74 challenger with original rear shocks, what air pressure do they take?
Thanks!
Quote74 challenger with original rear shocks
Stock air pressure was NONE. 74 Challengers didn't come with air shocks.
If you have air shocks in the rear of your car, they are not original. Air shocks on a muscle car are usually used to adjust the stance of the car, so the pressure needed is based on how high you want the raise the rear end. Just be aware that using air shocks to raise the rear of your car can damage the upper shock mounts. Your leaf springs are designed to hold up the rear of your car, not your shocks.
They aren't original, but likely added the first time the owner thought the car's butt was sagging.
If it were me I'd replace them with proper shocks.
There is no real good psi setting, if you want to keep them, just don't raise the back of the car much with them. It stresses the shock cross member too much.
Ok thanks for the responses probably look into replacing them
You guys have any suggestions for replacement shocks?
Much appreciated
You'll likely find that your car will be sagging in the rear end once you remove the current shocks, and regular or even heavy duty shocks will not raise it back up. :alan2cents:
Whats the proper way to raise the her?
Quote from: billdogg5 on September 04, 2021, 06:04:04 AM
Whats the proper way to raise the her?
I took mine to my local spring shop and had them re-arched to factory specs..they also would have gone more if I wanted more lift and the cost was much cheaper than buying a new pair from one of the aftermarket spring companies.
With the mention of air shocks putting stress on the upper shock mounts is it advisable to install (pressurized) gas shocks back there??
I can compress a gas shock with my hands, so the spring is still doing the car lifting. Although a gas shock does increase ride height for a brief period. So I don't think it is the same, but interested in what others have to say.
A high pressure nitrogen shock is around 160-200 psi. This psi is transferred through the shock in a controlled rate by the valving. By comparison, an air shock pumped up to 100 psi holding up 45% of a 3800# car, takes an 855# beating in each shock every time the suspension cycles and the pressure is a constant that sits in the bladder and is not valved to transfer the pressure.
Get a decent shock QA1 , Bilstein .
KYB is Junk
Here's what WILL eventually happen to your rear upper shock crossmember if you use air shocks to lift the rear of the car instead of of the springs.
That's a great example :o ....we need to keep those pictures on file :bigthumb:
Those air shocks must have been extremely popular back in the day. Mine had normal shocks on it when I got it, but there was a schrader valve mounted in the trunk and a bit of tubing underneath. :dunno:
It also had the rear valance missing and 5" or 6" 'clam digger' shackles out back to keep the bum up.
Shock absorbers do not support weight. The spring does. What a "shock absorber" actually does is to dampen spring action. The more proper name, used in Europe are dampers.
They try to keep the tire in constant contact with the road surface.
Gas shocks use a different internal system to separate the fluid chambers with a gas bladder. The purpose is to eliminate foaming of the fluid during rapid compression/rebound cycles. Not to support any kind of weight.
Air shocks are actually "air assist" shocks . Air bags have been used for Trucks for many years. The mounting system on trucks is built to a different standard than a passenger car.
As said before, it was a cheap/simple way to raise the rear of the car starting back in the 70's. Was never a good idea, more of a fad.