Air shocks..why?

-
340Duster247

340Duster247

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2012
Messages
833
Reaction score
141
Location
Calgary
This may be a stupid question , but on my recently purchased 71 duster project car I noticed the previous owner installed air shocks on the rear. Has the air valve installed under the bumper.
The car has a fairly done up 340 and many other race mods tho I don't know much history on the car. Seems like it was on its way to becoming a street/strip car.

But why adjustable air shocks? What's the bennifit
 
I know we use to jack the *** end up on my buddies Nova in my younger and wilder days. As for any benefits I can't say other than it was the cool thing back then.
 
To look cool in the late 60's and early 70's; to get bigger tires under it- you still cut the tires up around corners, in general, to ruin your kidneys, and make you have to piss often. And buy more, as a good bump would blow something.
 
In the seventies it was a cool thing to have our cars all jacked up with huge tires sticking out, It made them handle like crap, and ride hard, but man......it looked cool......well back then it did.........not so much any more..LOL!
 
My 70 340 Duster I bought late 80's had them. Jack up the rear for looks but when you let them down it would hook hard. Not sure if it was the shocks or not but seemed to work very well.
 
I agree with the others, was a must have back in the day. I had more then one pair....lol. If you have tire clearance but want a raked look, i'd get a set of MP superstock springs. They'll work decent at the track too.
 
Ya it came with lots of extra parts. Including a set of brand new super stock springs and a mini tub kit witch ill he installing this spring.
It sits low in the *** end now but myself I don't like the *** end up high at all. When I do mini tub it I'd like the big meats to tuck up. So should I keep the air shocks in?
Thanks for the replies.
 
They come for load leveling duties these days. Worn springs are OK. Better to replace the springs. Heavy loads, like to many keys in the trunk ... Well.. Maybe not, there really heavy....
 
Air shocks are no good, in the process of replacing the metal after air shocks got a hold of the upper shock mount, ripped torn and beaten. Get some good quality shocks and be done with it.
 
Thanks guys. Once she's apart there gone. I had a feeling they were a bad idea when I first saw them under there. Just wanted to check if there was a plus reason for having them that I didn't know about.
 
We seem to have this "discussion" every couple of months or so, and the same arguements get trotted out. There has never been anybody who has ridden in the back of my car that has said "What ya got in this thing...AIR SHOCKS???...Rides too rough".

To each, their own, I guess. I still use a set under my Dart, and they ride fine, and, just give me an inch or 2 of lift. Cheaper than new or re-arched springs....and I can adjust to whatever height I want.

Rant off....
 
65Val said:
To each, their own. I still use a set under my Dart, and they ride fine, and, just give me an inch or 2 of lift. Cheaper than new or rearched springs....and I can adjust to whatever height I want.
Click to expand...

thank you, finally someone said something good about them. i have ran those things for 20 plus years on various cars and i like them. mine ride nice......

you would never even know by riding in it
 

Attachments

  • d314.jpg
    103.7 KB · Views: 646
I agree. I really liked them under my Duster back in the late 80's early 90's. Like I said I could cruise around with the rake and then if I got in a "situation" I would let the air out and that Duster would hook up hard.
 
65Val said:
We seem to have this "discussion" every couple of months or so, and the same arguements get trotted out.

To each, their own, I guess. I still use a set under my Dart, and they ride fine, and, just give me an inch or 2 of lift. Cheaper than new or re-arched springs....and I can adjust to whatever height I want.
Click to expand...

I never had any problem with them either, on Mopars and a few other brands. Reason i said no was because of the use of his new SS springs.
 
73AbodEE said:
thank you, finally someone said something good about them. i have ran those things for 20 plus years on various cars and i like them. mine ride nice......

you would never even know by riding in it
Click to expand...

Thank YOU for chiming in. I just get tired of the eternal "they'll break the upper shock mounts", "they ride rough", blah, blah, blah!

I will agree they'll do all those things IF you put 200 pounds of air in them. I don't do that. I'm sure SS springs ride rougher than stock too..
 
Actually,if running the 002/003 SS springs,a budget 70 Imperial rear gas shock works really well.
 
65Val said:
Thank YOU for chiming in. I just get tired of the eternal "they'll break the upper shock mounts", "they ride rough", blah, blah, blah!

I will agree they'll do all those things IF you put 200 pounds of air in them. I don't do that. I'm sure SS springs ride rougher than stock too..
Click to expand...

same here man , damn . i have never broke a shock mount with 200 pounds in 'em lmao.
 
Can you run ss springs and air shocks if you extended the bottom of the shock and get more lift. Not that I plan on doin this but been wonderin for awhile.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top