1988–1998 Chevy OBS Air Suspension Guide
If you’re building a 1988–1998 Chevy or GMC OBS truck on air, the big decisions are the front suspension style, rear suspension layout, wheel size, and whether you want to piece the system together or buy a complete package.
EKMW offers cup-style and control-arm front options, a dedicated 2-link rear system, welded notches, and complete front-to-rear air suspension packages for OBS trucks.
Shop all 1988–1998 Chevy OBS air suspension parts
Front option 1: Cup kit with factory control arms
The EKMW front cup kit is the straightforward route for 1988–1998 full-size Chevy and GMC trucks retaining the factory control arms.
- Fits 1988–1998 Chevy / GMC full-size trucks
- Upper bag cup bolts into the frame
- Angled lower cup helps keep the bag away from the frame through suspension travel
- Upper and lower shock relocators included
- Designed to lay a truck with up to 22-inch wheels when used with drop spindles
- With wheels larger than 18 inches, frame clearance for the tie-rod end may be required
Front option 2: EKMW control arms
For larger-wheel OBS builds, the EKMW control-arm package is the more complete front suspension solution.
- 1988–1998 Chevy / GMC 1500 fitment
- Designed for approximately 22–26-inch wheel combinations
- Drop spindles are required
- Upper and lower control arms
- MOOG ball joints
- Lower bag cups
- Upper bag cups
- Shock relocators and shocks
- Upper relocation tabs
- Narrows front track width approximately 1 inch per side
This setup is intended for fabrication-oriented air-ride builds and requires proper suspension setup and alignment knowledge.
View the OBS front control-arm kit
Rear suspension: EKMW 2-link system
The rear kit replaces the factory leaf-spring arrangement with an EKMW 2-link air suspension system.
- 1988–1998 Chevy / GMC 1/2-ton OBS applications
- Welded one-piece step notch
- 2-link bars using the factory leaf-spring hangers
- Lower bag mounts and lower shock mounts
- 2-inch block built into the link setup
- Upper bag-mount crossbar
- Panhard bar with frame and axle mounting points
- Upper shock mounts built into the notch crossbars
The rear system requires frame cutting, welding, and fabrication.
View the OBS rear air suspension kit
Need only the notch?
The welded OBS step notch with bridge bars is available separately for builders assembling their own rear suspension. It includes the welded notch, bridge bars, upper shock mounts, panhard-bar frame mount, and filler plates.
The notch is intended for low air-suspension builds and is designed for approximately 24-inch wheels with low-profile tires when installed as intended.
Complete OBS air suspension package
For a full system in one package, EKMW offers a complete 1988–1998 Chevy 1500 OBS air suspension setup built around the front cup system and rear 2-link suspension.
The complete package is designed for up to 22-inch wheels and requires drop spindles.
It also includes the major air-management components: four Air Lift Dominator 2600 bags, VIAIR dual compressors, tank, SMC valves, pressure switch, relay, circuit breaker, gauge, DOT air line, and fittings.
View the complete OBS air suspension kit
Before ordering
Confirm the truck year, 1500 vs. heavier chassis, wheel and tire size, spindle setup, and desired laid-out height before ordering. The cup and control-arm systems are intended for different wheel-size and fabrication goals.
Current fabrication lead time on EKMW custom suspension components is approximately 7–10 business days before shipping.