Air Shock Front End??

[crossland1962]

I have a 62 torsion bar truck that has bags on the rear only at this time. I know that I can change to later cross member or can plate and bag existing arms and get rid of t-bars. But my question is they make a bag/shock combo for later model t-bar vehicles that are very expensive. Why could someone not just run air shocks and remove t-bars? I am not planning on doing this just wondering why it couldn't be done??

[joedoh]

I wrote this on another forum:

most guys who tell me they want to run air shocks over bags want it because they see it as the simplest solution. You can get air shocks that will have the load rating you are looking for, they are expensive, but the problem is that your current shock mounts arent intended to hold, or are even capable of holding, the car up.

so you have to change the mounts. The air shocks that can hold up a car are expensive, I said that once but it bears repeating, and they are much longer and bigger than the original shocks that bolt in. you will need to rebuild very strong mounts for these, and will still need the same plumbing and valves and controls to make the car go up and down.

if you are doing it just to do it, it can be done. if you are doing it as the simplest solution, its probably not going to work like you think. If you want shock dampening with adjustable height and simple (well, simpler) install, get a hydraulic setup with accumulators. No springs needed, and will ride outstanding.

also, the volume of air in the air shock is very small, so the ride will suck if that is the only spring you have. years ago I ran air shocks on a torsion minitruck and even with the torsion bar adjusted to just barely help the air shock, it still rode like a square wheel

[crossland1962]

I myself many moons ago was a mini trucker! That is where I came up with the thought. I had a s10 and we c-notched the rear and I wanted to drag the rear. So I put air shocks on it with a air tank in the cab I would cruise the mall once with it up then again with it down then to the gas station to fill up my air tank!! LOL Like I said many moons ago! Sometimes as teen we do DUMB S@#T!!!!!!!!!