Air Shocks

[woody9512]

  I am looking to replace the air shocks on my 71 340 Cuda as they are old...........probably 15+years and just now noticing that they will not hold air for very long. Car in stored for winter which is great but in the spring I want to replace them. With the right amount of air in them they gave the car a nice stance from the side and in the rear!!
   The single air valve for them is in the trunk floor. Just have a couple of questions?
  What is the best brand to purchase / where to get them?
  How difficult is it to remove the old ones and install the new ones?

As Always Thanks For The Assistance!!

"Tim"

[MEK-Dangerfield]

You can go with this as a cheap fix.

  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Monroe-Shocks-Max-Air-Twin-Tube-Rear-Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth-RWD-Each-Pair-/370573079899?hash=item5647e0755b&item=370573079899&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr#ht_1352wt_952

It's not difficult to replace the rear shocks. You might want to have some kind of pry-bar to remove them from the shock mount plates. Air shocks give you a stiff ride and are only a band-aid for what is the real problem of a saggy rear end.   

It is better to replace the rear leaf springs. I went for 1" over stock height. Love the ride much better than air shocks!   

   http://www.springsnthings.com/ 

[TreeFrog]

 

[1970 RT Challenger 1970]

  I am looking to replace the air shocks on my 71 340 Cuda as they are old...........probably 15+years and just now noticing that they will not hold air for very long. Car in stored for winter which is great but in the spring I want to replace them. With the right amount of air in them they gave the car a nice stance from the side and in the rear!!
   The single air valve for them is in the trunk floor. Just have a couple of questions?
  What is the best brand to purchase / where to get them?
  How difficult is it to remove the old ones and install the new ones?

As Always Thanks For The Assistance!!

"Tim"

I have a pair of Gabriel Air Shocks on a Camaro that have been on there since 1980, they still hold air! But I think it's time to replace them.

[74challenger03]

changing is not a problem,did mine in about a hour,hardest part was the bolt threw the trunk thats the pain

[rockymopar]

Oreillys auto sold me Gabriels(I think) about 5 years ago. The store I use will usually get me what I need that day or at the latest, the next day. That being said, get ready to hear about how air shocks are dangerous, bad handling, and all that, but I use them so at least one member is in your corner

[brads70]

Oreillys auto sold me Gabriels(I think) about 5 years ago. The store I use will usually get me what I need that day or at the latest, the next day. That being said, get ready to hear about how air shocks are dangerous, bad handling, and all that, but I use them so at least one member is in your corner

Hey ,  air shocks are dangerous, bad handling! 

Sorry couldn't resist?
Seriously though the issue I have with them is that the upper shock mounts were never designed to hold the weight of the car.I had them on my first Challenger in the 80's and one side blew/leaked and the one side sagged badly. If that had happened at the wrong time , then ya I could see it being dangerous?
At best  ( IMO) they are at best a poor compromise, the best way is to get new springs from ESPO- springs n things. My current Challenger had them on it when I got it....they were the first thing to come off the car too. Then a call to ESPO!
Just my 

[dodj]

My car evidently had air shocks at one time. There was an air valve in the trunk floor between the shock mount access holes. Was it a factory option or were they just that popular back then? 

I replaced my shock cross member last year. I wouldn't want it supporting the car's weight either.   

[74challenger03]

i dont think air shocks were ever a option.people just wanted the rearend up not sagging. dont know why the made the car low in the back.when i bought mine i thought i had bad leafsprings,bought new ones and was dissapointed.you cant add the extended shackels because the rear valence.so you can buy the hd leafs or add a leaf or have a set made.some people dont mind the air shocks,i rather not have them but it is what it is for now.

[brads70]

My car evidently had air shocks at one time. There was an air valve in the trunk floor between the shock mount access holes. Was it a factory option or were they just that popular back then? 

I replaced my shock cross member last year. I wouldn't want it supporting the car's weight either.   

No they weren't a factory option, just a 70's thing ( maybe into the eighty's too?)
I agree the factory rear spring set up looks kinda " saggy bum like" that's why I went with plus 1 1/2" over stock from ESPO!

[Gumby]

Air shocks on my 73 Charger were cool when I was 16, and I needed the clearance for wide tires. The very first thing I noticed when I first drove my Challenger was that it rode like a tank and every little crack in the road would transmit through the car and smack your backside hard. Got home and crawled underneath to find airshocks had been installed. Got some Edelbrock IAS shocks to go on front and rear now.

[Super Blue 72]

My Challenger had air shocks from the original owner as evidenced bu the T fitting on the rear valance.  I think it was because it was his daily driver and he had a trailer hitch and used to pull a trailer with a snowmobile(s) and maybe needed a little load capacity.  He also told me he used to have Cragar S/S rims also so it could have been for that raked look as well.

I used to hear stories about Camaros with air shocks poking into the trunk after the upper shock mount gave way from rust or just holding too much weight. 

I think for temporary loading, air shocks are ok.  To keep the rear end up for a raked look all the time, might not be too good an idea.  They'll be exerting a constant force on an area that wasn't designed for constant weight bearing.   

[footin70rt]

I had air shocks on my Dart in high school back in the 80's to help clear the 8" wide slot mags. I remember welding in reinforcing plates in the trunk for the upper shock mounts. It rode and handled like crap, had a pretty good rake to it which gave the feeling of always going downhill. 

Since it was always going downhill that helps you get better mileage right??   

[dodj]

Since it was always going downhill that helps you get better mileage right??   

Go faster too!

[woody9512]

Thanks for all the great replies!! 
I only put about 100 miles or so a year on the car so not too worried about the danger driving thing. With the air out of the shocks it actually sits pretty level so I guess the leaf springs are not really that bad to begin with. Will either put a set of regular shocks or a new set of air one ones on in the spring!
"Tim"