Just wondering...

[popo8]

So, as some of you may know, my 315's on the z06 wheels in the rear, plus the 2" drop have cause me some rubbig issues....

When I am by myself, it has to be a realy hard bump, when the old lady is with me, a not so hard bump, and with anything in the hatch like luggage, it rubs with every bounce....

So At first, I was trying to find shox that would accomadate the 2" drop, but the majorty said, "thats too much drop",

so next, I modified the heater hose idea, and put it on the bottom of the coil and kept the isolator in on the top... THAT worked for a lil while, but with as much driving as I do, it appears the heater hose "lift" was no match for the weight of the car...

so I then thought, I will fab up some small 3/4" metal plates with donut holes cut out of the center to go on the rear spring perch and bring the car up just a little without buying new springs for such a small increase... but now here is my idea instead....


AIR SHOX.... does anyone know if they are even made for these cars, and if you do, please help me out with where to look. Yes Yes, I know airshox are so 70's... but I think they would solve my problem, and I could adjust them with whatever load Im carrying.....


please help me out, I wanna have this resolved before the 1600 mile round trip to BG KY..... (and dont suggest air ride... I dont have the loot, with my other project int he wings)


THANKS IN ADVANCE PEOPS...

[Z28pr0jekt]

One question first, have you tried some aftermarket poly bump stops?

Edit: and on another note, you may be able to try the airbags used mainly for drag racing that go in the middle of the coil

[popo8]

i have poly bump stops and i come down on them hard simultaneous with a hard rub on the tires... and i dont know anything about those drag bags... where can I learn about them?

[faust]

they are made by air lift. 1000 's iirc
i have one in the right rear

[Z28pr0jekt]

http://www.thunderracing.com/shop-by/category/Suspension-and-Steering/Airbags/Air-Lift-Company-Rear-Coil-Spring-Airbags_141.html

[popo8]

wow, and you think that they will work for me if I set them up on both sides, to resolve my issue?

Is there a noticable difference in ride height available with the set up.?

How difficult to install?

[faust]

i took me 10 minutes to install one side,

[popo8]

realy????? and do they replace the coil?

[popo8]

Ok, I think I get it, these instal inside the spring.... I got that, and in my situation its not for racing its for load leveling.... am I correct in assuming it wont change ride height, it will just allow me to bring the car back to where it was prior to loading weight, once the weight is loaded????

[Paulster2]

I installed a pair in mine because I was having a bottoming issue. I run about 7-8psi in each. There is a slight rake to the car, but nothing too noticeable. (I like the stance this way :D) Anyway, easy install and fixed all the bottoming issues, even over rough terrain. The set is only like $45 I think. I bought mine from Summit. The toughest thing about the install is to decide where to run the air tubes.

EDIT:

Here is a pic of my car so you can see (though with the wheels turned, it's hard to see the distance from tire to wheel well):

http://www.paulster2.com/images/Car_Pics/IMG_4246_sm.jpg

[popo8]

Ok, so I guess this is what I will do. Do you just fill up with an air compressor, or do you have a small on board compressor for adjusting?

[Chris]

They sell onboard leveling kit with single and dual guages

[Paulster2]

Ok, so I guess this is what I will do. Do you just fill up with an air compressor, or do you have a small on board compressor for adjusting?
As Chris alluded to ... you can do it either way. I couldn't afford the automatic kit, so I don't have it, but it can be added at any time.

[CamaroZGuy]

did not see it any wear on here, have you rolled your fenders?

[popo8]

did not see it any wear on here, have you rolled your fenders?


both rolled... however even with tire rub never being an issue again, I think those air bags will keep me from slammng into the bump stops like a brick.... Honestly if it wasnt for the fact that I am driving to KY for the SHOOTOUT, and "she" does not know how to pack lite.... I wouldnt even worry about it.... But 1600 miles round trip will drive me nuts constantly banging down on the stops....

[Paulster2]

both rolled... however even with tire rub never being an issue again, I think those air bags will keep me from slammng into the bump stops like a brick.... Honestly if it wasnt for the fact that I am driving to KY for the SHOOTOUT, and \"she\" does not know how to pack lite.... I wouldnt even worry about it.... But 1600 miles round trip will drive me nuts constantly banging down on the stops....
I had the poly jouncers installed on mine (before the air bags). Over the course of a ~2300 mi road trip last year, I completely destroyed them. Since I installed them, I have yet to bottom.

If you install the bags on separate air lines (each bag independently controlled), you can fine tune your rear suspension for launching. You can very the pressure from side to side that way. I wish they would have put in a cross-over valve to make it easier to equalize between the two (to level it out), then turn it so it would isolate the two bags. It takes very little action with the air hose to pump them up, especially when I only take mine to 7-8psi. The range is 5-35psi and you must keep at least 5psi in the bags or they will self destruct in the springs (get pinched and split, etc). Very easy to install. Here is a write-up (http://www.z28.com/forum/projects/133778-bagging-rear-end.html) I did over on another forum.

[popo8]

I had the poly jouncers installed on mine (before the air bags). Over the course of a ~2300 mi road trip last year, I completely destroyed them. Since I installed them, I have yet to bottom.

If you install the bags on separate air lines (each bag independently controlled), you can fine tune your rear suspension for launching. You can very the pressure from side to side that way. I wish they would have put in a cross-over valve to make it easier to equalize between the two (to level it out), then turn it so it would isolate the two bags. It takes very little action with the air hose to pump them up, especially when I only take mine to 7-8psi. The range is 5-35psi and you must keep at least 5psi in the bags or they will self destruct in the springs (get pinched and split, etc). Very easy to install. Here is a write-up (http://\"http://\\"http://www.z28.com/forum/projects/133778-bagging-rear-end.html\\"\") I did over on another forum.


That was a great write up... gave me alot more confidence in the set up..... do you think I could "T" the two lines together for easier filling or do you think that is NOT a good idea???


ALSO

Did ou say you found yours cheaper from SUMMIT???

Are these , them???

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AIR-60897/

[95LT1Z28]

I had a bottoming issue, probably the same one your talking about. I installed a said of moog HD aftermrket springs and they made a big difference, even setting a new moog spring next to my old one on the work bench the height difference was very noticeable. I like the bag idea though, ive seen people use them for load purposes and launch purposes similar to what your going after and they work great. I would put two seperate lines in to fill them, that way you could make them two different psi's and your trunk and undercarriage wont look like a zoo of lines and fittings and valves, OH MYY! haha yeah that was a wizard of oz reference.

[popo8]

I had a bottoming issue, probably the same one your talking about. I installed a said of moog HD aftermrket springs and they made a big difference, even setting a new moog spring next to my old one on the work bench the height difference was very noticeable. I like the bag idea though, ive seen people use them for load purposes and launch purposes similar to what your going after and they work great. I would put two seperate lines in to fill them, that way you could make them two different psi's and your trunk and undercarriage wont look like a zoo of lines and fittings and valves, OH MYY! haha yeah that was a wizard of oz reference.


I appreciate the insight, and THANK YOU everyone that gave me input... They have just been ordered from THUNDER RACING,and it was cool, cuz my g/f had no idea what to get my for my birthday (JUNE 30th) until she spied on this thread when i left it open....:secret:

[Paulster2]

I don't remember how much my set cost ... and I'm pretty sure I bought them from Summit, but who knows ... I've poured so much money into this car I forget where the money flowed to at what time :doh:

Like I was explaining about the "T" ... I left them separated (each tube has it's own Schraeder valve) as you can see in the pics in the write-up. The reason I did this was so if I take it to the track and want to vary the pressure (make the right side higher) to improve traction, I can. If you "T" them, you won't really have that option. It just makes it a little tougher in the long run to get the pressures equalized and then, if you want them in the lower range, it's even harder. When you get them installed, you'd be better off using a bike pump to get them up to snuff as a compressor just has too much pressure. Only takes a "blip" from the hose and you're there.

Glad I could help!

[popo8]

THANK YOU MAN... I will keep them seperate....

[quicksilver]

I had a this same problem. But mine was caused by me needing to put 320 lbs of sand in the back in the winter :dots:. I went to air shocks in the back, wouldn't recommend it. They did what I needed them to, but at the road course it makes the handling a bit unpredictable (compression is good, rebound is just stupid). BTW I made my own "on-board-leveling" kit. Buy a truck air horn kit, and sell the horns. Most come with a small tank, compressor and an adjustable pressure sensor. Just route it to the shocks (or bags in your case).

[popo8]

I had a this same problem. But mine was caused by me needing to put 320 lbs of sand in the back in the winter :dots:. I went to air shocks in the back, wouldn't recommend it. They did what I needed them to, but at the road course it makes the handling a bit unpredictable (compression is good, rebound is just stupid). BTW I made my own "on-board-leveling" kit. Buy a truck air horn kit, and sell the horns. Most come with a small tank, compressor and an adjustable pressure sensor. Just route it to the shocks (or bags in your case).


Great IDEA!!!! thank you for the input...

[popo8]

Ok, so I installed them... still messing around with pressures to see what is good.... however I will tell you what is not good... with an empty light car, 20 lbs.... IS WAY TOOOOO HARD, hahahahaha its like driving a pogo stick....

I put 15 lbs in it last night, and drove home, and its still to hard.... next time I drive it, I will try 10 lbs.....

either way, the rubber heater hose I had previously put on the bottom coils still need to settle on the perches again, so its EXTRA high.... for now.

Will post up pics soon as I download them....


Couldnt get a lift, so in the parking lot is where I worked.....
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k110/popo08/airbagsbegin.jpg

[quicksilver]

^ lol gotta love parking lot mods :cheers:. Let us know how it rides when you get it all tuned!

[popo8]

Well, Im down to 5 lbs and it is still sitting HIGH, and tight as shit.


Friday, I will have it on the lift to just go over everything and make sure everything is sitting right.....

[QC97Z]

still tight at 5psi? man, it sounds like something else is up. Do you even need the heater hose mod anymore?

[popo8]

still tight at 5psi? man, it sounds like something else is up. Do you even need the heater hose mod anymore?

well, I did the heater hose mod a lil dif and I think its binding up,,,

Rather than replace the isolator at the top of the coil with heater hose to drop the car.... I added heater hose to the bottom coil and left the isolater up top to raise it up.......

SO Im wondering if they are jammed up on the center of the perch, I may lube em up and see if they slide back down.....

[Tarheel'Z']

larry i say give it a shot without your heater hose mod like qc97z mentioned,and if mod is still needed i think its probably better off at the top under isolator instead of the bottom

[popo8]

larry i say give it a shot without your heater hose mod like qc97z mentioned,and if mod is still needed i think its probably better off at the top under isolator instead of the bottom


agreed, but at the time I did the mod, I was trying to raise the car, ot reduce the height.....

[BIGT94z]

why not roll the fender lip and do a bfh massaging on the inner area's were it is rubbing?

[popo8]

Because it was more than just an issue with rubbing the fenderlip and inner fender well.

In fact, both lips have been rolled with an EASTWOOD roller... the inner fenders have been smacked and coated and I still got slight rub on the lips without a passenger and always with a passenger (and shes not heavy)


My biggest issue was how hard I was comming down on the poly bump stops....... it was getting to the point I believe it is wrinkling my rear quarters......