Read a thread that told the horrors of airshocks punching thru a Mav. Something about all the weight of the car being help up by the top bracket of the air shocks. Now I know NOTHING about car suspensions. But a car im looking at buying (unseen ) has sway bars AND air shocks on the back. Is this an ok combination? Should I still be concerned about the air shocks? Its a 70 grabber. OMG, i have so much to learn. But then again, thats kinda why Im looking for a Maverick. Computers/servers/networks are no longer fun...
The issue is, the upper shock mounts bolt in, if the shocks are pumped up, something has to give, usually it the metal that the screws go into... Rear sway bars are no big deal.
If it has air shocks in back...It most likely needs rear springs.Sway bars are actually a plus for a mav.
This is the first time I've heard anything about air shocks being at all dangerouus. My 73 came with them in the rear and it's helped smooth the ride some but I won't keep them if they're at all dangerous. What kind of circumstances would make them buckle like that and is there any way to reinforce them?
Air shocks lift and support the rear of the car, instead of merely softening the spring bounce. The rear, upper shock mounts were not designed to support weight like the rear leaf springs. Factor in up to 40 years of use, coupled with road salt and tin termites, and viola, you can have a shock break loose.
Air shocks won't hurt much if they only have 30-40 lbs.of air to help saggy spring,but back in the day we put 165 lbs. in a set of "Hi-Jacker"air shocks to jack the back end 4-5"" and it just beat the floor until it cracked the mounts'if you have them check the floor where they come up through and bolt in to see if the floor is cracked,mine was that way when I got it,but I cut that out anyway for my coilover rear susp.
well i bought it today. Guy didnt know how much air was in the shocks, he said "not to much". Once it arrives, ill check it out. Thanks for the info.
I ran Gabriel "Hi-Jackers" for three summers from 73 to 75 with about 60 pounds of pressure towing a ski boat with no problems. Of course the metal back there was over 40 years fresher than now. They're a pretty inexpensive and cosmetically pleasing wah to get some height back there if the springs are still holding up on their own pretty good. I've heard the stories of them busting through and will probably get under there with my welder and some bracing this summer just to be on the safe side. Here's my 73 about 1974------"back in the day"
Here's the end results of air shocks on my car. This is the way it was when I got it. The crossmember the shocks mount to is half missing.
They Keystones were my favorites back then. Almost went with the slotted mags but those just caught my eye. I wish I had a pic of the car when I had the Thrush Outside Exhaust running down the side! Girlfriend told me to get rid of them cause she always burned her legs. My car had those great reclining bucket seats so I needed to keep her happy! Ended up running dual exhaust out the back with Cherry Bombs.
