Air shocks...

**WILMASBOYL78** · #1 07-21-2006, 06:10 AM

I think the air shocks are played out on 70 project car, but I'm not sure. They didn't really seem to raise the car as much as I remember air shocks from the day...so I picked up a set of the Mr. Gasket shock extensions. Took them off last nite and tried them on the floor with hoses connected..they went to full extension. Pressed down on them and they wouldn't budge...so I cleaned them and painted them and reinstalled with extensions. They don't go up at all. Took one side loose from the lower mount and the shock extended from the air pressure. Tried to drop down the axle a little, thinking I would gain some travel..it maybe helped a little but..not much. The shock is basically at the bottom. I think they are played out and just won't raise the car but have enough left to hold air without weight. Should I get new air shocks or HD std shocks and use the extensions? Any thoughts from the crowd are appreciated.

One good thing..took her for a ride around the neighborhood tonite..

wilma

Jeff H · #2 07-21-2006, 07:01 AM

I just found out that my 70 L78 Camaro has air shocks in the rear still. I found the valve in the trunk floor and that made me look under the car! I guess they are still working, I haven't tried to raise or lower it yet.

Schonyenko2 · #3 07-21-2006, 07:04 AM

Depends on how high you want it to be. Or what you need for tire clearance.

**Salvatore** · #4 07-21-2006, 07:39 AM

In order to get my Gabriels to pump up the compressor had to be at 125lbs. No kinks in the line Tommy?

**WILMASBOYL78** · #5 07-21-2006, 07:57 AM

The label on these says max air pressure 90lbs.????

wilma

**Salvatore** · #6 07-21-2006, 08:03 AM

But to get to 90 you have to have enough pressure to do it. When you put air in those shocks Tom, do you see the car rise?

**WILMASBOYL78** · #7 07-21-2006, 08:12 AM

The car doesn't seem to go up at all..I kinda think they are shot..but it does seem weird. I may have another set in the storage shop..will check in the am.

wilma

budnate · #8 07-21-2006, 09:01 AM

guys there are NOS sets on e bay all the time...I think I have two sets rat holed they go for about 25 bucks usually unless two guys need them right now...

confused how much air you guys are using...I always put in about 10/20#'s and they would raise at least 2/3 inches and were way stiff more like 8/10# for driving..If I gave them more than 20 they went like full tilt up...

your stuff sounds like there all done

**tom406** · #9 07-21-2006, 10:17 AM

My one owner '70 428CJ Mach 1 had a pair of Gabriels with an ON BOARD COMPRESSOR mounted under the hood and a controller under the dash. Some nifty air horns, too. It all got canned within a week of buying it. (Although the car still had the factory smog system and non-shaker air cleaner, go figure.)

Sorry to be a hater here, but I just loathe air shocks. They're such a cheat to get the stance you want, with all the ride, handling, and structural questions surrounding turning shock mounts into "hardtail" suspension load points.

Anyway, that's just my unwanted .02c worth. Back to the discussion. How about a new discussion on dropping the front end using a torch? That's even easier than air shocks, no parts to buy or disassembly required!

(I'll quit now, thanks

**scuncio** · #10 07-21-2006, 03:39 PM

Got to agree that air shocks are awful. I've had a couple of Chevelles that had the full Kmart-rash vibe when I bought them, and the air shocks had wreaked havoc on the upper rr shock mounts (full of cracks). I do have a NOS set of HiJackers from 1973 that came with my Z...they are staying on the shelf!

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