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Front air shocks??

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roofchop Seriously Crusin Dubber

177 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·

#1011784
I am going to be running with my nose about 50mm off the ground.....

Stoopid maybe but I am.

Airbags not an option for many reasons including $$$$

It has dawned on me that gutters etc are going to be an issue, so looking at air shocks just to lift the nose when needed.

Cheap ones for load leveling aplications in the US, a bit bulky, but will probably do the job. (who needs steering lock anyway?)

Anyone using them?

Also seen Monroe ones in Oz for Statesmans...

Any info is good info, maybe.....

Cheers
Dave

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#1011789
If you check the RMS regulations minimum clearance is 100mm but do as you will.

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1011847
Check out Volkszone.com as plenty of air ride threads in the UK plus the stockists there are cheaper due to more demand. Even good secondhand ones come up regularly on UK forums and Ebay.

Dude used some cheap ones from a tipper truck, i think, recently.

There's hydraulic too. Check it out maybe. Slower reaction to raise and lower compared to air but meant to be a smoother ride than air from what I've read.
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

roofchop Seriously Crusin Dubber

177 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·

#1011931
Cheers guys,

There are sooo many shocks to choose from.....

I have K & L so eye to eye but what model number is best?

Which ones are you using Empi? (also torsion leaves in or out?)

The Samba link has fried my head!

Dave

empi Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,131 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#1011946
Torsion leaves in, i have ball joint, used Ma 756 but had issues with them hitting trailing upper arm, apparently there are thinner shocks available now for this application (not sure of part number.)
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Anonymous 🥷

bugzla Custom Title Time!

1,164 posts · joined Jun 2007 ·

#1011974
if any one has the number for the thinner one let me know

tweety Wolfsburg Wizard

460 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#1012111
Hi Roofchop.

Some informative answers there.

For what tis worth I have a fair bit of experience with air shocks and airbags.

Air shocks, amily the Munroe ones used to be the rage in the 1970's. Used often to raise a sagging tail when towing. Trouble was many shocker mounts dented or broke. Such shock mounts werent meant to take the pounding of a hard air shock.

Fasttrack to the new millenium and my trike. Panther trikes come with the smallest Boss airbags. The one advantage is that when towing the camber can be controlled as the fabricated swing arms travel in an arc. However they are still hard. Lower them too much and they dont do the job of which they were designed for. ...suspension!! a catch 22. They have gas shockers too and from what I've read oil shockers are more suited to airbags. Finally airbags only begin to work when a load of 200 kgms or so is placed on them. Got a light front end of a beetle and you might regret it. But by all means investigate it with these things in mind.

I cant see the purpose of going down to 50mm. The cops will get you as soon as they see the sparks. Then its more expence making it legal again. There has been many pics of my trike on these pages and its won several awards including international. I took the view that to look amazing (and legal) was more impiortant to me than being illegal and paying the price.

Its up to you but your machine could look fantastic and still be legal. That way the pri....ks wont get you. haha.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXwh4z8d66o
SUBARU ea81, VW auto, Detour camper
My ex girlfriend said "its me or a trike". Her big mistake.

roofchop Seriously Crusin Dubber

177 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·

#1012151
All good.....
Maybe 50 mm is too low!
The current crop of air shocks are load assist ones from the US being repurposed by us lot!

They are a "regular" shock with an air canister around the body, so with no air pressure they work as a normal shock absorber, air them up and ride height on our featherweight noses comes up! Cheap and simple!

I have dropped spindles and adjusters so I can wind up the adjusters then gas up when needed.

Dave