Shockwave air ride questions

[Dave R]

OK, I got the rear end primed, painted and fully installed. I check it through the full range of motion and it works great. I have decided I'm going ahead with the air ride setup and am going to use the 7000 series shockwaves from Air Ride Technologies in the back. I'll go with the ones that have the 6.9" stroke so I can get the car as low as in these pics but ride at the height I want it to. I took some measurements and here is what I came up with. See if I'm on the right track.

In these pics, the rear is tucked as high as I can go with 1" bump stops going back into the factory rail stops. This puts the rear pinchweld at 3.5" off the ground and the front lower 4 link bracket at 1.75" off the ground. I'm wanting 7.5" of normal ride height.
Using the 7000 series with a 6.9" stroke, that would give me 3.75" of compression right? I'm short 1/4" since they say the compressed height is 13.75". Does it work that way or can I run the air as needed to get the height up to the 7.5" ride height and just make sure the mounts are at just over the 13" compressed height to save the shocks from bottoming?

My intention is to have the 7.5" height and get it down to the 3.5" parked height. If I were to play with the air for the height adjustment and get up the extra 1/4-1/2" of height, that would give me just around 2" of extension on the shocks. Is that enough or will I end up breaking something? These are the largest shockwave bags they have and I don't want them up into the trunk too badly just to sit on the ground.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s259.photobucket.com/user/ndfastang/media/DSC04057.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s259.photobucket.com/user/ndfastang/media/DSC04054.jpg.html)

What do you guys think??

Dave

[Josh@Ridetech]

Using the 7000 series with a 6.9" stroke, that would give me 3.75" of compression right? I'm short 1/4" since they say the compressed height is 13.75". Does it work that way or can I run the air as needed to get the height up to the 7.5" ride height and just make sure the mounts are at just over the 13" compressed height to save the shocks from bottoming?

Dave

Hey Dave,

Correct, you'll have the 3.75" of compression at ride height. You want to have enough travel up and down the be positive that you're not going to bottom or top out the shock, the 13.75" is the sweet spot in that shock.

The dimensions of the 6.9 7000 series shockwave are:

13.75" compressed
17.51" ride height
20.02" extended

If you measure from the center of your shock mounts, what are the measurements that you come up with? We can definitely get you fixed up with the length that corresponds with your measurements.

The stance looks perfect by the way!

-Josh

[Dave R]

Josh,
Thanks for the reply. I guess I didn't realize you guys were on here. That's good to have. When are your forums going to be back up????

Anyways, I set the car at 7.5" ride height for the pinchweld to the ground. With it lowered and sitting as is in the pic above, it is sitting at 3.5". That's a full 4" of drop. The front with a 104 setup will perfectly sit 3.5" off the ground and the rear is the issue now. I guess I could sit the car slightly higher in the rear when dropped but I'd like the level look if possible. It's surely not worth extra cost for the 1/4" or so. Right now, I don't have an upper shock mount in the car so I have the ability to put it as I want. That's why I'm trying to get a measurement so I know where and how deep to put it. I was originally going with a coilover and move to the air ride setup but it seems the two are not symmetrical when I throw the parked drop stance in the picture.

What do you think? Can I set it up with the extra 1/2" of height (by air in the bag) essentially raising the 17.51 to around 18" so I can set it down the needed 4" for the stance?

Does any of this make sense? I write it with full understanding and then read it and have no idea what I was saying.

Thanks
Dave

[Josh@Ridetech]

Josh,
Thanks for the reply. I guess I didn't realize you guys were on here. That's good to have. When are your forums going to be back up????

Anyways, I set the car at 7.5" ride height for the pinchweld to the ground. With it lowered and sitting as is in the pic above, it is sitting at 3.5". That's a full 4" of drop. The front with a 104 setup will perfectly sit 3.5" off the ground and the rear is the issue now. I guess I could sit the car slightly higher in the rear when dropped but I'd like the level look if possible. It's surely not worth extra cost for the 1/4" or so. Right now, I don't have an upper shock mount in the car so I have the ability to put it as I want. That's why I'm trying to get a measurement so I know where and how deep to put it. I was originally going with a coilover and move to the air ride setup but it seems the two are not symmetrical when I throw the parked drop stance in the picture.

What do you think? Can I set it up with the extra 1/2" of height (by air in the bag) essentially raising the 17.51 to around 18" so I can set it down the needed 4" for the stance?

Does any of this make sense? I write it with full understanding and then read it and have no idea what I was saying.

Thanks
Dave

No problem! We've been going through the whole forum trying to repair everything that we were having issues with, hopefully it isn't much longer!

Really, the best way to be positive on measuring for the shockwaves, is to get your shock mounts set where you want and measure from center to center on them. You can move the upper shock mount accordingly to the shockwave dimensions or I can build the shockwave around your measurements as well, I'd just have you position the upper shock mount to where you want. I do see where you're coming from with your measurements though!

You're always welcome to give me a call directly, my number is 812.481.4734.

Thanks,

Josh

[Dave R]

I'll have to give you a call tomorrow then. Thanks for the help.

Dave

[Josh@Ridetech]

I'll have to give you a call tomorrow then. Thanks for the help.

Dave

You're welcome!

[Dave R]

Josh, I tried to call and left a message. I understand taking calls from us info seekers all day. Been there, done that.

I think I have it figured out. I wasn't taking into account the added 1/2" of tire I was going to gain in the front by running a 50 series versus a 45 series tire up front. That will put the front at just around 4" of clearance after deflated. So, I could actually use the longer stroke rear setup and still have cushion room for safety. Going to a final drop clearance of 4 inches for the pinchweld to be off the ground is not bad at all after researching and seeing a few pics. I'll need to get the trunk floor cut out and the cross bar placed.

Thanks!

Dave

[Dave R]

Josh,
Thanks for returning my call. I got all the info I needed but found one more question. How much pivoting movement does the end bearing have with the sleves inserted? My pinion angle changes a bit and I don't know if there is play in the bearing to pivot side to side some opposite of the rotational direction.

Thanks
Dave