Chevrolet S10 Hard Line Air Ride Suspension - Hard Line It!
| hard Line Air Ride tube Bending
Let's face it: Plastic air line is a simple yet vulnerable way to plumb trucks with air-ride suspensions. It may get the job done, but if you are not careful, a failure could leave you stranded on the road. We have heard countless stories of truck owners misplacing plastic line and winding up trying to salvage their rides because the line broke while driving at highway speeds. In a nutshell, plastic line is more susceptible to fail with heat, and since it is flexible, it can move into a position that can puncture it.
On the other hand, an air system can be set up with metal hard line by taking just a few extra steps. For the beginner, we suggest taking your time to map out a safe route and take good measurements to make sure you don't waste too much material. Though many people use different material, 1/2-inch od Type L copper is safe, industrial-grade tubing, and it is easy to work with. For a truck with a front and back system, you will need about 60 feet of copper tubing, and for a truck with FBSS, you will need about 90 feet of material. With time and practice, it will probably take less material than these suggested lengths, but chances are you will make some mistakes your first time around. You should avoid hot areas such as the exhaust, and prevent vibrations against sharp metal. Other than that, hard lining should be a safe and simple way for you to hook up an air system.
