Air Suspension HELP!!!

[Ghiaguy]

I have a 74 ghia coupe. 15 inch standard chrome wheels and 1 1/2 inch drop spindles up front. Looks and rides awesome.

Problem is, I can't pull into my drive way anymore without hitting the bottom of the front suspension. I was looking at adding Airkewld front air kit which should raise the nose back an inch above standard height giving me the clearance plus the look I like. [

Question is does anyone have any personal experience with these kits and this company? Or any other ideas that may be cheaper?

THANKS GUYS!!!!!/b]

[Ghiaguy]

Sorry, meant a 2 1/2 inch drop spindles....typed too fast.

[6T5 square]

I've read alot about the airkewld kits- all po$itive. But like your saying- there has to be a cheaper way. I'm not sure how steep your driveway is but when I lived in a Delran development, my squareback used to scrape. I went to home depot and bought an 8 foot piece of 2X6 lumber. Lay that in the gutter right up against the curb part of your driveway. The car will hit the wood first, bringing in up the 1 1/2" you need to get up the drive.

[Ghiaguy]

definitely a cheaper way my friend, problem around where I live is,

A. the town would not allow you to leave a two by four out there cause someone could fall
B. I have a shared driveway, and my neighbors would complain about having a piece of wood in front of their property for looks.

Any other ways to RAISE that lil car!?

[Dagerm]

Asphalt patching...40-50lb. bags @ Home Depot or Lowe's.  Build a ramp in the gutter...same effect as a 2x6. At the deepest part of the gutter put down an 2" piece of PVC or ABS as wide as the ramp before you cover with asphalt. That will be your drain. That WILL work...just don't know if anyone will raise a fuss about it.

[Ghiaguy]

good advice also.....was thinking laying concrete but asphalt may work better. Its not actually the gutter that im hitting, its the vertical angle of the entrance. I clear the gutter and then scrape into the driveway as I pull up. Its just pitched REAL steep.

my 56 desoto clears it no problem, but my brothers honda bottoms out same as the ghia. JUST HAD HER PAINTED AND I CANT GET IT IN THE DAMN DRIVEWAY!? lol

[6T5 square]

an adjustable beam may be the answer. not as expensive as air bags and it's adjustable to what ever height you need.

[njgt-1]

2 suggestions,

first a peice of diamond plate from Fazzios might help and would be nice and heavy.

second, this might be a pain but it works for my driveway, a set of 2 x 10s just short enough to be used as ramps. If the car is only parked and not moved much you would have to drop them every time you leave or come home. My super only comes home from the garage  ( 7 blocks from the house ) on ocasion so I leave the ramps at home. The Bradley GT is another real headache, can't clear my driveway but goes up and down the garage driveway with no problem. I did add a set of "coil over adjustable shocks" to all four corners of that one and raised its 53/4" ground clearance to about 63/4". Had to sacrafice the ride but on that car it didn't matter much as "tighter seems better" in the curves.

[VWPANZER1]

Two idea's

  First, check your spindles. If your springs, the two sets that hid in the axils. are warn out, (they do sag with time), the spindles arms will not be centered. they probably will be pointing at an up angle. Oh yeah , it's no fun changing axil springs.

  Second. A set of air shocks in the front will raise raise your front and you can taylor it to you needs for the day or movement. Most come with a centering air cap so you can fill and monator both at the same time. The hoses can be hidden along the top axil. 

[Ghiaguy]

to your first point, if those springs are sagging, how do I tell? The car is already low from the drop spindles.

And the second point, do they make a different set up for air shocks aside from the 900 dollar airkewld set up? That can be adjusted on the go? I need to be able to raise it to clear driveway, then lower it again to ride.

thanks guys this is all helping alot!!!!!

[Bugaru "JAY"]

 I have a set of Airkewed air rides. Actually my car was one of Pete's 1st air-ride builds and was featured in several of his ads. I took them off because they became a P.I.T.A. My personal opinon is to try to resolve your troubles another way. Besides that if your riding so-ooo low that you can't get into your driveway, how are you going to manage manholes, bumps that go in the night etc?  Also air-rides don't exactly give the greatest ride. s#r
Jay 

[Beetleboi -Greg-]

Dumb question... but are you able to back it in?

[Ghiaguy]

Thanks for the info man, actually, I havent had any other troubles in gas stations, pot holes etc. My car isnt super low. no narrowed beam etc. Just a 2 1/5 drop spindles. Its just my driveway sucks apparently. I havent heard any other negative remarks on air ride. What was wrong exactly? Thanks by the way!

[Ghiaguy]

not a dumb question, to be honest, I hadnt tried. I got stopped so fast pulling in, I never reattempted the reverse angle. Will try that when the motor is  back in. Going from a 1600 to a 1910 bump.

[lovebus (jack)]

I also think air shocks would be the way tgo go if you can still find a pair.  Summit Racing use to sell them. Monroe Shocks use to make them, not sure if they still do. if its a wide driveway go in on a angle.