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

 

[kbuskill]

Well, one step closer to having full air ride....

This is with the modified '21 and up Escalade/AT4 air struts installed in the front controlled by an Airlift Performance 3P system which I can control from the touchscreen Tesla style radio in the Burb. It should be a really neat setup when complete.

The measured amount of lift from dumped to topped out is about 6" as best I can tell.

These struts have a 4" stroke but do to the geometry of the front suspension you get more lift out at the wheel.

These air struts ride amazing since GM designed them specifically for the newer version of these trucks. I already know the TBSS bags ride great in the rear since I had them installed before.

We will install the rear bags this weekend if the good Lord is willing and the creek don't rise... lol

 

[langsbr]

This is sick. Can't wait to see the rears as well. What is your current ride height - vs stock? Are you using just the air struts for front lowering or combined with drop spindles?

 

[Fosscore]

Well one step closer to having full air ride....

This is with the modified '21 and up Escalade/AT4 air struts installed in the front controlled by an Airlift Performance 3P system which I can control from the touchscreen Tesla style radio in the Burb. It should be a really neat setup when complete.

The measured amount of lift from dumped to topped out is about 6" as best I can tell.

These struts have a 4" stroke but do to the geometry of the front suspension you get more lift out at the wheel.

These air struts ride amazing since GM designed them specifically for the newer version of these trucks. I already know the TBSS bags ride great in the rear since I had them installed before.

We will install the rear bags this weekend if the good Lord is willing and the creek don't rise... lol

That's pretty cool Ken!

 

[kbuskill]

This is sick. Can't wait to see the rears as well. What is your current ride height - vs stock? Are you using just the air struts for front lowering or combined with drop spindles?

My current ride height before air ride was 4/6 dropped.

2" Belltech drop spindles up front.

At this point if it aired out any further it would lay the wheel well onto the tire. It is really close right now and you probably wouldn't have much turning radius, BUT at least in the event of catastrophic air ride failure I believe you could at least limp it down the shoulder and not cause an accident by having the tires contact the body.

 

[kbuskill]

That's pretty cool Ken!

It lifts faster than that, I'm not sure why my son was slow rolling it on the way up... kids these days.... lol

 

[Fosscore]

It lifts faster than that, I'm not sure why my son was slow rolling it on the way up... kids these days.... lol

I couldn't find a Suburban, but this came to mind. Maybe he was reading this magazine and trying to get the bounce rate just right on the front corner lift ...lol

 

[kbuskill]

I forgot to post these pics of my home made "Kelderman" air tank/compressors mounting...

Dual Viair 485C compressors and approximately 6 gallon tank. Built the brackets to hold it all and mounted the compressors on like 1/2" thick rubber isolators. They are stupid quite.

3 water traps. 1 on each compressor leader hose leading into the tank and 1 on the output from tank to Airlift manifold to keep any moisture or debris from getting into the valves.

Remote mounted the air intake filters for the compressors to under the hood to keep them dry and installed a cable operated drain valve on the bottom of the tank to drain any water that may accumulate without having to lay on the ground.

In order to fit this here where the factory splash shield goes I had to relocate my dual remote mount oil filters to the backside of the front bumper instead of on the passenger frame rail where they had been.

I think it has turned out well so far. I still need to figure out where I am going to remount my train horns as those had to be moved as well.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I forgot to post these pics of my home made "Kelderman" air tank/compressors mounting...

View attachment 489640View attachment 489641
Dual Viair 485C compressors and approximately 6 gallon tank. Built the brackets to hold it all and mounted the compressors on like 1/2" thick rubber isolators. They are stupid quite.

3 water traps. 1 on each compressor leader hose leading into the tank and 1 on the output from tank to Airlift manifold to keep any moisture or debris from getting into the valves.

Remote mounted the air intake filters for the compressors to under the hood to keep them dry and installed a cable operated drain valve on the bottom of the tank to drain any water that may accumulate without having to lay on the ground.

In order to fit this here where the factory splash shield goes I had to relocate my dual remote mount oil filters to the backside of the front bumper instead of on the passenger frame rail where they had been.

I think it has turned out well so far. I still need to figure out where I am going to remount my train horns as those had to be moved as well.

Do you have the specs and source on the train horns? I'm interested in considering that mod.

 

[kbuskill]

Do you have the specs and source on the train horns? I'm interested in considering that mod.

These are the ones I have...

Amazon.com: Kleinn Air Horns HK4-1 Complete Quad Air Horn Package - Black : Automotive

Buy Kleinn Air Horns HK4-1 Complete Quad Air Horn Package - Black: Air Horns - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

a.co

I bought them "used" from Amazon resale back in 2022 for like $190 after tax.

I would shop around until you find a deal, lots of options out there.

 

[kbuskill]

Got the rear finished....

 

[Fosscore]

Got the rear finished....

Nice