air shocks

[JohnG]

my '69 Firebird sits a little too low in the rear (for my taste anyways).

I figure the "right" way to address that would be with new leaf springs, but I also reckon that the cheap way out would be to install air shocks.

I asked two different suspension guys for their opinion, and both pretty much said that (for a street driven car) it would be a given that the air shocks would blow out my top shock towers.

is that really a foregone conclusion ? I could see that happening 5 - 10 yrs. down the road (after, say 25,000 miles ?) ... comments please, thanks

[WildBillyT]

I owned a '78 Z28 that got its shock towers bent up from air shocks, and they weren't in there that long. The thing is that the shock towers were not meant to support weight (which is what you are asking them to do). Not to mention they pretty much always leak. Either go with new springs or try one of those add-a-leaf kits to see if that helps.

[BonzoHansen]

Air shocks suck, for aftorementioned reasons (I've seen lower mounts break too, btw). Don't be pennywise & pound foolish, buy new springs. You can get replacement springs for ~$150 or so, not much more then air shocks. Or maybe you can get your current ones re-arched, look for a spring place in the yellow pages.

Check with JC Whitney for replace springs, believe it or not.

[racerz]

air shocks r a bad idea. had 'em on a grand national I used 2 own, terrible traction not to mention bent hardware. go with new springs. If u r racing quarter mile try single leaf Super Stock springs and 50/50 shocks. car will ride nice on street and hook at the track.

[JohnG]

ok, I'm convinced...

thanks fellas !