or if your new wheel studs let go in a turn at 100+? or a brake line bursts? or you throw a rod out of the side of your block? etc etc....You get the point. There are countless theoretical situations you can site for any modification to your car....You should be concerned about using an aftermarket wiring set-up because it may short out and catch fire...see what I mean. By this logic, you should not be driving anything modified, just a straight up OEM factory engineered piece...I might suggest a nice Saturn Sedan. Like ANY modification, if done properly, airbags are extremely durable, and just as safe as any other suspension system out there....

**Sales@Dutchboys** · #6 07-18-2006, 11:12 AM

I see what you are saying......One thing I allways think about is 2 years ago at columbus after the show my dad and i were riding back to the hotel in his nova and the car sat so low and didnt have air ride......we hit a low spot in it the road and put a hole in the oil pan.....Wouldnt it have be nice to have air ride then.....

-Paul

**Sales@Dutchboys** · #7 07-18-2006, 01:54 PM

I love the stance on this car...Its mini tubed and air ride.....

sick65 · #8 07-18-2006, 03:37 PM

Paul,
For the look and function you are going for, I think Air ride is the way to go. The car will most likely never see a track, and it will look killer all laid at a show. Like BAD6SPD said, if installed correctly you shouldn't worry about blowing a bag.

DRJDVM's '69 · #9 07-18-2006, 06:27 PM

Bad6spd.... I understand your point but your other "scenarios" are alittle different... most of them would occur if you were pushing/punishing the car hard and then it wouldnt be unexpected. If you beat on stuff, it may break. I'm not talking about "popping" a bag, I'm talking about something as simple as an air fitting coming loose or one of the many hoses you have to run leaking. Those things could easily happen without the driver beating on the car. The hoses are the "weak link" that I'm concerned about most.. How easy would it be to accidently have one chaff a hole or melt or catch on some debris you hit on the road ?? A small air leak and your car could be on the ground while driving at any speed

You could compare it to having an oil line come loose, but if that occurs the most likely thing is you make a huge mess and the motor goes bye bye.... an air line coming loose and the car hits the ground....

Yes, anything can happen and no matter how well something is engineered, there is always the risk of a failure that can result in serious life threatening issues. My point was just to mention some of the concerns that I had been thinking about....

I like the Air Ride stuff and I've been SERIOUSLY considering it, so dont think I'm in the "air bag bashing" camp. Its not that at all.

race-rodz · #10 07-18-2006, 09:12 PM

if your worried about melting a line, or rubbing through a line, then i say hardlines are the way to go for your set-up.

normally when i set up a customer air ride system, i explain that the car must always be able to roll, steer, and stop. that way IF something does go wrong, you atleast have "some" control in getting the vehicle safely to the side of the road. as for blowing a bag, it wont happen, unless they are installed very wrong, or you run waaaaaaaaaay too much pressure, like double...almost triple what a standard air ride compressor will put out.

now i have a dually that lays the rockers flat on the ground,(do as i say not as i act kinda deal) IF it ever has a problem, yes, i am putting myself and everybody else on the road in danger(just like if a balljoint breaks, or a wheel falls off), but i have 80,000+ miles on it, and have never had ANY problems with it. routine maintance is key, making sure all the parts are in good working condition, replacing air lines just "cuz"...an of coarse this system was designed and set-up for years of trouble free use.

you can "what-if" anything to death, some of the concerns are legit, and there are solutions and options to address the concerns.