Bilstein vs Monroe shocks for F-53 chassis

timmac wrote:
...I like my Bounder with the F-53 chassis but it just rode to hard on bumpy roads, no give, it just hammered hard, now its riding more like a car..

I keep reading the prior posts and I do understand that there is a theme here that airbags help, but it makes no sense why. The front end of the older 460 F53 is oversprung, that is the reason the ride is "hammered hard."

I would love if someone would explain to me how airbags that are suppose to increase the load capacity can soften a ride on a leaf spring suspension. If there is no give, then there is no give. Only thing I can come up with is the shackle on the leaf has limited give and the airbags are pushing the shackle to the upper limit when the airbag is charged giving more give to the leaf. If that really is the case the issue is the shackle and the airbags is just helping to cover up the true problem of a bad shackle.

Now as far as control in side winds I can see that very easily why airbags would work, just not in the ride. I can also understand them in the back where there is a load. There just simple is not enough parts in and old F53 front end to work with to make a silky smooth ride with the simple addition of airbags. If real world is saying different, then I would love to understand what is going on. Otherwise it might simple be a placebo effect after spending time and energy for the upgrade.