chief916 Posted February 11, 2019 Report Share Posted February 11, 2019 Anybody have any experience in installing the donvel airsprings on an older truck? Just want to know how critical the measurements need to be. Everything looks good and simple until you get down under the truck but it's difficult to get measurements when on your back and in a tight spot. I think I got what Robin at Donvel needs to build the suspension but worried they might not fit or fit to loosely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance A Lott Posted February 11, 2019 Report Share Posted February 11, 2019 Chief I have wondered the same and how much improvement you get. I have drive, cab and seat donvels. Please post after you install as to your opinion about them and if they are worth the upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chief916 Posted February 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2019 Will do Lance. I just put the drives on last week with new air springs. have not hauled anything yet so really can't say if they were doing their job. Also I'm singled and have a short wheel base so I don't know if that's a player. I'll keep you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance A Lott Posted February 11, 2019 Report Share Posted February 11, 2019 I am also singled short, I put all three sets on at once as well as the steel deck so I can only say it rides a lot better but not what made the most difference. I do know that the cab is now very steady. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuiteSuccess Posted February 15, 2019 Report Share Posted February 15, 2019 On 2/11/2019 at 1:35 PM, Lance A Lott said: Chief I have wondered the same and how much improvement you get. I have drive, cab and seat donvels. Please post after you install as to your opinion about them and if they are worth the upgrade. Did you order direct from Donvel? 2006 Volvo 780 "Hoss" Volvo D12, 465hp, 1650 ft/lbs tq., ultrashift Bed Build by "JW Morgan's Custom Welding" 2017 DRV 39DBRS3 2013 Smart Passion Coupe "Itty Bitty" "Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance A Lott Posted February 15, 2019 Report Share Posted February 15, 2019 Yes, I think that is the only way you can. They are very simple and instal very quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chief916 Posted February 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2019 Pulled the trigger on my steer axle. Ordered over the phone with Robin of Donvel and sent him around ten photos or so. He said I should have it by mid week next week. I'LL let you know how it goes. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chief916 Posted March 8, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2019 Lance...have not forgotten about you and the steer axle bags. Been bad weather, lots of rain, cold and waiting on the proper tools to install the Donvel bags. Hopefully will have everything needed by this time next week. When I do .. I'll post you pix of the project. Thanks Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance A Lott Posted March 9, 2019 Report Share Posted March 9, 2019 11 hours ago, chief916 said: Lance...have not forgotten about you and the steer axle bags. Been bad weather, lots of rain, cold and waiting on the proper tools to install the Donvel bags. Hopefully will have everything needed by this time next week. When I do .. I'll post you pix of the project. Thanks Ben Thanks for keeping me in the loop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted March 9, 2019 Report Share Posted March 9, 2019 I'll be watching for feedback as well. Already have three motion controls everywhere else, but looking for more damping as we burn off fuel and the front axle gets a little more rowdy. 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chief916 Posted March 24, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2019 On 3/8/2019 at 9:52 PM, Lance A Lott said: Thanks for keeping me in the loop. Ok...got the front axle bags drilled and bolted in. Recommend a mag drill to drill holes if you can get it where it needs to be....I used carbide and cobolt tipped bites very slow process. Thank God it was only 4 holes. Once I got everything bolted up, plumbing the air was simple. The kit comes with everything needed to plumb in the air. Routed the airline through the firewall and tapped into the airline for my trailer dump switch. Red line is supply and yellow out to the bags. Pumped bags up to 40psi and let it sit for 24 hrs. Still pumped the next day...no leaks. Took it out and drove about 10-15 miles or so. Keep in mind that this was all bob tail. The TH is in the shop for maintenance so I wont be able to report performance on the bags until I'm hitched up and maintenance is complete. I do feel a difference in the handling but not sure what I'm supposed to feel due to the fact that its bobtailed. Once I get the TH back I should have a better feel on how the bags perform. I am gonna attempt to load some pix of the install so you may...or may not get to see the product installed. I'm not to swift when it comes to copying pix but will try my best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted March 25, 2019 Report Share Posted March 25, 2019 I honestly think much of the poor ride quality is the lack of quality of shocks available these days. KYBs used to make a great monotube, has transitioned to twin tubes that are now made in the USA.......Re-badged Monroe? Roadkings are priced on the high side but more importantly.......the bad reviews on lifespan and poor customer service. 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chief916 Posted March 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2019 12 hours ago, CrazyCooter said: I honestly think much of the poor ride quality is the lack of quality of shocks available these days. KYBs used to make a great monotube, has transitioned to twin tubes that are now made in the USA.......Re-badged Monroe? Roadkings are priced on the high side but more importantly.......the bad reviews on lifespan and poor customer service. Which shocks do you use on your rig? I have a unknown on my rig. They we're on there when I bought the truck. They are all painted black and I can't make out any numbers. Tried to get them changed out this past summer when we RON'd at the Iowa 80 truck stop and they didn't have any clue and they even called out to another vender but unfortunately their computer was down. So we pressed on to Sturgis and ended up having to have my thermostats replaced over in Bel Fourch. Completely forgot about the shocks by that time. I have them on my list before summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted March 25, 2019 Report Share Posted March 25, 2019 57 minutes ago, chief916 said: Which shocks do you use on your rig? I have a unknown on my rig. They we're on there when I bought the truck. They are all painted black and I can't make out any numbers. Tried to get them changed out this past summer when we RON'd at the Iowa 80 truck stop and they didn't have any clue and they even called out to another vender but unfortunately their computer was down. So we pressed on to Sturgis and ended up having to have my thermostats replaced over in Bel Fourch. Completely forgot about the shocks by that time. I have them on my list before summer. I selected KYB based on the reputation from installing them the past 25 years in the chassis business, but they have been discontinuing a lot of "GasAdjust" part numbers for older vehicles. It's been tough when I had pet part numbers that I used for certain custom applications like trailers and pickups hauling campers. I can tell the fronts for sure don't have enough compression or rebound to control the axle movement under any condition other than smooth road. Desert whoops like found in socal hwy 95 allow near bottoming and the rebound from the spring compression can make thing s especially rowdy as the fuel tanks near empty. We're actually considering moving into a MH at this point so I think the build/experimentation will be on hold till we figure out where were going. 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chief916 Posted March 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 23 hours ago, CrazyCooter said: I selected KYB based on the reputation from installing them the past 25 years in the chassis business, but they have been discontinuing a lot of "GasAdjust" part numbers for older vehicles. It's been tough when I had pet part numbers that I used for certain custom applications like trailers and pickups hauling campers. I can tell the fronts for sure don't have enough compression or rebound to control the axle movement under any condition other than smooth road. Desert whoops like found in socal hwy 95 allow near bottoming and the rebound from the spring compression can make thing s especially rowdy as the fuel tanks near empty. We're actually considering moving into a MH at this point so I think the build/experimentation will be on hold till we figure out where were going. Crazy Cooter thanks for info on the KYB's. What I take away from your post is that they no longer have the shocks that I would need...gas adjust. I will continue to keep looking. Who knows...might find what I need. Best of luck on the MH. We toy with the idea of a MH but there's to many cons to deal with.... maybe we'll get serious about it. For the time being I'm still having a romance with the Volvo . Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 I would have a look at their online application guide: KYB Catalog and see what they have for your application. I used to install a lot of the GasAdjust shocks on HDT's and MH's back in the day so I know they used to have a decent line up. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones to still have availability. Yes, all of these vehicles have their pros and cons. Not a single one does everything puuurfect! 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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