Air Shock Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 222
Likes: 8
From: Sandy Utah
Air Shock Question
I will be installing air shocks on my ‘59. Perhaps I don’t understand the dynamics of the air tubing, but it seems strange to me the the shocks come with a single filler valve. This means that right and left shock may “share air” so to speak. As one shock is compressed, it would bleed air to the opposite shock. This doesn't sound like a good thing. Am I cornfused?
Thanks,
Larry
Thanks,
Larry
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 839
Likes: 323
From: Maumelle Arkansas
Air shocks obviously work because they have been around a long time. I would say that they do "share air" but it isn't a problem because the system equalizes the pressure. If you hit a bump on one side it may momentarily push the air to the other side but as soon as you pass over the bump the pressure evens out and all is well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,945
Likes: 1,115
From: Hereford AZ
Yeah, maybe. As a kid in the early '80s i had air shocks on all my cars...a 70 Firebird and 2 chrysler e bodies...just bolted them in and with no air they sit level. Then filled the "T" connector...no problem. I even did the same with this old hot-rodded 55 chevy truck i had a couple years ago...saw it at a car show 2 months ago...still had Monroes air shocks....
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,702
Likes: 3,690
From: Central Arkansas
You can plumb them with separate air lines and fill valves to pre-load one side of the rear with different pressures for traction. But most sets are sold for jacking up a sagging rear or overloaded rear with a shared tubing system.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 222
Likes: 8
From: Sandy Utah
That was the direction of my thinking. The car will be streetable, but there will be times I will want to throw on slicks. I didn’t want to tub it, so jacking up the rear to handle slicks was my idea of a relatively cheap fix.
Thanks for your response.
Thanks for your response.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 10,344
Likes: 669
From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
Yep, we used to fill the air shocks independently for drag racing.
But beware that C1 original rear ends are not the strongest, when paired with slicks...
Been there, done broke them.
Good luck,
Plasticman
But beware that C1 original rear ends are not the strongest, when paired with slicks...
Been there, done broke them.
Good luck,
Plasticman
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Race Director
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The best way to reduce roll is anti-roll bars. Their contribution to roll stiffness increases with the FOURTH power of diameter, so even a 1/16" increase in diameter has a noticeable effect on both roll and understeer/oversteer balance.
Duke
Last edited by SWCDuke; Jun 6, 2021 at 08:53 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 222
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From: Sandy Utah
Ha! Yes, I found that out in a funny way. When I took my differential apart last year I noticed some pinion gear marks on the housing. I couldn’t figure it out for the life of me. Then my youngest son reminded me that I let my oldest son borrow my car almost 30 years ago when he was in the Coast Guard stationed at Treasure Island in SF. He had it for about a year. I called him about it and he said his memory was foggy but he remembered removing the differential for some reason. Hyatt cleared up the memory problem.
For that reason I bought a Ford 9” with a Detroit Locker. I took it to a local guy to have it narrowed, but he screwed it up so I bought a custom made axle assembly. Took a whole lot more time and money than I had expected.
For that reason I bought a Ford 9” with a Detroit Locker. I took it to a local guy to have it narrowed, but he screwed it up so I bought a custom made axle assembly. Took a whole lot more time and money than I had expected.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 222
Likes: 8
From: Sandy Utah
You really know your stuff, Duke. I thought about adding the rear anti sway bar that came stock in ‘61, I think, but I had read somewhere that it wasn’t a good idea to add one to a pre-‘61 chassis. I don’t remember the reason. I’m guessing that you would know if that is right or wrong.
thank you.
thank you.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 222
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From: Sandy Utah
Duke, I totally forgot that I bought a set of traction masters. That’s the reason that the previous poster said that the rear anti sway bar isn’t a good idea. Since I’m ignorant on chassis dynamics, I try to ask questions, but in the end it boils down to the empirical approach.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 92
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 222
Likes: 8
From: Sandy Utah
I’ll let you know pop, but she’s still got a lot of work to be done to get on the road.
I will mention an historical event. About 30 years ago one of my work buddies challenged me to race against his motorcycle. I borrowed some huge wrinkle walls from a friend. This required pumping up the air shocks. I had side pipes (don’t ask why🙄
from which I removed the mufflers. We got to a deserted road and had fun. For the first time ever, I dropped the clutch and hit nitrous simultaneously. I have never launched that hard in my life and nothing broke. I even beat the bike. 😁😁
oh yeah, same car I’m rebuilding now.
I will mention an historical event. About 30 years ago one of my work buddies challenged me to race against his motorcycle. I borrowed some huge wrinkle walls from a friend. This required pumping up the air shocks. I had side pipes (don’t ask why🙄
from which I removed the mufflers. We got to a deserted road and had fun. For the first time ever, I dropped the clutch and hit nitrous simultaneously. I have never launched that hard in my life and nothing broke. I even beat the bike. 😁😁oh yeah, same car I’m rebuilding now.