air ride suspension on FC's
 

hey i am looking into putting air ride technologies air bag suspension on my rx 7 turbo has anyone done this already or seen it on another 7 i would like to know some things how would it ride they are claiming that they are now a performance suspension system then just used for looks ect how much would it cost i'm thinking $1000 or more i am tired of scraping my front end going to different places and thought this would be a great way to solve it plus gain some handling and style when it is in a parking lot dropped all the way down so give me your insight

cool, go for it. where are you getting it from?

thoughts?

well, first off - they might say its a performance suspension system, but its really not. The only reason they might have for making that claim is when the system is installed on an old vehicle (say 69 GTO) and it would improve the handling over the stock 40 year old suspension.

it is NOT going to handle as well as a 7 with real suspension - bottom line

you will spend much more than $1000 to do this

you will have countless items that add weight and significantly reduce the available space (which is already limited) in the car with such items as a tank, compressor, solenoids etc.

but hey man its your car and your buck so, whateva

yea, um, your car will NOT handle better on bags. I feel your pain though as far as scraping goes.

[QUOTE=classicauto]thoughts?

well, first off - they might say its a performance suspension system, but its really not. The only reason they might have for making that claim is when the system is installed on an old vehicle (say 69 GTO) and it would improve the handling over the stock 40 year old suspension.

the reason why i said it gives better handling is because i seen them put it on a newer camaro 90's model or early 00's they tested it out before and after and it gave noticable amount of traction

you will spend much more than $1000 to do this

it will be $1000-$1800 i figured since you can buy the complete kit for around $1500

you will have countless items that add weight and significantly reduce the available space (which is already limited) in the car with such items as a tank, compressor, solenoids etc.

i know i will put the tank and everything in the back and have it all covered up with my rear hatch cargo cover the weight im not to worried about because i plan to make up the difference with HP
i am thinking of going with air ride technologies

i think DNX makes a system like that, but more for imports without sacrifice of handling. i will look it up and get back to you on it.

my bad, it just adjust the firmness. umm you can check out www.airbagit.com they have airbag kits for everything imaginable

Man please don't do this... If you want good handling, light weight, and adjustability, go with a nice coilover setup, unless you are planning on keeping this car FOREVER, because it will basically ruin it's "sports car" status permanently... I'm in no way attempting to flame you here... Just begging that you refrain from doing this to your car... If you want to bag something, just get a car that would actually be improved by airbags... For a 7 this would be a major downgrade... :(

if you do it make sure to post a thread about it.....mostly Im curious of the cost, the TOTAL cost......it would be interesting to compare the bills for putting air bags on your FC with making it 500 rwhp.

please dont post whore give advice or just dont post thank you

here in japan they sell a kit that has the spring/airbag and its adjustable so is the bag...duh..
its almost the same set up but with the reliability of coilover

now i dont know how it handles but i can tell you this...i have ridden in many cars with bags and they ride smooth as hell

so its up to you try to search japanese airride and you will be happy with those but i think they are like 1400.00 no shipping included from japan :)

^ ouch you'd never see me with any of those mentioned as far as the air bag coilover ive seen them to i think air ride technologies has them to they look easy to install since there coilover so it wouldnt be to much custom work i need to reasearch more and find out if it does handle better or not but you can fine tune the bags if you have a 4 way system you can adjust each one individually and the air transfers depending on if your turning and all to reduce body roll if i do decide to bag my 7 i will be sure to post it and give any details you's want but it won't be for awhile due to i have ajob that dont pay much and i'd like to mod it alittle more yet any more info i'd really like to hear

If you replace the traditional hydraulic suspension damping with a pneumatic one, don't expect it to handle as good.
Air bags for for low riders who want the adjustment without going with more expensive hydraulic pump systems.


-Ted

Tein SS coilovers 1100 better handling than bags for sure if youre gone bag something go bag a radio flyer

HERE YA GO

I'd like to see LAP TIMES with conventional hydraulic versus pneumatic dampers?
Until then, they will nowhere come close to what a high performance hydraulic damper system will give you, period.

About the closest thing I've seen was a combination air-ride + hydraulic damper than Super Streeet(?) mag did with a WRX?

There's a reason why you don't see this crap on RACE CARS.


-Ted

I've been curious about the whole adjustable suspension height thing but I've never actually ridden in a modern car with newer generation air systems. Here's a company that alleges their air suspension is more on the performance side: http://www.praxissystems.com/ ...only for bmw's and subaru's though. I'm assuming the system is supposed to be an improvement over stock for bmw's and wrx's? So maybe they do something different than your run of the mill airbag company?

Heh, well if you don't mind being the $ 2000 test pilot, go for it.

well Ted so would i ...i never seen a combo like this until recently i do know the veilside rx7 has them but to me i think this more of a ...all show and good driving reliability instead of performance.....and for the amount that they sell for i would get my whole suspension done instead of these but.....then

again not everyne wants to go fast ,but slow and show

-Alex

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=air

In the air ride truck world there are some people concerned about handling. A air bag and a shock strut will give you some which is the airride technologies way. Although that works for a truck/lowrider, it is not that clsoe to what you currently have.

Now there is a way to get the handeling of a coilover system with the adjustability of air. People doing this are using whats called air cylinders. An air cylinder works just like a regualr hydralic cylinder but are made for air which makes them really stiff. Cylinders really do not compress or move much at all when going down the road, its almost like having no suspension. These people using cylinders are connecting the cylinder to a coilover setup.

Now I highly doubt you have the room in an rx7 to pull this off becuase the coilover and cylinder system is all custom made and requires at least double the room as well as all the room for the system you come up with the link the two together.

I think the mag article covered the Praxxix system...
Try and go find it and read it.
It might've been in Sport Compact Car - check out the website?

IIRC, the WRX did not run as fast on the track, but it didn't run very close to what a conventional hydraulic damper did - suprising.

If we're talking "just for show", I think you need to state that in your replies.


-Ted

aren't tired front struts the cause of the rex's nose hitting the ground? I've got that problem and I just always asumed it wouldn't be present in a car with good struts.

PS. I doubt the air ride system for the camaro would outperform the SS or Racing packages from the dealership, but the stock package? for sure.

Why the heck would you be willing to spend more on an air ride system than what it would cost to do full coil-overs? You're driving a sportscar, not a cruiser.

im making it into a great daily driver thats totally decked out and thought since i like the style of cars with bags on then it would be awesome on mine and also protect it at the same time from scraping even if the front struts were wore out mine would still be low and scrape because i have the stock front lip on they tested the camaro at a track and it turned up 5 seconds faster through the course with the bags on it was on horsepower TV the show

i never said that they were for show ..i said that if were all about performance and no go...then they would be good for show...so i dont need to state that in my reply, because i am not the one bagging my 7 ,this is for the person that wants the bagged7 :)

There sure are a lot of Air Bag Haters. Sorry to resurrect this topic but I am considering the same thing and I bet if you go back to a time before coil-overs people where saying the same thing about them. Those of you saying that you won't get better handling or it would be a downgrade I would really like to see some facts. I understand most of you have gone with coil overs and have significant amounts of money invested in them and it would cost you to switch over to something that might be better, but don't be down on something you have not tested. Air bags are relatively new to the performance scene. And are doing rather well. So you have a choice get coil overs like every one else and have a car that performs like everyone else or take the risk and possibly have a car that is on the cutting edge, and might actually out perform the tried and true coil overs. I am still researching the issue and it really gets me when people are so negative with out any actual facts. Now if some one wants to provide some real reasons that are tested and factual with proof to back it up speak up please. Save people from making a big mistake.

Crusader is the only one presenting things that sound almost factual.

I'd like to see this done. Any ideas on how it would affect drag racing?

Think about it conceptually for a minute. Handling is governed by not only staying level through a hard corner but also you want the car to lean in slightly to the outside wheels. Afterwards the car has to recover to completely level without hesitation.

This is all perfectly natural for a spring set up. The only way i could see airbags performing better is with a computer with input to a level, as well as the direction of the wheels, and the speed, and a shit load of tuning. Afterwards it would have to compute and fill/drain the bags the appropriate amount instantly.

Like someone already said, if they were really better, they would be equipped on race cars.