What type of shocks can I use with my air suspension? Do I need to get new shocks or can I just relocate my OEM shocks to use with my air suspension?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Sometimes, you can reuse the OEM ones and just relocate the mounts, but many people opt for a smaller diameter shock up front so they can turn a little more.  It depends on the application, though.  In some instances, the OEM shocks won't have enough travel to be useable.  What's the set up and what vehicle?  Are we talking front or rear shocks?

Sometimes, you can reuse the OEM ones and just relocate the mounts, but many people opt for a smaller diameter shock up front so they can turn a little more.  It depends on the application, though.  In some instances, the OEM shocks won't have enough travel to be useable.  What's the set up and what vehicle?  Are we talking front or rear shocks?

Quote from: 98SS on 03/30/07, 10:43 AM

I mean both, rear and front shocks.

I have two vehicles, a truck and a car. I use the truck for work and the car is a 1999 Honda Civic, I use it mostly on weekend or out of work. The truck is a 2002 Mitsubishi L200 (I'm from Dominican Republic, I think that this truck is not imported to USA, so you might not be familiar with it...)

I was planning on doing both vehicles air suspension, but the most important is the car because I have it really low and also the suspension is hard as a rock. With air I know the ride will be easier, such as to handle the car to bumps and irregularities in the road and also will be easier for my body .

Anyway, and finally (I know I speak too much, but I just need to know ), when replacing the shocks with smaller diameter ones, you mean I just finding a pair of shocks that are small, shocks from any other car, just smaller that the ones I have, or do I have to look for special shocks such as air shocks or adjustables? What about the vehicle weight? Does it matters?

Thanks again!

Come on pleople, I'm going crazy figuring out wich shocks should I buy for my setup...

I have been looking at sites and I have seen many vehicles with monroe shocks, but they are vehicle-specific, none of the says "for air suspension"

Thanks!

I'd be surprised to see any that say they are for air suspension.  The suspension really doesn't matter to the shock.  You just want to make sure you get shocks with enough travel to work with your suspension travel.  To check this, cycle your suspension throughout it's range of travel and measure the maximum and minimum distances between your shock mounting locations.  Pick your shocks primarily based on these two dimensions.  When you look for shocks, they should say what the compressed and extended lengths are.  You want shocks that are at least as long extended as your maximum distance, and as short or shorter than your minimum distance.

When I say people opt for smaller diameter shocks for turning radius, it means that the body of the shock is smaller and allows a little bit more turning of the wheel before it hits the shock.  This only applies to the front, obviously.  The rear shocks can be nice and fat if you have room.

Thanks man! I'm clear at this whole air suspension "thing", I'm ready to start buying and designing.

Thanks for everything. I'll try to take pics of everything I do so pleople new to air suspension can learn what I've learned, and also I can be corrected if I'm wrong...