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Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:52 pm

Looking into upgrading my suspension on my rail, I have torsion delete kit, now for shocks, will air shocks do the same as coilover shocks? I'm looking at the sway a way 2.0 air shocks, or the 2.0 remote resevior coilovers. I also have a set of bilstein 9100s to run with either shock for added dampening. I like the look of the air shocks, but I have no idea how they will perform in trails and jumping at the dunes, or if they even act as a spring. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you all

Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:14 pm

Since you have no rear torsions, don't expect the air shocks to hold up the weight of the rear end AND be able to take the abuse of landing off of a jump. You may get away with that in the front end...if it's light in weight, but not the rear end.

Most shocks (except coilovers) are designed to dampen, not to support weight. Even air shocks are designed as a supplement, not as a stand alone spring replacement. With no rear torsions, if you are planning on any kind of rough terrain riding or jumps, you will need some form of spring setup to support the weight of the rear of the vehicle (like a set of coilovers). If you don't, then the air shocks will fade or blow out altogether, in a short while, if you are pounding on it.

If you seriously want to use those air shocks, you'll need something additional to support the weight.

Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:57 pm

My buddy had a class 12 car with an air shock/ coil over and a bypass on each wheel. It seemed to work really well. So air shocks can work well but as stated earlier they were not supporting the weight of the car.

Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:39 pm

Ok, only reason I ask is from what I read on the saw air shocks, says they support up to 1000lbs each corner, pending on how much pressure u are running

Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:51 pm

if you compound the wieght on the rear wheel(s) at landing i'm sure it would be more than 1000lbs

Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:02 pm

chubby53 wrote: if you compound the wieght on the rear wheel(s) at landing i'm sure it would be more than 1000lbs

and that would be full pressure...

Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:50 am

I Run 2.0 air shocks on the rear of my rail, It weights 900lb A friend of mine runs a turbo 2.3 mid engine with 2.0 air shocks. You have to valve them to get them to perform at the weight just like you should do the fronts.
Lots of mini rails fun 2.0 air shocks in the 750 to 1100 lb range.

The 500lb rating is vehicle curb weight per corner not compounded weight. A 3.0 shock wouldn't be rated for the compounded weight at landing.

Check out these pro-build cars running 2.0 air shocks.

http://sandfever.com/

http://dandsracing.com/home.htm

Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:38 am

I have also been looking at these... 4 springs and hardware obviously weigh more than.. air. Which is very good for a sand car.

Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:03 pm

HAJA wrote: I have also been looking at these... 4 springs and hardware obviously weigh more than.. air. Which is very good for a sand car.

Exactly, If you don't feel comfortable running the 2.0's run the 2.5 air shocks. The coils look cool, but cost more, are expensive to dial in, you will feel the spring rate transition, ect. The air shocks are easy to dial in and you can change the "spring rate" any time and place you want for the cost of a N Bottle and regulator (about $300) , or pay someone to do it for around $10 a shock.

Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:19 pm

Air shocks will hold up the buggy just fine. The downside of them is that they are emulsion shocks. Any amount of abuse and the oil will foam and your shocks will fade. A resevoired coilover will out perform an airshock every time. A single 2.5 would be better all the way around then running the extra smooth body Bilstien.

Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:57 pm

I like the idea of changing pressure between just me and the dogs to four people without any serious tools. I'm building a sand car and really not going to be used in mud or hard pack desert, I would guess in that enviroment that the air shocks would perform fine.

Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:44 pm

bdkw1 wrote: Air shocks will hold up the buggy just fine. The downside of them is that they are emulsion shocks. Any amount of abuse and the oil will foam and your shocks will fade. A resevoired coilover will out perform an airshock every time. A single 2.5 would be better all the way around then running the extra smooth body Bilstien.

I beg to differ, but I run a 900lb rail.

I wouldn't add a second shock to help dampen, just get the airs valved correctly and the correct amount of extra oil in em, ect

Call Up this guy and let him suggest you some shocks for your app. He Knows how to tune them for ya so you don't have to revalve multiple times, or order coils over and over if you go that way.

http://www.markssandtrans.com/index.html

Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:33 pm

Sam, very nice rail, I really like the front a arm set up, did you build that yourself? I'm guessing my rail weights between 1000 to 1200lbs, I won't be doing a whole lot of jumping , alittle here and there, mostly do trail riding up near st helen mi. Thanks for the link, I will contact him and find out more from him. Thank you. All for the input, its a big help

Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:03 am

I run monroe air shocks in the front at 60 pounds and no torsion. The rear has a stock torsions and monroe air shocks at 100 pounds. . Coming up on 3rd season for $60 a pair.

Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:55 am

1835rail wrote: Sam, very nice rail, I really like the front a arm set up, did you build that yourself? I'm guessing my rail weights between 1000 to 1200lbs, I won't be doing a whole lot of jumping , alittle here and there, mostly do trail riding up near st helen mi. Thanks for the link, I will contact him and find out more from him. Thank you. All for the input, its a big help

A friend of mine built the front suspension for me, it is a tried and true design he used on motorcycle powerd rails, 18" travel 0 bump, will do more travel with regular spindles (up to 24"), I run the lighter ones that use studded heim so your limited by the heim. Its so nice to drive a rail that hauls @ss and handles like a off road race car. He has used it on even V6 rails that weigh 1600lb or so. The best thing about it is it weighs less than an aluminum VW beam suspension.

I may be building the kits in the near future if you are interested in one.

Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:29 pm

steve34 wrote: I run monroe air shocks in the front at 60 pounds and no torsion. The rear has a stock torsions and monroe air shocks at 100 pounds. . Coming up on 3rd season for $60 a pair.
Not the same kind of air-shock 1835's talking about, those are more of a helper spring, he's talking ones designed to hold weight like Sway away/King/Fox produce. The "air shock" name is a bit misleading as they use Nitrogen as a spring.

Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:38 pm

I have been interested in building an a arm front suspension, finding plans has been alittle difficult lol. I'm pretty good with a welder and fabing things up, so with some general help I could put one together.

Sat Apr 02, 2011 5:41 pm

i was going to try some time when i get some time is use the torsion and air shocks in combo. i would take some of the tension off the torsion but not all of it and put some king 2.0 air shocks on the back. i have some fox 2.0 on the front and i realy like the ride of them.