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Air shocks suck

Robert Schaad

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After putting three different sets of air shocks on my 72 Satellite with all three leaking and going around corners, the car tilts bad. I put coil over shocks. Great lift, no tilt, rides great.

RR hot1.jpg
 
The trick to using air shocks is to run separate lines for each shock. Otherwise when cornering the outside shock compresses pushing air into the inside shock making the car handle worse. I myself quit using air shocks back in the 80's.
 
Yeah, a lot of stress on parts that shouldn't be excessively stressed. What about the springs themselves.
 
It took you 3 sets to figure that out !
No, I am a very smart MOPAR old guy. I put one set on and it lasted 1 week and leaked down. Got a replacement set and it lasted only one or two weeks and leaked again. Gave air shocks one last chance, but this time tested them in a bucket and watched the bubbles before I installed them on the car. You comment kind of makes me think you think I'm dumb is that what you meant to say?
 
Can be a tough crowd here sometimes.
Yes I guess. But I have NO TRAINING in Automotive but at 69 years old and a MOPAR lover, I can do almost everything without any ones help. Body work, Paint, Rebuild engines, trouble shoot, design, and the most important, living in Germany for 20 years, I had to use my mind to fix my MOPARs. I have helped so many MOPAR guys fixing their cars that others have screwed up. So I get a little taken off with some comments. SORRY.
 
Man, it's been many years since using air shocks but I used them for many more years! And yup, like moparmarks said, gotta use a separate line kit which they didn't come with. You had to buy that 'separately' lol. Also, if you were looking for more than 1" in height, then something different should be done if you wanted that to be a permanent deal. However, I did all kinds of crazy crap with them on many cars and never had an issue with busting out the upper shock mount. Used a pair on a 67 /6 Dart to use the car as a truck hauling heavy stuff like a complete 383 loaded into the spare tire well! Was almost able to close the trunk lid too LOL. With that 383 back there and 90 PSI in the shocks, the car rode level and even rode decently for the 40 miles to the drop off site. The guy I took it to was somewhat in awe to say the least. That car saw a load of brick in the trunk too. Another one was on a 67 Coronet with 383 and 4 speed. Lowered the front as far down as it would go and aired up the rear as far as it would go just to see how bad it would act....and it acted pretty badly! :D How many cars have you had airborne!! :lol:
 
Chevy El Caminos came with air shocks from the factory. I drove a 64 for 20 years that my dad bought new. Was like driving a tennis ball before I separated the lines.
 
Your ride looks great. Glad to hear you do it yourself. That's the best way to build.
 
my Hi-Jackers have been on since 1988 and work great, don't even lose much over winter when in storage
 
my Hi-Jackers have been on since 1988 and work great, don't even lose much over winter when in storage
Love Hi-jackers. I had them when they were sold by Kmart. They were brown and you only knew they were Hi-jackers if you read the box. They would say, Made by Hi-Jacker corp for Kmart. Never had problems with any in the old days.
 
Did you use adjustable coil overs?
 
Love Hi-jackers. I had them when they were sold by Kmart. They were brown and you only knew they were Hi-jackers if you read the box. They would say, Made by Hi-Jacker corp for Kmart. Never had problems with any in the old days.
when I worked at a tire store in Denver early 70;s we sold a ton of them under Gabriel brand that I assumed made them. I guess that would be the old days.
 
I've had mine on since 2012 running separate lines. I put 100 lbs in them and they lose about 2 lbs every 6 months.
 
when I worked at a tire store in Denver early 70;s we sold a ton of them under Gabriel brand that I assumed made them. I guess that would be the old days.
Yes you are right. Gabriel Hi-jackers. They were White with a Rabat decal on them. Great shocks. Never had problems with them.
 
With separate air lines you could,sometimes, get an open diff to almost “posi” sometimes! 90# in right, 15-20 in left.
 
I had a 73 Cuda in the 80's with air shocks. If I had to break hard, it would hop down the street. Those were the days. Haven't even thought about air shocks since then.
 
It was probably the air lines leaking. They use plastic fittings now and they don't like to be over tightened. The air valves like to leak also.

I have a set on the '62 just to stiffen up the ride some. I'm only running 50# in them. They are hard on the upper frame mounts if you're trying to compensate for weak saggy leaf springs. Your coil overs will be hard on the upper frame also.
 
I considered replacing the air shocks when I restored the car. The vote on FBBO was a resoundingly no. For the reasons you state as well as the stress they put on the shock towers. I needed the lift and went with adding a couple partial leafs. Worked like a charm.
 
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