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caddydaddy said
on 10/24/2008 I have a 1963 Cadillac,and want to install a bag system,I don't want to make major alterations to the car as it is origanal condition,I have wide whitwall tires & original wheels and hub caps and want to be able to change out the wheels and tires with 17-18" chrome wheels and tires without major modifcations to the origanal car.Any feed back and recommondations would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Larry
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 If you want to jump, then use hydraulics. It's a simple chemical property that liquids cannot be compressed while gases can. Air bags are for if you just want to raise, lower, or make your vehicle "dance". Just don't think that it will have quite the response as if you had hydraulics. A good air bag system will set you back about $1000 and it is not all that hard to install UNLESS you have to C-notch the frame. This is the case with trucks and some older cars/hot rods. If you need to C-notch then expect to pay an additional $300-$500 for this. If you decide to skimp on this, you will be hearing the back axel banging the frame whenever you drive the vehicle in its lowered position.
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 If you need to get to work on Monday, get hydros. If you have an air leak-your car or truck will be on the floor. At least with hydros you have a coil spring to keep you elevated!
Anonymous said
on 2/28/2006 Which one is better, air or hydros? The answer is pretty much based on what kind of vehicle you have and what you are willing to spend. I've got a 1980 Monte Carlo and I'm juicing it. It's just an old school thing. But, say you got a 2000 Eclipse, you would want to put air on that. The price ties into a lot of things. If you put a car with a basic hydro kit next to a car with a basic air kit then the one with hydro is going to be a lot faster than the one with air, and it will ride pretty rough. The one with air is going to ride a lot smoother, but it will be slow. But, with the right springs, with some accumulators, you can get a smooth ride out of hydros. And with a much more expensive air setup you can get a lot more speed. To get a car to hop with bags you are going to have to spend a bundle of money. But, it's also gets expensive trying to get a good ride quality out of hydros. Then again, why worry about ride quality when you can hop the front wheels off the ground, or pull three wheels?
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Pressure: Pump pressure rating is one of the major considerations in determining whether it can do the job. Nearly all hydraulic pumps work in a rotary fashion. As a pump rotates, it develops a partial vacuum on the inlet (suction) side, permitting fluid under atmospheric pressure in the reservoir to flow into the pump inlet. Then the pump ejects this fluid, usually at a pressure higher than atmospheric. It is worth noting that a pump does not create pressure. It merely moves fluid, causing the flow. Pressure is created by the load on the fluid; if no load exists, the fluid has very little pressure. As the load is placed on the fluid, the pressure at the outlet side of the pump increases to a value that is normally indicated as the pump maximum. Therefore, a 3,000-psi pump is a unit that can maintain flow against a load of 3,000 psi.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If you want to jump, then use hydraulics. It's a simple chemical property that liquids cannot be compressed while gases can. Air bags are for if you just want to raise, lower, or make your vehicle "dance". Just don't think that it will have quite the response as if you had hydraulics. A good air bag system will set you back about $1000 and it is not all that hard to install UNLESS you have to C-notch the frame. This is the case with trucks and some older cars/hot rods. If you need to C-notch then expect to pay an additional $300-$500 for this. If you decide to skimp on this, you will be hearing the back axel banging the frame whenever you drive the vehicle in its lowered position.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I own a 1964 Impala, and after looking into a hydraulic set-up, I've realized that an air bag suspension is more efficient. The cost is around the same as hydros, unless you do the work yourself. You don't have to worry about tons of batteries to charge, replacing pumps, and best of all if you bust an air line you don't have to worry about hydraulic fluid leaking everywhere. With the right set-up air can be quicker and right a lot smoother than hydraulics.
Here are a few links:
http://www.deviouscustoms.com
http://www.the-hack-shack.com
http://www.aim.com
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 The frame doesn't need to be reinforced unless you plan on hopping the car. But stress fractures on the paint and body can become a problem really quick.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 before you think of putting hydraulics on your car, have your frame reinforced. Once you have it reinforced you should get your pumps. You will have to constantly charge the extra batteries to your car.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 One thing to keep in mind before you install a hydraulic suspension is the extreme stress these systems place on your vehicle. The more power you have, the more it's gonna break. Be prepared to pay for the repairs in the future. However, it's worth it!