Improving Air Bag Ride Quality

[Jferrante]

Hello all, I did some searching and just can't get the answer I am looking for so I am making another post. I have a 64 C10 with a full airbag suspension. I do not lay frame since I never notched the frame so when I am as low as I can go I am ~4-5" off the ground. My question is what can I do to improve the handling while driving at this setting? I get some serious jolting and bouncing when going over bumps and want to know if maybe a set of better shocks would work....

The ride quality is obviously best fully inflated but still could use some comfort improvement.

Any help is appreciated.

[lolife99]

Tell us more about what you did to the suspension.

Drop shocks, rear shock relocators, long adjustable track bars, drop spindles, and a c-notch all are a must with a mild air bag truck.
A front sway bar also helps.
The correct air pressure to achieve the desired ride height recommended by the bag manufacturer, is where you want to be.
Anything under that will suffer in ride quality.
You definitely don't want to drive at max air pressure either.

Let us know what you have done to your truck and what parts you used.
There are a lot of bagged trucks that just have the coil springs replaced with air bags.
That doesn't get it.

[Jferrante]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Tell us more about what you did to the suspension.

Drop shocks, rear shock relocators, long adjustable track bars, drop spindles, and a c-notch all are a must with a mild air bag truck.
A front sway bar also helps.
The correct air pressure to achieve the desired ride height recommended by the bag manufacturer, is where you want to be.
Anything under that will suffer in ride quality.
You definitely don't want to drive at max air pressure either.

Let us know what you have done to your truck and what parts you used.
There are a lot of bagged trucks that just have the coil springs replaced with air bags.
That doesn't get it.

thanks for the reply and this is the reason why the search didnt help me much since there are so many different set ups. I simply used air bags to replace coil springs with to improve overall look and planned on adding more as time and $ allowed.
What should be the next move?

[Jferrante]

Also when you say drop shocks - how much do you go for? If I get say 3" drop shocks will the shocks have enough extension when the bags are fully inflated?

[lolife99]

Use a 3" drop shock up front.
Use a set of rear shock relocators and drop shocks for a 6" rear drop.
I would add a bolt in c-notch and a 1.5" to 2" lowering block also.
This will help keep your ride height low with the correct air pressure in the bag.
The long track bar re-centers the rearend and eliminates a lot or side to side shift when airing up and down.
I use the ECE Super Track Bar that attached to the trailing arm, not the rearend.
Add disc brakes and drop spindles up front.
This will help keep the ride height low, and add better brakes for safety reasons.

[Jferrante]

thanks so much for the information. I will do the front shocks first and add as funds allow!!

[SCOTI]

Looks like Lolife has you on the right path (as always). I would do relocated upper front shock mounts over 3"drop shocks if possible. It helps keep shock length (stroke) as long as possible for best ride quality.

The rear lowering blocks also help by getting the truck low w/o impacting shock length & allowing more air psi for better ride quality.

I would also look into a front sway bar if you don't already have one.

[Jferrante]

Thanks - all good info here.

[CHRIS67GMC]

I set of shocks with rebound adjustment will make a huge difference. Like the Ridetech Singles.

[Jferrante]

Just a quick update - I put in drop shocks up front and rear (kyb) 2" lowering blocks, and rear shock relocators and I can already tell a huge difference. My front shocks are currently bottoming out (right does before the left) but I have ordered front shock relocators as well and hoping that this will cure that problem.
Thanks again for all the advice.