air bagged rear end but what shocks do i use? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

sqweaka · 09-10-2016, 12:27 PM

hi ive installed an airbag rear end four bar with firestone sleeved bags, they have a 8" lift so im guessing ill need a shock with at least that amount of travel
any suggestions what to use?

not my truck but similar set up to this

https://www.fabquest.com/media/catal...ile_64_4_1.jpg

e015475 · 09-10-2016, 02:11 PM

I'm kinda in the same boat.

I read lots of opinions on the internet that say that the right shock for an airbag setup is the key to making it work properly, but I'm not sure how to get the right shock for a 'one-off' installation.

My plan is to find something with the ends I want and the right length and travel and just try it and see what happens.

The best resource I've found so far is this KYB dimension information on their website-

http://www.kyb.com/knowledge-center/...os/dimensions/

It is pretty long. I copied and pasted it into an Excel spreadsheet so I could search it. Once I found a shock that looked like it might work, I Googled the KYB part number and got the vehicle it went on. If it was anything near my trucks weight, I put it on the list to investigate further. If there's any shocks available with adjustable damping for that application (KYB or other brands), so much the better. I've not done this yet.......but this is my plan. (But it will load into Excel - I checked)

If you're not Excel savy, and you want to try this method, LMK your length, stroke and eyes/bayonet/bars and I'll search it for KYB PNs for you and get you started.

Phil

sqweaka · 09-10-2016, 02:26 PM

thanks for the link... ive not made any mountings for the shocks yet... so the ends dont really matter, but my thinking was the same as yours, find one with a stroke a little longer than the stroke of the bags... im not sure yet if im going to use the shock to limit max travel of the bag or fit a strap, but need to find some (affordable) shocks first!

**mr48chev** · 09-10-2016, 02:27 PM

I was going to dig up the Monroe chart that shows all the shock dimensions but the KYB chart e015475 showed is pretty well the same and their numbers should cross to your favorite brand if you prefer a different brand.

Main thing is you want the compressed length short enough that the shock doesn't bottom out. It probably isn't that big of a deal if it tops out a tad before the bag fully extends as you probably will not be fully extending the bags too much anyhow. Unless you manage to drive down my driveway someday and then you might need it for my tank trap driveway.

e015475 · 09-10-2016, 02:34 PM

My plan was to size the shock so it had a little travel left when it hit the compression bump stop in the Slam airbag I'm using.

Not too worried about the stop at the max extension for a street truck, but I've used these before to good effect

http://www.racereadyproducts.com/lim...-limit-straps/

sqweaka · 09-12-2016, 04:37 PM

ive been given a as new pair of kyb shocks from a mate... but they are not listed on the kyb link above. 443017 my ebay search is ford cortina estate! they 12" closed, 20" open, 8" travel, but no info on how much resistance they have!

**mr48chev** · 09-12-2016, 04:47 PM

According to this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-NEW-KYB...-/350780042395 Those are rated at their "Premium" Level and are pretty much a basic shock.

They won't be too stiff by any means but after running them for a while you may want to go a step or two up the performance level. Personally I'd try them and if they fit your needs run them and if they are a bit soft find some a bit more performance oriented and pass those on to someone else.
I think the last shocks I put on my 48 fit an early 70's Dodge car with eyes on both top and bottom but I wasn't worried about bottoming the shock out.

sqweaka · 09-12-2016, 04:53 PM

mor searching has revealed they are also fitted to the ford taunus that has a Curb weight 3,263–3,527 lb (laden) and a stock chevy is 2575 lbs so maybe they will be ok

**mr48chev** · 09-12-2016, 05:02 PM

All you are out is the time it takes to put them on and see if you like them. On that note I used to sell a lot of shocks when I was doing front end alignment work and no two people have the same wants and needs when it comes to shocks. One guy's feels just right is either too soft or too stiff for the next guy with he same model of vehicle. I pulled more heavy duty stiff shocks off rigs that the customer had asked for and then didn't like than I ever did softer shocks though.

09-10-2016, 12:27 PM	#1
sqweaka Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Belford uk Posts: 120	air bagged rear end but what shocks do i use? hi ive installed an airbag rear end four bar with firestone sleeved bags, they have a 8" lift so im guessing ill need a shock with at least that amount of travel any suggestions what to use? not my truck but similar set up to this https://www.fabquest.com/media/catal...ile_64_4_1.jpg

09-10-2016, 02:11 PM	#2
e015475 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Show Low, Arizona Posts: 778	Re: air bagged rear end but what shocks do i use? I'm kinda in the same boat. I read lots of opinions on the internet that say that the right shock for an airbag setup is the key to making it work properly, but I'm not sure how to get the right shock for a 'one-off' installation. My plan is to find something with the ends I want and the right length and travel and just try it and see what happens. The best resource I've found so far is this KYB dimension information on their website- http://www.kyb.com/knowledge-center/...os/dimensions/ It is pretty long. I copied and pasted it into an Excel spreadsheet so I could search it. Once I found a shock that looked like it might work, I Googled the KYB part number and got the vehicle it went on. If it was anything near my trucks weight, I put it on the list to investigate further. If there's any shocks available with adjustable damping for that application (KYB or other brands), so much the better. I've not done this yet.......but this is my plan. (But it will load into Excel - I checked) If you're not Excel savy, and you want to try this method, LMK your length, stroke and eyes/bayonet/bars and I'll search it for KYB PNs for you and get you started. Phil

09-10-2016, 02:26 PM	#3
sqweaka Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Belford uk Posts: 120	Re: air bagged rear end but what shocks do i use? thanks for the link... ive not made any mountings for the shocks yet... so the ends dont really matter, but my thinking was the same as yours, find one with a stroke a little longer than the stroke of the bags... im not sure yet if im going to use the shock to limit max travel of the bag or fit a strap, but need to find some (affordable) shocks first!

09-10-2016, 02:27 PM	#4
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,705	Re: air bagged rear end but what shocks do i use? I was going to dig up the Monroe chart that shows all the shock dimensions but the KYB chart e015475 showed is pretty well the same and their numbers should cross to your favorite brand if you prefer a different brand. Main thing is you want the compressed length short enough that the shock doesn't bottom out. It probably isn't that big of a deal if it tops out a tad before the bag fully extends as you probably will not be fully extending the bags too much anyhow. Unless you manage to drive down my driveway someday and then you might need it for my tank trap driveway. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

09-10-2016, 02:34 PM	#5
e015475 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Show Low, Arizona Posts: 778	Re: air bagged rear end but what shocks do i use? My plan was to size the shock so it had a little travel left when it hit the compression bump stop in the Slam airbag I'm using. Not too worried about the stop at the max extension for a street truck, but I've used these before to good effect http://www.racereadyproducts.com/lim...-limit-straps/

09-12-2016, 04:37 PM	#6
sqweaka Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Belford uk Posts: 120	Re: air bagged rear end but what shocks do i use? ive been given a as new pair of kyb shocks from a mate... but they are not listed on the kyb link above. 443017 my ebay search is ford cortina estate! they 12" closed, 20" open, 8" travel, but no info on how much resistance they have!

09-12-2016, 04:47 PM	#7
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,705	Re: air bagged rear end but what shocks do i use? According to this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-NEW-KYB...-/350780042395 Those are rated at their "Premium" Level and are pretty much a basic shock. They won't be too stiff by any means but after running them for a while you may want to go a step or two up the performance level. Personally I'd try them and if they fit your needs run them and if they are a bit soft find some a bit more performance oriented and pass those on to someone else. I think the last shocks I put on my 48 fit an early 70's Dodge car with eyes on both top and bottom but I wasn't worried about bottoming the shock out. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

09-12-2016, 04:53 PM	#8
sqweaka Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Belford uk Posts: 120	Re: air bagged rear end but what shocks do i use? mor searching has revealed they are also fitted to the ford taunus that has a Curb weight 3,263–3,527 lb (laden) and a stock chevy is 2575 lbs so maybe they will be ok

09-12-2016, 05:02 PM	#9
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,705	Re: air bagged rear end but what shocks do i use? All you are out is the time it takes to put them on and see if you like them. On that note I used to sell a lot of shocks when I was doing front end alignment work and no two people have the same wants and needs when it comes to shocks. One guy's feels just right is either too soft or too stiff for the next guy with he same model of vehicle. I pulled more heavy duty stiff shocks off rigs that the customer had asked for and then didn't like than I ever did softer shocks though. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.



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