There are aftermarket systems.
Interestingly though, the air-shocks used in the AC/Y
bodies (New Yorker, Dynasty, Imperial, etc.) were
optional for certain models certain years (I've seen a
Dynasty with them, and I know there were some 5th Aves
or New Yorkers with them...).
The factory airshock systems work pretty well, with
the exception of the front air struts, which I hear
are both expensive and prone to dieing (though they do
last longer then the traditional struts found in FWD
80's/early 90's Mopars which typically last 80,000
miles or so....).
The best aftermarket systems out there at the moment
are made by AirSpring or Air__ (forget the exact name
of the company). JC Whitney carries them.
Basically this company produces a series of systems,
they are expensive, but worth it (I plan on getting
them in time... cheaper then hydrolics...).
One system consists of "air bollons". This company
calls them airsprings, but basically they are plastic
bollons which are filled with air and go inside the
rear coil springs. The size of these bollons can be
controled by two methods- an onboard air compressor &
controler (which is about $90-100 its self....), or by
having air compressor hook-ups in the trunk. This
design came out in the '70's- and alot of home-made
street rods used these with the hook ups in the trunk.
Go up to a gas station with a high power air pump
(after all, back then stations didn't charge to use
them!) and inflate or deflate the bollons via trunk
hook ups.
The other system they offer consists of a
hydrolic-like system (but uses air at stead of fluid),
which uses air struts up front, and air shocks in the
rear, plus requires the on board supply. All of the
parts can be bought seperately (i.e. on board supply,
shocks, and struts can be bought in three seperate
orders)... but this set up costs.. about $200-300 if I
remeber right.
Personally, I'd go with the air bollons if you're not
going to be hulling around great amounts of mass,
often. It's about $80 for the airsprings, $90 for the
on board supply.
On other idea maybe to get a used airsystem out of a
low-milage wreck in a yard... would be cheaper (but
also a gamble... who knows how well these things hold
up when not used.... like when sitting in a yard...).
Hope this helps some.
-Jim
--- Matt Hopkins <mhoppy@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I don't know the specifics about the system, but I
> do know if you are going
> to have anything in the rear seat or trunk you need
> the air sus. I had a 91
> NY and it really went down with a load. My 92
> Imperial doesn't, due to the
> air shocks in rear or air suspension. Are the
> shocks only avail from
> Chrysler or is there an aftermarket? I know there
> was some discussion about
> the struts being very $$ and I'm fortunate my car
> does not have those.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brad Hogg" <roadhogg@xxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 1:38 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: 1990 Imperial Coming Home
>
>
> > >From what I can tell, the suspension is indeed
> "air ride". On the rear,
> > there are two rather normal looking shock
> absorbers and two nifty little
> > "air springs" or bellows or bladders, as we call
> them in the trucking
> > industry. The right side shock has a "ride height
> sensor". It appears
> that
> > this is an electrical device rather than the
> traditional mechanical unit.
> > That sensor actuates a solenoid on each of the
> bladders to inflate or
> > deflate them as needed. There are a few other
> devices and sensors that
> act
> > upon this system but that is the basics of the
> rear end layout.
> >
> > The front, apparently, has "air shock" type
> struts. I could be wrong
> about
> > the exact configuration of the front air ride
> system because I don't think
> > my particular car has air ride in the front.
> >
> > This system is, IMO, all together way too
> complicated. It is no surprise
> > that the air ride is often the first thing to get
> torn out of these cars.
> I
> > don't know why a simple air ride system like that
> found on any highway
> > tractor or tour bus would not be the way to go.
> Those units run for
> > millions of miles without failure! I intend to
> install regular Dynasty
> > shocks in the rear and then fit a mechanical
> leveling valve to the rear
> axle
> > and re-work the plumbing slightly so it can more
> reliably act on the air
> > springs in the rear. I love air ride. It is the
> best thing for a car
> that
> > might be carrying a back seat full of adults and a
> trunk full of luggage.
> > My motto with it is, however, "keep it simple".
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "jsadowski" <jsadowski@xxxxxxx>
> > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 12:30 PM
> > Subject: Re: IML: 1990 Imperial Coming Home
> >
> >
> > Is this car equipped with air suspension? I've
> seen some of these cars on
> > the road that it was apparent something was wrong
> with the rear. The 90
> 5th
> > Ave I used to own had auto leveling rear
> suspension but not air suspension
> > as some of the Imperials did. I would think the
> shocks that fit the 5th
> Ave
> > would fit the Imperial also.
> > John
>
>
>
>
>
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