Three-Wheelin' With Air - Hydrotech

Known on the street as "powerballs" or "swivelballs," these important axle-mounted anchors feature four octagon allen screws and must be packed with suspension grease. They can withstand plenty of movement.

A welded 0.25-inch reinforcing steel donut plate is required under the ear where the factory springs used to bounce unconditionally.

Robert explains to first time readers that 1-, 2- or 3-ton springs can be used over the cylinders. Originally, a 3-ton seven-coil (or turn) spring has now been cut down to three turns. Any more turns cut and the Caddy would scrape bumper and that's not the desired effect on this project.

The top of the cylinder can be seen aligned and poking through the oval opening.

Hooking up the system to the 5-gallon air tanks joined together for 10 gallons requires 0.5-inch brass ports with water-tight Teflon tape. Nylon tubing is then inserted to the rear-most inner sleeve of the fitting and allows for easy installation.

All by itself, the gauge reads a maximum of 200 p.s.i. and, at the 165 p.s.i. read, there's enough pressure to flip the switch a few more times, but max performance comes at 200 p.s.i. full-tank pressure. Reading from left to right: the first switch triggers the front up and down, the second is for the rear up and down, the third is for the left rear wheel, the fourth is for the right side rear wheel, the fifth is for pancaking all four wheels up and down, and the sixth switch is the thriller three-wheel with the helium tank sucking air out of the right rear cylinder.

Here's a look at the newly installed cylinders in the lowered position.

The power to take up compressed air is provided the 2-gallon helium tank and regulator which drops the right rear cylinder for three-wheel action.

While we talk less about the front setup, here the shop removed the front springs and added RS-62 2,500-lb. 400 p.s.i.-rated Slambags to round out the Caddy's suspension system.

While we talk less about the front setup, here the shop removed the front springs and added RS-62 2,500-lb. 400 p.s.i.-rated Slambags to round out the Caddy's suspension system.

The Cadillac's looking as cool as heck three-wheeling while making a u-turn at slow speeds. The main point of the air-ride lock-up is show performance.