Air shocks - Positives and Negatives

BusterXJ95 · 11-10-2005, 09:50 PM

I was just reading another thread which indicated air shocks aren't such a good idea, specifically because they stress the shock brackets. Could someone comment on real experience, either negative or positive with air shocks?

My XJ is mainly a DD, but I plan on doing some offroading, mainly logging trails and the dunes at Silver Lake in MI. I don't plan on doing a lift, and not too much towing, but I plan on using the receiver hitch for bikes and getting a cargo hitch carrier so I want to keep the rear as level as I can when I do load it up.

My dad has air shocks on his Buick Roadmaster, professionally installed, and they still don't leak after more than seven years. (P.S. That damn Roadmaster was fast as you-know-what!)

Xride · 11-10-2005, 10:05 PM

air bags you mean?

BusterXJ95 · 11-10-2005, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xride

air bags you mean?

Nope, "Air shocks", as in Gabriel and Monroe, for the rear.

XJ-NoDough · 11-10-2005, 11:11 PM

A buddy of mine who worked in an auto parts store told me they aren't all that durable for the type of driving I do(Wheelin'). I had a brother-in-law once who I helped put them in his Camaro. Seemed to ride stiff

but don't really remember.

**balloo93** · 11-10-2005, 11:39 PM

I ran a set of gabrial high jackers on a old hot rod and ditch them pretty quick. They just didn't dampen as nice as I thought they would. They would probably limit droop a little more than hydro or gas shocks would as well.

Get a set of bolt on helper springs (helper leafs) and use those when loaded down.

dynamite44 · 11-11-2005, 12:23 AM

air shocks ride just plain different. a little stiff. my friend has a 73 challenger with air shocks in the rear. its a little on the bouncy side. it jacked the back of his car up slightly, but i wouldn't try running them on an off road vehicle. the one's they sell at advance have little notes next to some of the part numbers in the computer. the ones being sold back when i worked there said they're for towing/fleet use, and mentioned nothing about off roading. i don't know of anyone on this board that off roads with em.
for towing they'd be good, they'd reduce the amount of sag in the rear end from tongue weight.

**VDoubleUVR6** · 11-11-2005, 07:31 AM

My 98 XJ came with "air shocks" in the rear. I actually had to lower it when I first got it because it was RAKED and looked stupid. The other day I was questioning whether my Jeep had some sort of "lift" on because of the wheel gap up front looked to be abnormal since its rocking 235/75/15's and well I measured it and its stock. Just over 17" in the front and and whole 18" in the rear.

But back on topic...they do ride stiff compared to a regular shock setup because of the obvious compressed air in the shock to lift the Jeep up. I think the previous owner had a horse or something because there was ALOT of hay weeved into the carpet and also under it when I pulled the plastic molding to do an extensive cleaning in the trunk. I can deal with it for now since I drive (when its nice out) an obsessively lowered VW but I can't wait till the spring time when I purchase a lift with new shocks so I can junk those shocks.

kernalklink · 11-11-2005, 01:10 PM

if you install air shocks right they wont leak! at least not in the time that you may get good use out of them. The thing is... they're pretty cheap to buy and if you have to replace $80 in shocks every..... 5 years then oh well. I want the extra payload they offer. I do alot of trailer pulling and as you can read form my signature I carry a bit of weight most places!!

For the serious off-roader there is no need for air shocks and you might as well get some good gas ones. I go off of the road, and into a lot of places I probably shouldn't, but I can't see them hindering me in anyway.

If it rides a little rougher, then oh well.... its a jeep not a cadillac, I am assuming that most people, myself included, dont buy their jeep for daily driving, they get one because if there is something that they have to drive every day they want something that kicks A$$!! enough said

I like air shocks if you cant tell.

11-10-2005, 10:05 PM	#2
Xride Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 926 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	air bags you mean? __________________ 1999 XJ, black, 4x4, NP231 Command Track, 8.25 rear. 3" Old Man EMU, 30" x 9.5" x 15" General Grabber AT2

11-10-2005, 11:11 PM	#4
XJ-NoDough Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Four corners--Eugene, Oregon Posts: 1,688 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	A buddy of mine who worked in an auto parts store told me they aren't all that durable for the type of driving I do(Wheelin'). I had a brother-in-law once who I helped put them in his Camaro. Seemed to ride stiff but don't really remember. __________________ [SIZE=2][B][COLOR=Blue][B]My DD '89 XJ Limited 204,XXX miles Leather, Loaded[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=Red][B]4L Selec-trac[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=White][B]Automatic[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=Red][B]3"-4.5"ish Homebrew lift[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=White][B]16x8 MB Motoring Rockers[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=Red][B]265/75R16(31[SIZE="1"]ish[/SIZE]"X10.4") Goodyear Wrangler M/TRs[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=White][B]Trimmed w/ Bushwackers[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=Red][B]Stock 3:55 gears[/B][/COLOR][/B][/SIZE] [B][COLOR=White]sans big audio[/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=Red]Homebrew intake w/cone filter[/COLOR][/B] "Some people are like a slinky... Not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs." :my dad

11-11-2005, 12:23 AM	#6
dynamite44 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: 3 miles from washington DC Posts: 1,275 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	air shocks ride just plain different. a little stiff. my friend has a 73 challenger with air shocks in the rear. its a little on the bouncy side. it jacked the back of his car up slightly, but i wouldn't try running them on an off road vehicle. the one's they sell at advance have little notes next to some of the part numbers in the computer. the ones being sold back when i worked there said they're for towing/fleet use, and mentioned nothing about off roading. i don't know of anyone on this board that off roads with em. for towing they'd be good, they'd reduce the amount of sag in the rear end from tongue weight. __________________ 2000 XJ silverstone metallic. [URL=http://www.capitaljeeps.com/jotm.shtml]i won jeep of the month on my local club page![/URL] [URL=http://community.webshots.com/album/265206206KXtdOH]webshots off road pix[/URL] [URL=http://members.cardomain.com/outofcontrol]Cardomain[/URL] [URL=http://capitaljeeps.com/gallery/dynamite44sgallery]my capitaljeeps.com gallery[/URL]