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Anyone uae air shocks in the back?

B

bigmanjbmopar

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Was wondering if anyone uses air shocks for the rear? I had to raise up the front for clearence and now need to even it out some how.
 
What sort of rims do you intend to use? Stock? I just don't like the way the air shocks feel... That's just me. Perhaps a taller tire on the rear could even things out? Hard to say since I don't know how far off we are talking here. How old are the leaf springs? Perhaps replacing those could get you the difference you seek. Just some thoughts.
 
Air shocks will give you a really stiff ride...Try using a longer shackle...Using air shocks you may tear off your upper shock mount stud...
Petty Blue 67 gTx
 
rear lift.....

Using air shocks you may tear off your upper shock mount stud...


This is VERY true.... I've had to replace the rear cross members that the upper shock mounts to and even saw one completely ripped from the car once.

Shock absorbers are not designed to support weight.... thats the springs job. Air shocks will supply additional support for trailer towing...(or hauling moonshine).

The most effective method is to have the rear leaf springs re-arched. Most spring shops will do this for you and it's not really expensive. That way you do not affect ride quality.
 
They do give a pretty rough ride and Ma Mopar didn't make the rear end as stout as you would think i would use longer shackles, much more then 10-12 pounds is pushing the issues with it.
 
ride heigth...

Longer shackles...(besides looking tacky)... will adversly effect the way a car handles in hard cornering.

You never see a manufacturer use longer shakles to gain ride heigth on ...say a station wagon.... Adding leafs will effect ride quality... Re-arching..(or new springs).. is the perfered method to gain heigth.
 
The PO put airshocks on my '71 Charger - probably at the same time the trailer hitch was installed. At full pressure (50psi max) I say it brings the rear up about 1.5 to 2" ---not a whole lot but it does level the car out. It's also more stiff since the shocks can't really give to bumps and such in the road - as has been stated shearing the upper mount. I'll be pulling mine out eventually. They are vintage Sears units.




_
 
bluefury said:
Longer shackles...(besides looking tacky)... will adversly effect the way a car handles in hard cornering.

You never see a manufacturer use longer shakles to gain ride heigth on ...say a station wagon.... Adding leafs will effect ride quality... Re-arching..(or new springs).. is the perfered method to gain heigth.[/QUOTE

Thats the first ive heard that about the cornering issues, I don't use them. But i couldn't remember the arching or re-arching of the springs, i imagine that would be the best option, would it stiffen it up or is it the same? it seems that it would be a bit stiffer, maybe just not much.
Click to expand...
 
My Dart had them when I got it. Took them off and got a set of springs. There only what? Around $250 a set or so.
 
Little more info, I have 14x7 jelly bean cragars with bfgoodrich tires the springs look original and a bit saggy. Does re arching them make them like new? I raised up the front from 24-1/2" to 27-1/8" in the front since I have a 7 qt pan and headerbut I could probably drop back down a 1".
 
IF you use longer shackles, 1" over stock is all I would go. And yes, the longer the shackle, the more the handling is affected. IF you use air shocks, use a separate line kit.....one air line for one shock. This will keep the air from running from one shock to the other on turns. I've used them on many cars and have never had a problem with the upper shock mount but have heard many who have had that problem and I'm sure a car coming from the rust belt would be a good candidate for failure. Check the cross mount welds to make sure it's in good shape. And I agree with bluefury....the best thing is to install new springs or re-arch the ones you have if they are still in good shape. A spring shop can tell you if they are worth doing or not. The most extreme air shock treatment that I ever did was to a 67 Dart. Aired those suckers all the way up (90psi) and then dropped a 383 long block into the spare tire well to deliver to someone on the other side of town. :D The car actually rode level!! It was about 35 miles and it did it ok I finally bought a pickup shortly after that cause I knew I really needed to....
 
I would add an extra leaf spring before I would use air shocks.
 
When I bought mine it had them on it...That lasted until I got it home and promptly threw them in the trash. Was the very first wrench I turned on this car. Drove it home 200 miles and just hated the way it felt when hitting bumps.
 
My GTX had air shocks on it when I bought it 27 yrs ago...they are still on. The car has lived on the street, strip and about everywherein between. Rough ride, maybe...durable, yes, and provides a great stance. I'm against the grind with others here but I think they've served me well.
 
In 1988, I drove my 67 Coronet from OH to FL so packed full of stuff that there was barely enough room for me (and my mom and a cat), including a lawn mower ,stereo equipment, a couple of amplifiers, and lots of car parts. I did air the shocks up all the way for that trip, and surprisingly, it rode like a brand new car!
 
I was going to put in my two cents about air shocks ,but french kissing my motherinlaw ,pretty much covers it.LOL
 
The Coronet and the 41 have them, i dont carry anything heavy in the trunk, they have maybe 30 lbs in them to keep the tires from hitting the inner fenders since i have 28's on the rear, they scuff if i hit a bump on the freeway, dont really like them since it gives a mushy ride.

The 41 rides ok, since its a 70 Monte frame, but the original buillder of the car didnt mount the body straight, so the left rear fender hits the tire if there is no air in them, of course instead of fixing it, he puts air shocks on it, so the other side looks way jacked up, thats getting fixed one of these days
 
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