Converting from rear leafs to coils

NightRunner385

NightRunner385

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Just curious, has anyone looked into or experimented with converting the rear leaf spring setup in our trucks for a four link setup using coil over springs? This practice is fairly common now on early f-bodies (camaros/firebirds) for protouring cars. The rear setup on the camaro is very similar the the setup used on our trucks. It looks like Air Ride makes a air bag kit for the rear of some Dodge trucks the eliminates the leaf springs. Here's a link:

http://www.ridetech.com/products/Dodge_Truck_02_05_AirBar-812-969.html

Making this conversion would make the suspension in our trucks similar to the setup in the new '09 Rams. It would allow for easy ride height adjustability, easy change of spring rate by swapping out fairly inexpensive springs, better ride/handling. Even the lengths of the links could be made adjustable.

Any thoughts?
 
i will be doing my truck with a 4 link when the motor is done.. i used to do airride suspension for a living.. i think it's what our trucks need.. coils or bags
 
NightRunner385 said:
Just curious, has anyone looked into or experimented with converting the rear leaf spring setup in our trucks for a four link setup using coil over springs? This practice is fairly common now on early f-bodies (camaros/firebirds) for protouring cars. The rear setup on the camaro is very similar the the setup used on our trucks. It looks like Air Ride makes a air bag kit for the rear of some Dodge trucks the eliminates the leaf springs. Here's a link:

http://www.ridetech.com/products/Dodge_Truck_02_05_AirBar-812-969.html

Making this conversion would make the suspension in our trucks similar to the setup in the new '09 Rams. It would allow for easy ride height adjustability, easy change of spring rate by swapping out fairly inexpensive springs, better ride/handling. Even the lengths of the links could be made adjustable.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Fairly decent price i would just have to question how well a it would hold up under a heavy foot. I got a quote for a custom four link it ran into the 2,500.00 area. With out a doubt you would have a better ride and more control with an air ride system just worried how well a prefab system would hold up.:dontknow:
 
Heck anyone ever tinkered with awd concept on the truck, you figure 3-4 grand easy for a gooooood 4 link set up with everything perfect and installed but what about a little more for an awd set up if it was even possible? These ideas come to me late at night while im drinkin but who knows maybe someone might think its worth a min of thought.
 
GotRidOfTheHemiForThis said:
Heck anyone ever tinkered with awd concept on the truck, you figure 3-4 grand easy for a gooooood 4 link set up with everything perfect and installed but what about a little more for an awd set up if it was even possible? These ideas come to me late at night while im drinkin but who knows maybe someone might think its worth a min of thought.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a fairly easy project! (this coming from a guy who has been working on putting a 727 in a 06 for the last 6 months):)

Probably easer for the auto guys but what about the trans and transfer case from 2500 4x4 and the front axles assembly from a 1500 4x4. Hows that for feeding your late night thoughts:D
 
OSO said:
Sounds like a fairly easy project! (this coming from a guy who has been working on putting a 727 in a 06 for the last 6 months):)

Probably easer for the auto guys but what about the trans and transfer case from 2500 4x4 and the front axles assembly from a 1500 4x4. Hows that for feeding your late night thoughts:D
Click to expand...



5 or 6 more and ill let you know:D
 
What I had in mind was a system similar to the Air Ride system that partially uses the stock leaf mounting locations to mount the front of the lower links on each side. Some upper links could be made to angle in toward the center of the truck, attaching to a bracket that mounts across the frame on one end, and to mounting ears welded to the rear axle on the other end of the link. This would triangulate the links and would eliminate the need for a panhard bar.

The actual brackets and links needed to do this conversion don't seem like they would be incredibly difficult to fabricate. I would use DOM tubing and some threaded tubing ends. I would get some threaded linkage ends with bushings in them to allow for adjustability. The brackets would be made from pieces of steel plate welded together. Here are some pics of a camaro setup and of the linkage ends that I would use.

0603phr_air_02_z.jpg

RUBBER%20ROD%20END%20MVC-055S.jpg
 
do not use anything pre fab or anything thing that 'BOLTS" on it's BS you want everything welded i'v seen to many bad storys about "Air Technology"
 
Tooloe said:
do not use anything pre fab or anything thing that 'BOLTS" on it's BS you want everything welded i'v seen to many bad storys about "Air Technology"
Click to expand...

Can you tell me exactly what you mean, (clarify a little)? Lots of rear suspension pieces bolt on, the front mounting plates that hold the front of the leaf spring mounts on a camaro bolt to the body for instance. The shackes bolt on to the rear of the leafs on our trucks. Do you mean that current kits that are out there for some vehicles don't bolt on or attach securely enough? Also, are the bad stories that you've heard about a specific company or about the technology in general? Just for clarification, I'm not planning on using airbags for the suspension, I'd rather use conventional coil over shocks.
 
NightRunner385 said:
Can you tell me exactly what you mean, (clarify a little)? Lots of rear suspension pieces bolt on, the front mounting plates that hold the front of the leaf spring mounts on a camaro bolt to the body for instance. The shackes bolt on to the rear of the leafs on our trucks. Do you mean that current kits that are out there for some vehicles don't bolt on or attach securely enough? Also, are the bad stories that you've heard about a specific company or about the technology in general? Just for clarification, I'm not planning on using airbags for the suspension, I'd rather use conventional coil over shocks.
Click to expand...


Most for the storys i'v heard are about The Company "Air Ride" and "Air Technology" they are pretty much the same company...
and i'm just talking about trucks... back when i was doing Custom suspension Work in austin and for a little while in dallas... I saw some scary stuff.. just to give you a little clue of that air bar that was posted in this thread.... one major rule of thumb is to make sure your lower and uppper Link bars "in this case a 4 link" are the same length if not it puts strain on the shorter bar... and thats just on a 4cyl Ranger i could not imagine having 500HP and snaping a link end.... you think we have traction problems now lol it'd be a hellova ride.... i'm just saying i would not risk my life or put my life in some bolts hands thats gonna hold me to the pavement when i'm doing 100mph down the race track or even on a road.. no if you were to buy a Bolt on kit and have it welded in thats another story.. but i would still have some one that knows what they are doing Build mine from scratch....and if you go this far and are still thinking about buying a kit make sure its bag or Coil on bar cause if it's over the axle it'll ride like dog $hit.......thats my 2 cents... i would just feel much safer know that if it breaks i'v got some one i can turn to and be like hey your weld didn't hold... it gives you something to stand on besides say well i ordered this kit and now i can't get ahold of anybody with the company i bought it from...... i'v been there.. had a "Bolt on" kit Break and had to cut the hole rear end of the frame off my old truck "cab back".. it's not fun lol
 
A little story to go with Tooles

One of our members ordered the air ride techs kit that they told him would work,to go on two of his trucks,

neither one worked, after contacting them about it , they said give me a couple weeks and let us see what we can do.

three weeks later..............they said send it back



on week later he gets charged $500 for returned products that they said would work in the first place:mad:

The rear kit if you notice has the shocks mounted on the outside, and the bars are designed for a hemi, not a 500hp truck;)

After panama I begin on my four link, figure after 505 spanks my bottom Iwill need to do something:D
 
you can easily 4 link a truck for around 800 bucks if you do the work. jegs sells some nice kits. with a few fabed up brackets they have no problem going on the truck. one i did went on a 2500 putting out 600hp handled it with no problems
 
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