air ride compliance

[Harry Moto]

Ok, this is a flight of fancy, all theoretical.

If a fella was to install the factory style air ride rear springs (no steel spring, just the bags holding the whole load) without the factory ride leveling stuff, he would have the option to run air to each rear spring independantly. This means if you are on one scary mutha of a traverse slope, you could drop the air from the uphill spring and add a little to the downhill spring to lessen the body roll down hill, which would lessen the chances of the body rolling down the hill, yes?

Ok so that's 4 valves, one compressor, one air tank, two gauges. Now what if we add a 5th valve; connect the left and right bags through as large an airline as possible (I don't know what fittings are used on the bags: you'd want that same size, no smaller). When you open this 5th valve, air would be free to pass from left to right. This would theoretically give you 'tractor front axel' class compliance with the rear axel. Optional, no less. And of course I'm imagining this was all done with the rear anti-sway bar removed. Would that be Correct? Killer compliance??

I'm seriously considering this option for my rear suspension. Please shoot ~intelligent~ holes in my theories. I don't want to spend the time and money, and then say "Wow... I didn't think it would do THAT!"

[Trail X]

If you opened that 5th valve, you'd basically be controlling your body roll by the front wheels. Your front wheels would basically even out, and the rear axle would form to the ground. There may be some sort of minimal delay when actually going over ground due to the time it takes the air to transfer.

I had thought of doing this with the inside-the-spring bags. My main worry about the inside bags is that it would seemingly decrease articulation - by opening that valve between the bags, I think it wouldn't hurt the articulation as much, and still help by adding height to the rear.

[fishsticks]

Sounds like an interesting theory. My concerns would be in the durability department.

From my real world experience I can tell you that this:

And of course I'm imagining this was all done with the rear anti-sway bar removed. Would that be Correct? Killer compliance??

...will net you this:

If you opened that 5th valve, you'd basically be controlling your body roll by the front wheels. Your front wheels would basically even out, and the rear axle would form to the ground.

...with just springs. The rear will happily flex all the way to denting the left side shock body without much effort.

[Harry Moto]

James, that's what got me thinking about it, I had the 'helper' bags on my pickup setup this way. ('cause I'm cheap, that was a two valve setup; fill 'em both, or dump 'em both) As the main springs did most of the work, that was fine. You could kind of tell the body roll wasn't controlled as well if you had a load and had some air in there.

Fishsticks, thanks for the info. I didn't know there would be a clearance issue from that; glad I found out here rather than on the trail after the mod! So I guess I'd be keeping the anti-roll bar, but really that's not a guarantee, just reduces the likelyhood. Right? Unless there are hard stops for the anti-sway bar. I'll have to get on the creeper again and check all that stuff out.

I appreciate the comments, guys. One of the things I was keeping in mind is that balloons can pop. Bringing a spare bag was part of the equation. It'd be a huge PIA to install on the trail, but less of a PIA than not having one. Thinking in progress. (this could take a while...)

<ADDED> Fishsticks, was that with wheel spacers? Curious, spacers would be a step in the right direction, but I could certainly see it not being enough.

[fishsticks]

I have 25mm offset wheels, so spacers didn't enter my equation until after my body lift. Before the body lift, I flexed enough to rub 32x10.5" tires. Z71 springs, 2" bottom spacer, .75" top spacer, no rear sway bar.

The dent in my left side shock isn't bad. It seems to be due to the fact that the BDS shock are a larger body than the stockers. I know Teebes has the same dent I do, and I suspect others with BDS/no sway bar setups also have it. The shocks still work fine.

[Trail X]

Just extend the bump stops back there.

Sure sounds easy on paper.

[Harry Moto]

Just extend the bump stops back there.

Sure sounds easy on paper.

LOL! Like so many things...