Airbag suspension

[TomOB]

For some reason i feel a flame coming on, but here goes the blasphemy:
I was riding around with my mom and we both realized how crappy the roads get in NYC, and how bad it would be for a low clearance car.
I jokes and said i needed a lift kit liek an airbag suspension to raise it up when needed.
Is this possible in a corvette? I mean do the front and rear have enough travel to actually make a difference? does the handling have to suffer even when you adjust to normal ride height?
Tomas

 

[Stallion]

I always thought with physics that any car lifted higher the handling would be sacraficed. That's why Corvettes handle so well (besides the suspension), because they are so low-lying cars. As well as most other sports cars.

 

[TomOB]

You are right in general. As far as I know it really has to do with the width and the length of the wheelbase compared to the height of the center of gravity, or mass (about the same anyway)
What i wanted was the ability to lift the car up a few inches for the bumpycity roads. I wouldnt be going over 40mph so the handling is not an issue. i could then lower it for higher sppeds on nicer roads.
Anyone?

 

[Stallion]

Also another question would be is there enough clearance to put that sort of thing in a Corvette's suspension.

 

[CVT4ME]

I am sure anything is possible if you throw enough cash at it. I know my Vette rides better than my 2002 Dodge Ram Quad cab with 20" rims on some of the worst roads San Antonio has to offer.

CVT4ME

 

[TomOB]

I don't want to throw too much at a project like this. Not that i'm even considering this...it was just a passing idea.
Are your tires the super low profiles?
Tom

 

[CVT4ME]

I will assume you are asking about the Dodge tires? They are the stock Goodyear LS tires that were on it when I bought the truck. Nothing fancy. The Vette is running Goodyear Eagle GT+4 tires, also what was on the car when I purchased it. Nothing low profile on either vehicle, everything is stock dimensions.

CVT4ME

 

[TomOB]

I'm not really concerned with harshness of ride, but more about protecting the car.
My sedan's muffler scrapes the pavement every once in a while because we have some really steep inclines (like driveways for instance)

 

[Stallion]

I went over a speed bump with the Vette the other day and I heard a little scrape-age. I wanted to cry. It was nothing terrible, but my soul was scraped when that happened. :cry

 

[TomOB]

thats what i'm talking about. most of the info i'm finding on airbags indicates its very possible but very untested waters.

 

[RhinoB1]

I put an airbag suspension on a guys 72 vette that he races SCCA solo. You can get a lower ride height with an airbag suspension than conventional and that is why he had me do it. He has done awesome in his class since it was finished and no one else in a vette from that era is even close to turning the times he does. As far as raising the vehicle for purpose of missing bumps, that is the dumbest thing you could possibly do!!! You will have an extremely worse ride with airbags than without. Go with 275/60 15 on the rear and 255/60 15 on the front, that should give you adequate ride height over most normal bumps and potholes. Should be alright for your driveways too, just cut them at a little angle and it should be fine. By the way, as far as durability goes, don't worry, that suspension can take far more abuse than any average person can comprehend. When I worked at the Mesa proving grounds, we regularly ran C5's through 21 inch and 15 inch potholes in cement lined with half inch solid steel. It dropped off at 90 degrees, and then coming out was at 90 degrees too. We just did one side at a time and the pothole was about 28"x35". Also, we put thousands of miles on them driving on curving cobblestone roads just like they have in some eastern towns that are very old and that in itself is far worse than any pothole! Just remember, don't be afraid if it bumps and scrapes every once in a while, it's not a Viper and won't fall apart like one either!!! Anyway, that's my 2 cents, hope it helps.

 

[Stallion]

don't be afraid if it bumps and scrapes every once in a while

That's what I thought before I heard that heart-piercing sound.

 

[corvettecrazy]

check out air ride technologies, not only are they really help full but their site( http://www.ridetech.com/index.asp) has tons of info, and they make some of the best stuff around, so i hear.

 

[TomOB]

ok, new question

Corvette Fever has some 10 top c4 suspension changes or upgrades, one of which is a coilover upgrade. I don't know much about these other than they are shocks with "coilsover" them, and they replace the leaf springs. Has anyone ever done a conversion like that on a c3? the airbag companies have coilover airbags, maybe thats a more conservative route.
also, can coilovers be front and back?
tom

 

[Stallion]

Has anyone ever done a conversion like that on a c3?

Actually a lot of people put C4 suspension on almost any Vette, so I'm sure that somebody here must have done that. But C4 suspension can get pricey, $5k-$8k. Good luck!!

TR

 

[TomOB]

I've seen prices much higher, especially if you go the newman route and modify the frame (i think thats the only way?). I think he alone charges $7k, add onto that the components and the fact that you need to get a frame to him.
I meant specifically a coilover conversion.
Also, if anyone has any sites explaining suspensions, ie how they work, how theyre adjusted. Im worried about severly altering the dynamics of the vehicle by rasing it. I know the links are meant to keep a certain angle throughout travel, but how good is the c3 at this?