1st generation suspension mods

[rwmcarlyle]

I have a '93 250 4WD and am looking for some relief from stock suspension. Anybody have any experience with air ride or add-on air bags? I'd like a softer ride without loosing load capacity (who doesn't).

 

[Philip]

The add in air bags with a stock set of springs will not make the ride any better. I have a friend that has a set on another brand of pickup. They didn't improve the ride. But it sure helped when he was loaded. He installed them on a half ton.



You need to keep 5 psi in the addon air bags at all times.



I don't know if they would help a set of tired springs on the front as far as ride quality.



www.kelderman.com



has a air ride listed for the rears on our truck. But there is no pic's so I don't know how it is set up. I like the looks of the 2nd gen air ride setup they have.

 

[mazdarotary]

I have a kelderman rear on my truck. The previous owner installed and I love it. It doesn't increase load carrying capacity at all but is good for varying the height of the rear,and makes the ride silky smooth. I have a 2wd truck so the coil's up front are pretty smooth anyway,and with the air ride in the rear the truck has very little harshness at all. They do not make a front air bag setup for either 2wd or 4wd 1st gens though(I'm pretty sure of that). the cool thing about the kelderman is that it is a receiver hitch as well. Good bonus.







Chris

 

[Philip]

mazdarotary



So the 1st gen air ride is very much like the 2nd gen setup?



Kelderman does make a add in helper air bag setup for the 1st gen's front axle on the $X$. I do not know how good it is or if it evens helps.

 

[mazdarotary]

I believe it is eactly the same aside from the mounting points which may be different from 1st to 2nd gen. The pic of the 2nd gen rear jooks just like the one on my truck. There is a schrader valve on the drivers side running board of my truck that is used to air up or down. The PO didn't opt for the in cab controls and on board compressor and I don't think it is even needed.





Chris

 

[Philip]

I like in cab controls.



I went with my friend one day. we loaded a 460 Ford gas engine and a C6 on the back of his 1/2 ton. He added 15 psi into the air bags the truck went level. It had been down around 5 inches.