what do you think of this idea

[dannyho]

I know people have been using air ride suspensions here with some pretty good success, but it always ends up hitting a point where people get into the change in spring rate as the shock compresses.

now, and this is purely hypothetical, what about two opposing air bags on each corner. Yes, the packaging would be rough, but ignoring that problem, what technical problems would be had here. I know there have to be a few, but it also seems that it would allow the same suspension to be set super soft and super hard at the same ride height. Would it just be too hard to control, with the advent of newer computers and mechanisms I can't imagine this to be a problem.

Stupid idea or what?

another concept, defiantely years (if not decades) of it coming to the aftermarket. That new suspension developed by Bose, anyone preplanning to develop the technology for racing? I know Bose likes to hoard their patents, but I'm just curious

[Tony@AirRideTech]

actually what you are talking about is technology that is already out there and are used extensively in the mountain bike / off road market. The assemblies now are packaged in front fork and rear shock set ups and are in a bi-polar configuration. Essentially two small airsprings captured in a shock tube on either side of the piston assembly. In our market, I would venture to say that right now advancing into those kind of configurations would net little to nothing over the advantages that are all ready there with a properly designed and set up air suspension.

[dannyho]

well I've also thought about some other ideas. For example , at my school the town has put in a ton of speed bumps to keep kids from speeding. thats fine, but I hit 10 of them each way eveery day, sometimes twice a day. now, if you had a car that was setup with normal springs, but then had some helper bags just to lift it up on cantilever or whatever the contraption. and when it was lowered again the bag would have no effect anymore. would a completely deflated bag in that capacity be prone to failure if they are cylced without an internal pressure?
I'm not exactly trying to ask moronic questions, but sometimes it happens when my mind drifts.

[Tony@AirRideTech]

It could be done..... but the practicality and the space you would give up via linkage assembly would make it not worth it over simply putting it on air alone.

[dannyho]

how much weight does a small system add, assuming its not replacing anything , 4 corner? 2 corner?

[Tony@AirRideTech]

airsprings themselves are minimal......compressor systems are minimal also.... like from 20 lbs and up........ it just really depends on what you want.