Air Shocks

dustymopar · Post by **dustymopar** » Sun Mar 11, 07 7:08 pm

I have a pair of KYB Air shocks at the rear of me A Bod. These have a line connected to each, and terminate on a Schrader Valve. Can anyone tell me the procedure for pumping these up - how much air is enough

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Mar 11, 07 7:12 pm

You should be able to pump them up with a regular tyre inflator. Min 20psi max 150psi (I think). But you will soon be told to remove them and fit normal shocks, as air ones damage the upper shock mounts.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Sun Mar 11, 07 7:14 pm

AARRGGHH, not air shocks, no, never use em.

But, if you must use em, you should be able to pump em up with either an airline or a footpump (obviously an airline is easier). The last time I used them, I took them to 65psi, there was a pressure gauge attached to them.

Change them for non air if you can though

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Mar 11, 07 7:15 pm

See.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Sun Mar 11, 07 7:17 pm

latil · Post by **latil** » Sun Mar 11, 07 7:18 pm

Bloody things

I'm still running a pair usually at 80psi. They will be going as soon as I have some spare pennies

dustymopar · Post by **dustymopar** » Sun Mar 11, 07 7:23 pm

Thanks people, but how would I know to put in 20psi, 40 80.........

Why are they so krap

latil · Post by **latil** » Sun Mar 11, 07 7:34 pm

Run them at a pressure that feels comfortable on the road. They're kerrap because they transfer loads to the crossmember they're fixed to,leading to the crossmember breaking. The more pressure in them the more they take weight instead of the springs.

dustymopar · Post by **dustymopar** » Sun Mar 11, 07 7:37 pm

Thanks

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Sun Mar 11, 07 10:33 pm

they are not crap, but have been known to shear off the upper shock mounting stud. Not fun to replace. They are used to keep the rear end up when the springs are shot,. I should know, my Darts rear droped over an inch when i took off the air shox. Imagine how much pressure that can exert on the upper mounting point.
See previous posts by Alex, Kev etc..

Mick · Post by **Mick** » Sun Mar 11, 07 11:12 pm

Dusty
I am swapping some nearly new shocks off my Dart for Rancho adjustables shortly, i've already changed the fronts which are almost new as well, they will be for sale cheap, pm me if you're interested.
Mick

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Mar 12, 07 11:14 pm

Not sure if you can do it with air shocks, but we used to run air bags on the rear of the Buicks. They let you set the preload on the suspension when you go racing ... plus, keep things good and high for carting all the camping gear to Santa Pod.

The other great thing is, just using one airbag in the rear pax side, blown up properly, means you can get a non-posi axle to act almost like a locker.

Friend had an 86 GN which had the posi as an option, and it didn't. I read about using a single airbag tucked into the rear coil spring and we tried it. We were shocked at how well the car launched.

As I say, not sure about air shocks but air bags are worth every one of the $40 odd dollars they cost.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Mar 13, 07 9:41 am

The good thing about air bags inside of a rear coil spring is they don't damage anything. Shock absorber mountings however were never designed to take spring loads and the weight of the car. In fact there is only a little more than the trunk floor supporting them.
Not unless the car came equipped with coil-over-shocks as standard or the upper mounting strengthened.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Tue Mar 13, 07 8:01 pm

would placing a coil spring inside a coil spring have the same effect as an airbag inside the coil?

My Ranchero has a pair of coils inside the original coils for some reason, think it might have been to add height to accommodate the 10x15's though