2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Custom air ride taking shape

[NPloysa]

Just an update on my air ride I am building, albeit slowly. This is a custom setup with some ideas taken from Big Bad Dodge, who built a custom air ride setup for his 97 pulling truck.



His is a quad cab, and mine a regular cab, which means the frame is different at different parts of the body, so while he shared ideas with me, and technical help, I had to customize the brackets for my truck.



I don't have pics yet but will ASAP. We just moved and don't have our cable internet hooked up yet so I will take some pics and get them online ASAP.



As for the brackets, I am have the bracket made to take the front and rear control arms to a central location. Rear axle arm mounts, rear airbag axle mounts and frame mounts are measured and cut, just need to be welded.



This is a 4-link front and rear, panhard bar in the back, custom track bar in the front, and 4 inch lift built in, using Firestone 3500# rolling sleeve bags.



I am finishing up some panhard bar calculations and have some ideas for the front. I will get pics ASAP!



Should I do dual front shocks, or single?



Nick

 

[SRadke]

If you have good quality shocks there is no need for more than 1. Too much shock will begin to comprimise ride quality.



-Scott

 

[nfox]

Air Ride

I would like to see some pictures when you can post them i am thinking about putting bags on the front of my truck sometime this winter. Oo.

 

[NPloysa]

You got it nfox, ASAP. The fronts are going to be a little more difficult because I am not starting from scratch like on the rears. The fronts have to fit the spring towers and since the bag is 10. 5 inches installed height I need to space it another 6 inches to get the 4 inches of lift, and another 2 to get the nose up like a leveling kit would do.

 

[BigBadDodge]

SWEET dude, can't wait to see the pics



I was going to do the front, but have shift funds to onther part ofthe truck :-laf



BBD

 

[NPloysa]

Yeah, I am excited! Still need to buy the bags and some more parts. I bought air bag plates from airride.com since I do not have a plasma torch. Also, I am going to purchase some shock towers for the front. Scott's truck has airbags supported by an I-beam between the frame. I am actually running each bag into the frame. I think of it as a cross between Scott's and Kelderman's. I will try to take pics tomorrow or Turkey Day!



Scott, the panhard bar plate that bolts/welds to your frame, how thick is it? I am only running a 3/16" plate with a 4x1. 5 channel which will be supported in two different spots, beside the upper bracket. Probably a cross brace from the opposite frame rail, and another midway down into the driver's side upper bag mount.



Thanks again!

 

[BigBadDodge]

I think your better off going out to the frame, I couldn't in my situation as thats were I welded the big brackets for the bars. Yours will prolly handle the turns better, I knew I would be taking mine off the street soon and making it a puller only, so it wasn't a big deal. yours will be much better for daily driving.



all my plate steel is 3/8"



BBD

 

[NPloysa]

Yeah, bringing the bags out to the frame will be more stable, but that means I have to move the arm brackets on the axle a little further out than yours so I can clear the bags when they deflate.



I am using a combination of channel, tube, bar stock, sheet, angle, etc. The frame mounts for the top of the bags are 3/8, cut in a U-shape out of 4x10" tube to hug the frame. Everything else is 1/4" or 3/16" except the channel which, like every piece of channel, tapers on the inside. I think its 1/4" thick on the wide part.



Mine is actually going to be more complicated than yours Scott, more pieces, more cuts, more welds, but it keeps me entertained.



Kind of like Legos when I was younger. I loved to build, when it was all said and done, I had to build something else. Guess I will have to design something else after this!



Nick