Kbuskill's 2008 Burb LTZ "MOD" Thread

[kbuskill]

So I have been working on something for a while and haven't mentioned it until I knew it was going to work out.

Several months ago I noticed that the 2021+ Escalades and AT4 trucks have air struts at all 4 corners.

The fronts looked to me like they would bolt right into the front of my Burb.

My son found a full set, front and rear, on Marketplace that were brand new takeoffs from an Esky.... I don't do the Bookface so my boy is my eyes for deals on stuff.

Turns out the fronts were about 4" longer overall than the ones for my Burb.

However, with a little modification from a welding and machine shop, I was able to modify the lower "Spring cup" that slides down over the stut for the air bag to sit on and I was able to put the whole air bladder assembly onto my original autoride struts for testing purposes.

Here is what they look like...

And installed...

They bolt right in by just drilling one hole for the air line fitting to pass through.

The Escalade/AT4 struts have 4" of travel, the same as the GMT900.

The way they work from the factory is ride height is right in the middle of that 4" of travel.

When you park the truck drops 2" to aid in exiting the vehicle.

When you engage 4 HI the truck lifts 1" above ride height, so 3" up from dumped.

When you engage 4 LO the truck lifts 2" above ride height, so 4" up from dumped.

I installed them up front with just a shrader valve to fill them, just to see how they ride.

I like them so far so I just purchased an Airlift 3P air management system and the plan is to reinstall the Trailblazer SS air bags out back and then control the air ride through the big Tesla style touchscreen.

I will get more pics as things progress.

In the mean time, if anyone needs a good set of front Magnaride struts, without the air bags, OR a set of rear Magnaride air struts, complete with air bags for the 2021+ trucks... let me know. They are pretty expensive struts and I would like to recoup some of my money.

This should be a pretty neat setup when I get it finished.

I would really like to get my hands on one of the old Kelderman air tank setups they used to make for the GMT900 trucks that mount up front where the splash shield goes between the bumper and front crossmember.

I don't think they make those anymore so I may have to fabricate something to fit there.

 

[Fosscore]

So I have been working on something for a while and haven't mentioned it until I knew it was going to work out.

Several months ago I noticed that the 2021+ Escalades and AT4 trucks have air struts at all 4 corners.

The fronts looked to me like they would bolt right into the front of my Burb.

My son found a full set, front and rear, on Marketplace that were brand new takeoffs from an Esky.... I don't do the Bookface so my boy is my eyes for deals on stuff.

Turns out the fronts were about 4" longer overall than the ones for my Burb.

However, with a little modification from a welding and machine shop, I was able to modify the lower "Spring cup" that slides down over the stut for the air bag to sit on and I was able to put the whole air bladder assembly onto my original autoride struts for testing purposes.

Here is what they look like...
View attachment 486467

And installed...View attachment 486468
View attachment 486469

They bolt right in by just drilling one hole for the air line fitting to pass through.

The Escalade/AT4 struts have 4" of travel, the same as the GMT900.

The way they work from the factory is ride height is right in the middle of that 4" of travel.

When you park the truck drops 2" to aid in exiting the vehicle.

When you engage 4 HI the truck lifts 1" above ride height, so 3" up from dumped.

When you engage 4 LO the truck lifts 2" above ride height, so 4" up from dumped.

I installed them up front with just a shrader valve to fill them, just to see how they ride.

I like them so far so I just purchased an Airlift 3P air management system and the plan is to reinstall the Trailblazer SS air bags out back and then control the air ride through the big Tesla style touchscreen.

I will get more pics as things progress.

In the mean time, if anyone needs a good set of front Magnaride struts, without the air bags, OR a set of rear Magnaride air struts, complete with air bags for the 2021+ trucks... let me know. They are pretty expensive struts and I would like to recoup some of my money.

This should be a pretty neat setup when I get it finished.

I would really like to get my hands on one of the old Kelderman air tank setups they used to make for the GMT900 trucks that mount up front where the splash shield goes between the bumper and front crossmember.

I don't think they make those anymore so I may have to fabricate something to fit there.

Cool set up Ken. Should be interesting to see how it develops. Just can't help yourself lol!

 

[07Burb]

Interesting! I enjoy it when people try something new. I'm in for more developments. Cool idea!

 

[PG01]

Nice
Whats his name knew or worked for kelderman…..

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Love it!! Don't modify it, until it breaks, as I often do. LOL

 

[Geotrash]

So I have been working on something for a while and haven't mentioned it until I knew it was going to work out.

Several months ago I noticed that the 2021+ Escalades and AT4 trucks have air struts at all 4 corners.

The fronts looked to me like they would bolt right into the front of my Burb.

My son found a full set, front and rear, on Marketplace that were brand new takeoffs from an Esky.... I don't do the Bookface so my boy is my eyes for deals on stuff.

Turns out the fronts were about 4" longer overall than the ones for my Burb.

However, with a little modification from a welding and machine shop, I was able to modify the lower "Spring cup" that slides down over the stut for the air bag to sit on and I was able to put the whole air bladder assembly onto my original autoride struts for testing purposes.

Here is what they look like...
View attachment 486467

And installed...View attachment 486468
View attachment 486469

They bolt right in by just drilling one hole for the air line fitting to pass through.

The Escalade/AT4 struts have 4" of travel, the same as the GMT900.

The way they work from the factory is ride height is right in the middle of that 4" of travel.

When you park the truck drops 2" to aid in exiting the vehicle.

When you engage 4 HI the truck lifts 1" above ride height, so 3" up from dumped.

When you engage 4 LO the truck lifts 2" above ride height, so 4" up from dumped.

I installed them up front with just a shrader valve to fill them, just to see how they ride.

I like them so far so I just purchased an Airlift 3P air management system and the plan is to reinstall the Trailblazer SS air bags out back and then control the air ride through the big Tesla style touchscreen.

I will get more pics as things progress.

In the mean time, if anyone needs a good set of front Magnaride struts, without the air bags, OR a set of rear Magnaride air struts, complete with air bags for the 2021+ trucks... let me know. They are pretty expensive struts and I would like to recoup some of my money.

This should be a pretty neat setup when I get it finished.

I would really like to get my hands on one of the old Kelderman air tank setups they used to make for the GMT900 trucks that mount up front where the splash shield goes between the bumper and front crossmember.

I don't think they make those anymore so I may have to fabricate something to fit there.

Nice! How much do you want for the old autoride fronts you took out?

 

[kbuskill]

Nice! How much do you want for the old autoride fronts you took out?

The one's I have available are the Magnaride struts for the 2021+ trucks. Fronts are just the bare struts, rear are complete struts with the air bags and everything in tact.

I'm not sure what they are worth but I know they aren't cheap to replace.

The guy I got them from owns a custom shop and he said the guy that owned the Escalade brought the truck to him when it was new and had him pull all the factory suspension off and put all aftermarket stuff in.

I don't know what they replaced these with and I can't remember the guys name but he told me he was some WWE wrestler. He name dropped like I should have known who he was but I haven't watched wrestling since I was a kid, back in the WWF and WCW days, so I didn't recognize the guys name and now I can't remember it because I have slept since then... lol

That is the long way of saying, I don't know.

If they are something you can use make me a reasonable offer. I have no idea what shipping would cost but I usually go through bikeflights.com for shipping and that seems to help.

If you are interested in the autoride struts that were originally in my GMT900 Burb, then that will have to wait until I get the air bags pulled off of them and swapped onto the KYB Monomax struts that currently have my coil springs on them.

 

[kbuskill]

Nice
Whats his name knew or worked for kelderman…..

Very helpful Pete.

Paging "Whats his name".... "Whats his name", are you here? Please step forward.... lol