pitstain
07-16-2009, 06:56 PM
I can never leave well enough alone, and Air Ride does not help that problem one little bit........they just keep making cooler and better stuff, and I nor any of you can resist something when it is "cooler or better".....:willy:
Last year I pulled the trigger on a full set of Shockwaves and the Air Ride levelpro/ridepro e2 control system, I took it to the road course at Watkins Glen International, and as you guys know that damn air suspension layed the smack down on the track, much to the surprise of alot of people.
The parts: http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=14889
The build: http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=15816
The track: http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=16472
Before purchasing the shockwaves I was chatting with one of the engineers there about how I would love if someday they made shockwaves based on a high pressure gas monotube shock, as that is a proper road race shock.
Seems the guys at Airride were thinking the same thing and built these bad boys. The Shockwaves are based on a Chris Alston Vari-Shock, which is a great high quality twin tube shock.
The new Shockwave Titanium units are based on an AFCO M2 "Traction" shock, which is a very pimp racing item, and even tougher than the already stout standard shockwave. They also have the new Infrared internal ride height sensors by default, whereas they are an option on the standard shockwaves.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/3727750704_c5db255187_b.jpg
Double adjustable, just like the previous twin-tube Varishock based shockwaves, but now monotube, with external resevoir and 100psi of Nitrogen gas :)
Compression rebound adjuster:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/3727752548_3ec14583f8_b.jpg
Rebound adjuster:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2489/3726950001_839d305fef_b.jpg
No more urethane bushings for me, I went with a 5/8" upper bearing and a spherical lower with the t-bar mount for our lower control arms, which is a perfect fit. This picture also shows the swivel banjo connection for the hose that feeds oil to and from the external canister.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3727753832_a15a0c9895_b.jpg
Even the Nitrogen pressure is adjustable if needed, mine were charged to 100psi, but they can be charged up to 200psi or as low as, well nothing, so there is a standard tire stem style valve for charging.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3726951937_771443a7f5_b.jpg
Now the standard shockwaves are nothing to laugh at, they handle and ride amazingly well, but I have been dreaming of something like this.
Last night I pulled out my spiffy original shockwaves and dropped in the new Titanium units.
before:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/3726956489_73b3b69d77_b.jpg
After: (not very dramatic since they are the same size....)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/3726961163_627138d5aa_b.jpg
My TEMPORARY mounting of the external canisters, I needed to do mockup first, I ordered some tidy clamps today....don't bust my balls. :bolt
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2539/3727764450_7138ac7ee2_b.jpg
Now my impression on these new and improved shockwaves.
Ride quality is just as smooth, but the control over dips is improved quite a bit, I am still playing with the compression and rebound settings, but initial results are great.
Brake dive is controlled even better, a nice gas monotube excels in this respect over conventional twin tube shocks without having to crank the valving up to the point of discomfort.
With the sperical breaings as opposed to the urethane I found the steering response to be improved as well, with NO increase in perceived road noise or harshness whatsoever.
I only put these on the front so I can quantify the changes, and it is easily noticeable now when the front and rear tires hit the same bump, due to the nitrogen bladder in the Titaniums, they soak up small road imperfections much better, I only know I drove over something small when the rear tires hit it now, and when I hit something big the difference is readily apparent. These is a reason road race cars AND baja trucks run external resevoir shocks, THEY WORK !! and keep the tires smoothly and firmly in contact with the road.
Well that is all for now, I will get more seat time with these bad boys, and add in the Titaniums in the rear of the truck as well soon, but I am very pleased so far.
Great job Air Ride !! :hail:
Last year I pulled the trigger on a full set of Shockwaves and the Air Ride levelpro/ridepro e2 control system, I took it to the road course at Watkins Glen International, and as you guys know that damn air suspension layed the smack down on the track, much to the surprise of alot of people.
The parts: http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=14889
The build: http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=15816
The track: http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=16472
Before purchasing the shockwaves I was chatting with one of the engineers there about how I would love if someday they made shockwaves based on a high pressure gas monotube shock, as that is a proper road race shock.
Seems the guys at Airride were thinking the same thing and built these bad boys. The Shockwaves are based on a Chris Alston Vari-Shock, which is a great high quality twin tube shock.
The new Shockwave Titanium units are based on an AFCO M2 "Traction" shock, which is a very pimp racing item, and even tougher than the already stout standard shockwave. They also have the new Infrared internal ride height sensors by default, whereas they are an option on the standard shockwaves.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/3727750704_c5db255187_b.jpg
Double adjustable, just like the previous twin-tube Varishock based shockwaves, but now monotube, with external resevoir and 100psi of Nitrogen gas :)
Compression rebound adjuster:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/3727752548_3ec14583f8_b.jpg
Rebound adjuster:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2489/3726950001_839d305fef_b.jpg
No more urethane bushings for me, I went with a 5/8" upper bearing and a spherical lower with the t-bar mount for our lower control arms, which is a perfect fit. This picture also shows the swivel banjo connection for the hose that feeds oil to and from the external canister.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3727753832_a15a0c9895_b.jpg
Even the Nitrogen pressure is adjustable if needed, mine were charged to 100psi, but they can be charged up to 200psi or as low as, well nothing, so there is a standard tire stem style valve for charging.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3726951937_771443a7f5_b.jpg
Now the standard shockwaves are nothing to laugh at, they handle and ride amazingly well, but I have been dreaming of something like this.
Last night I pulled out my spiffy original shockwaves and dropped in the new Titanium units.
before:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/3726956489_73b3b69d77_b.jpg
After: (not very dramatic since they are the same size....)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/3726961163_627138d5aa_b.jpg
My TEMPORARY mounting of the external canisters, I needed to do mockup first, I ordered some tidy clamps today....don't bust my balls. :bolt
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2539/3727764450_7138ac7ee2_b.jpg
Now my impression on these new and improved shockwaves.
Ride quality is just as smooth, but the control over dips is improved quite a bit, I am still playing with the compression and rebound settings, but initial results are great.
Brake dive is controlled even better, a nice gas monotube excels in this respect over conventional twin tube shocks without having to crank the valving up to the point of discomfort.
With the sperical breaings as opposed to the urethane I found the steering response to be improved as well, with NO increase in perceived road noise or harshness whatsoever.
I only put these on the front so I can quantify the changes, and it is easily noticeable now when the front and rear tires hit the same bump, due to the nitrogen bladder in the Titaniums, they soak up small road imperfections much better, I only know I drove over something small when the rear tires hit it now, and when I hit something big the difference is readily apparent. These is a reason road race cars AND baja trucks run external resevoir shocks, THEY WORK !! and keep the tires smoothly and firmly in contact with the road.
Well that is all for now, I will get more seat time with these bad boys, and add in the Titaniums in the rear of the truck as well soon, but I am very pleased so far.
Great job Air Ride !! :hail: