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O.k so the ride hight on the Sapporo is pretty low with the help of some fiesta and golf coil springs but it was only really a short term fix as I don't do standard hight cars ;D ;D ,and as the dampers are pretty shot do I get someone like Leda to make me an adjustable coil based set up for my car or do I go down the airbag route? alternativly I've always fancied being a total pimp and going for full hydraulics but I think I'll save that for something big and american! What do you guys think and what experiances have you had with any of the above?
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which is more important to you - appearance or performance? coilovers from someone like Leda would give you the best handling. Airbags are supposed to give better handling than hydraulics, but neither will be as good as coilovers.Airbags are supposed to give a better ride than hydraulics. Hydraulics apparently give a very harsh ride. I don't have any personal experience with airbags or hydraulics though.
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Well as it's is never going to be the best handling car ever due to the pwr steering box and beam rear axle I just want it to be smoother and better planted, basicly the ride is o.k at the momment but with the knackerd dampers it does crash about on potholes quite a bit, and with the ammount of speed humps about now being able to raise the suspension would stop me having to buy a 4x4 (please god never make me own one!! )
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Nov 18, 2004 12:06:31 GMT
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Bags. They should cost a bit more than springs/shocks but you do get an adjustable ride height. I would dearly love to do my Volvo that way. I'm having to settle for chopped springs first though, just to get it down a bit. Standard 'lowering' springs only go about 35mm down. What's the point in that? Chop 'em I say!
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Peugeot 307sw - Suzuki SV650S - MX5.
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Airbags/hydraulics or coilsBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Nov 18, 2004 19:49:25 GMT
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Yeah I like airbags... better ride than juice, but then hydraulics are normally faster, for some "dancing" action! You can get "fast air" bags if you want the best of both worlds, and the REALLY crazy people use Nitrogen filled systems . Have a look at www.maxhydraulics.com. I've chatted to various people at Max about airbags as I'm planning to put some on the Benz (now in the very distant future...), they were dead helpful! On the other hand, coilovers would improve the handling and you can set the ride height (allbeit not from inside the car to impress the lay-deez! ;D)
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Nov 18, 2004 21:32:53 GMT
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Bags. They should cost a bit more than springs/shocks but you do get an adjustable ride height. I would dearly love to do my Volvo that way. I'm having to settle for chopped springs first though, just to get it down a bit. Standard 'lowering' springs only go about 35mm down. What's the point in that? Chop 'em I say! Bags won't cost a bit more; they will cost a lot more (even if you buy top end springs and shocks). Bags will be seriously more time consuming as well, I've spend many hours with biglee tinkering with his system. Even if you buy an 'off-the-shelf' kit for your car (if there is one for your make and model?) it almost certainly will not just bolt in. You also have to consider the time (and hassle!) of running all the air lines, mounting compressors/tanks/gauges etc. Then there's the possibility of some serious structural chassis modifications! I'm not trying to be negative about air bags, as the ride is good, I'm just saying you need to do your homework on it before hand as it's not a job to take on lightly on your own. Hope I was some help
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Airbags/hydraulics or coilsBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Nov 18, 2004 23:31:43 GMT
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Yeah there's definitely work involved in installing an air system, and there is with hydraulics too. Bags are about £60 each, then you have the air tank, compressor (electric or engine driven). All the solenoids, switches, wiring, hoses.... Then there's the chassis welding as Cool Merc points out. Not a weekend job by any means! If you have McPherson strut suspension on your motor then you can get DIY coilover kits from Rally Design which are fairly cheap, and more or less universal. In my opinion this could be done in a weekend with the right prep work and you're handy with the Mig welder!
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Individual air bags are cheap, but as you say BenzBoy there's all the other stuff to consider! Kits can be expensive, as you can see here they start around $1,300 for a fast system but can get a lot more than that!
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