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Gas rider air shocks

Pros and cons?

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#1 fatslr

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Posted 24 April 2014 - 12:52 AM

Just been looking at evil bay and I see that Monroe are making purpose built ride height adjustable air shocks.
Not cheap at nearly $400 but rang repco quote nearly $500 .

They are rated to 150 psi and gas charged sounds feasible to me,has anyone got any experience with these,I have been thinking of playing with rear ride height at rear to try and get "the stance" spot on and this would allow for lots of adjustments without removing/refitting springs.

#2 dattoman

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Posted 24 April 2014 - 01:03 AM

I have some old stock Gabriel hijackers at work

Might have a pair in amongst it... no promises though



#3 fatslr

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Posted 24 April 2014 - 09:13 AM

No worries Neil if you have please let me know ,will also be chasing lines and a valve .

#4 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 24 April 2014 - 09:14 AM

$400 for normal airshocks ? Why...are they gold plated ? lol..

#5 gad05

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Posted 24 April 2014 - 09:40 AM

Air shocks that was the good old days 1986.....

#6 fatslr

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Posted 24 April 2014 - 02:12 PM

$400 for normal airshocks ? Why...are they gold plated ? lol..



That is why I am asking if anyone has any experiences with them.

They are described as having a nitrogen charge so they are a gas shock but have several "sections" to shock absorber which also has an air section for adjusting ride height .there is no cross section of shockie on ebay add but from the out side picture they don't look like your normal shockie.

That I take it is why they are so expensive ,any one with guru knowledge welcomed to comment.

#7 dattoman

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Posted 24 April 2014 - 09:26 PM

Supply and demand

Plus increased production costs

 

Haven't found the KTG ones yet



#8 fatslr

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Posted 24 April 2014 - 10:33 PM

Understandable but are they any different to the old air shocks from the 90 s ?


I always thought the old air shocks were just that - air shocks No gas charge section?

#9 N/A-PWR

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Posted 24 April 2014 - 11:58 PM

these one's Garth:-

 

couldn't find the Holden ones

$T2eC16hHJI!E9qSO-RhzBRb767NV3g~~60_57.J

http://www.ebay.com....R-/181121303865

 

https://www.google.c...shocks&tbm=isch



#10 fatslr

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 08:13 AM

That's the ones must learn how to cut and paste

#11 _mumbo_

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 08:49 AM

I have a set in the back of the chev for towing , they don't effect ride hight to much except when you load up the car ( trailer on it )
I got mine from summit no one locally wanted to help and I can't remember price exactly but it was under $200 landed

#12 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 09:35 AM

Yep...they are usually like $50 - $75 a pair or so through rockauto and such..

I had ordered a set not too long ago for a guy there actually. Not really the ideal way to go since the shock mounting areas are not normally designed to take a weight load on them, but still get used plenty enough obviously.

#13 tsn007

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 10:47 AM

what about those airbags that sit inside the rear springs around $265



#14 _Bomber Watson_

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 10:57 AM

what about those airbags that sit inside the rear springs around $265

 

Can you get them for a Torana? These would be better as they will transfer the load to the area thats designed to take it, unlike the air shock things that transfer load somehwere its not ment to be. 

 

Understandable but are they any different to the old air shocks from the 90 s ?


I always thought the old air shocks were just that - air shocks No gas charge section?

 

 

Air is a really good spring but a pretty piss poor dampner.....



#15 tsn007

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 11:06 AM

yes they are

 

i have a set in mine



#16 _Bomber Watson_

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 12:13 PM

Well there ya go. Dont frOck around with air shocks. 

 

Cheers. 



#17 Mort

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 01:39 PM

Asked Pedders about them and they were about $500+, hope that was for a pair.

You can also get a protective sleeve to go over the air bag, stops them getting a hole rubbed in them.

#18 tsn007

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 01:51 PM

check ebay they are from $260

 

polyair brand



#19 dattoman

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 02:04 PM

I am getting a set of those coilrite air helpers for the Cadillac... I don't want to effect the comfy ride at this point by changing the springs

I also have a set of Gabriel airshocks I bought when I bought the car in USA

 

One day I'll airbag the whole car properly



#20 N/A-PWR

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 03:58 PM

so air shocks will give the right ride height, but how does the gas make the shocky more stable when it is fighting the air custion?



that's is the combined air / gas shock I mean



#21 fatslr

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Posted 26 April 2014 - 08:46 PM

Some interesting points raised by all .

As I was driving down a off-road track today in the work ute I was thinking about how much stress and load was going through shockies and mounts and I would rate it pretty high - I would guess more than the 1/4 r less weight of the rear end of car
When used for towing they would actually be taking a lot more than weight of car depending on weight centre of whatever is being towed ,if they were not effective at doing this without breaking something you would think logically they would not be still being sold ?
Just thinking out loud

#22 N/A-PWR

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Posted 26 April 2014 - 09:01 PM

another great point Garth,

stress to the components, as the suspension is to take that away, and the air shocks gives less movement, which makes the suspension tougher. Dave I



#23 N/A-PWR

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Posted 26 April 2014 - 09:03 PM

so the more air we use, the less we can stress the vehicle 



#24 _Bomber Watson_

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Posted 26 April 2014 - 09:21 PM

Some interesting points raised by all .

As I was driving down a off-road track today in the work ute I was thinking about how much stress and load was going through shockies and mounts and I would rate it pretty high - I would guess more than the 1/4 r less weight of the rear end of car
When used for towing they would actually be taking a lot more than weight of car depending on weight centre of whatever is being towed ,if they were not effective at doing this without breaking something you would think logically they would not be still being sold ?
Just thinking out loud

 

 

There have been hundreds of cases where those helper air bags on leaf spring vehicles, pushing on the chassis rail in the middle of the two spring mounts, has made the chassis crack just above the bags. 

 

There still being sold, and amazingly still allowed on mine sites. 

 

There have also been numerous cases of wheel spacers making wheel studs break, and you can still walk into any tyre shop and buy a set. 

 

So i wouldnt base something being available as making it safe.....

 

That said, if your just using the shocks to take up the extra weight of a drop tank or a back seat full of passengers every now and then then probably a null issue, just one i thought i would mention. 

 

Cheers. 



#25 fatslr

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Posted 26 April 2014 - 09:50 PM

No worries Bomber


Like I said in first post just trying to play with ride height a little to get stance spot on probably looking at raising rear maybe half an inch to inch mostly to fit my street ETs under guards without fouling when they stand up - they are not on car at the moment but when they are there is zero clearance when car is stationary .

Just had a look on summit website and they don't stock MGR 502 so they are not an option




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