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Tue Jan 25, 2011 7:05 am

I searched the forums and couldn't find what I was looking for so I did some research and decided to post it for all to read.

I have a '72 Westy that I have done a number of things to over the years. I have an adj. front beam that gave me some lift, for my camping adventures. I adjusted the rear springplates as much as I could to level her out. She sits pretty good, till I load all my camping crap in the back then she ends up with a saggy rear and NO ONE wants a fat chick with a saggy rear! So I searched the forums with no luck and ventured out on my own and found some shocks that will work.

I had 19 1/8 inches center to center on the shock bolts and I wanted to raise the rear approx 1/2 to 1 inch, of course I am using 12mm bolts.

Here is the web site I used http://www.monroe.com/catalog/documents/08_MountingLengthSheet.pdf

Monroe pt# MA 758 have a compressed measurment of 14.125" , extended measurment of 23.00" and travel 8.875". Now the only draw back is the mounting loop. The inside diameter is 12mm which is great but the loop is approx. 1/2" wider so your upper shock bolt will not work. You will need a 12mm-1.5x120 ( that breaks down like so 12mm diameter - 1.5 thread pitch x 120mm long ) My bolt was 100mm long and only threaded in 1 or 2 mm. There was a lot of crap in the threads so I used a tap to clean 'em up. IMPORTANT... When installing the upper bolt put a heavy flat washer under the bolt head and between the shock and the mount. The washer between the shock and the factory mount will provide a nice gap between the shock and the body. I purchased 100mm long bolts for the bottom as well.

Monroe air shocks were not in stock so I had them crossed over to a Gabriel High Jacker air shock pt#49215. These worked great and lifted the bus with no problem. They advertise they can lift a vehicle with an added 1500lbs. This is just what they advertise. I suggest you use common sense when installing and using air shocks.

I am curently building a small trailer to haul my caming gear in and will use the air shocks for nothing more then to level out rather then carry added weight. I will post some pictures of everything as I progress. Hope this helps anyone looking for air shock info.

Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:55 am

Sounds awesome, I've been thinking air-shocks ever since I got my bus 3 years ago. The reason I didn't is because of the warnings about coil-overs, that they will kill your shock towers. Is it differant than air, do you think? I will greatly anticipate some long-term use feedback.

Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:39 am

I've installed these air shocks with an additional air pressure gauge set from Monroe:

Works fine - level adjust up to 8cm.
As front shocks I've red Koni...

Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:02 am

rsbadura wrote: I've installed these air shocks with an additional air pressure gauge set from Monroe:

Works fine - level adjust up to 8cm.
As front shocks I've red Koni...

Did you also have to get different bolts? Or did you find a direct replacement? If you did, we need a part number ;). Good info people!

Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:39 pm

1977_L63H_P27 wrote: Did you also have to get different bolts?
Oops, yes, I got new bolts from my parts dealer - sorry no part number.
You need only one set - the normal top could be used for the bottom.
Use only high-strength bolts as the original!!!

Monroe air shock set with addional bolts:

additional gauge set:

Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:35 pm

rsbadura: how long have you been using air shocks on your bus and approx what air pressure do you maintain in your shocks.

I plan on keeping the min. of 20psi unloaded and then bumping up to 40psi when loaded. I plan on using these air shocks to assist the suspension rather then replace the suspension.

Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:04 am

airhead22 wrote: rsbadura: how long have you been using air shocks on your bus and approx what air pressure do you maintain in your shocks.
I finished the restoration in early August - have a first journey of 2200 miles and some shorter trips and dealy use till the snow in december.

The instruction sheet wrote 1.4 kg/cm2 (20 psi) up to 8 kg/cm2 (110 psi) - as you see on the gauge.

http://www.vw-t2-bulli.de/data/documents/monroe-ride-leveler-19.04.01.72.pdf
http://www.vw-t2-bulli.de/data/documents/monroe-ride-leveler869T-rev-4-04.pdf

Thu Jan 27, 2011 2:56 pm

airhead22 wrote: Monroe air shocks were not in stock so I had them crossed over to a Gabriel High Jacker air shock pt#49215. These worked great and lifted the bus with no problem. They advertise they can lift a vehicle with an added 1500lbs. This is just what they advertise. I suggest you use common sense when installing and using air shocks.

Airhead, did you have any difficulties mounting the Gabriels? I am looking at an uninstalled set now, and the diameter of the top half looks like it might hit the body when mounting. Fatter than the Monroes pictured above.

If the garage was heated I would just go out there and swap it in, rather than typing on a warm keyboard.

Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:30 pm

I would think a spacer up top could fix that. this is some awesome info. I always feel bad for my CVs cause i have the rear jacked up pretty high, because when i need ground clearence most is generally when i am camping with a lot of gear in the back. If i hadn't already broken off my shock tower twice (and may ore may not have kinda boxed and welded in one of the shocks) i would look into these.

next bus, prolly a good investment tho!

Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:40 am

I just used a flat washer between the shock tower and the shock itself. After reading other posts I am starting to become concerned with damage to the shock tower. I am only using these to stabilize and raise approx. half an inch or so. I am very satisfied with the way the bus handles with the air shocks. I have not checked the amount of air pressure but it is minimal. I'll keep this thread up to date if I experience any problems with shock towers but damage to the bus is something that I will definetly avoid.

I am not sure if anyone has ever paid any attention to a semi truck. On the back of the cab they have very small air bags mounted between the truck frame and the cab to absorb shock and vibration.

I wonder if you could replace your bump stops with a small air bag like these. Not so you can dramatically adjust your ride height but rather a way to make subtle adjustments to ride height and keep a good shock such as a KYB gas-a-just on the rear. I know sone fabrication will be required but its an idea.

The reason why I chose to use air shocks is because I tried to adjust my spring plates many times. The problem that I am experiencing is after I get the proper angle on the springplate I can slide it up the the torsion tube and then I have to lift it up with a jack to get it inside. When I lift it up there is to much tension and the spring plate will no longer slide. Tried to hammer but stopped when damage occured to the metal. Thought about trimmin off the stop off the torsion tube to get the spring plate to slide all the way in but thought that might not be the best way to solve a problem.

Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:02 am

i remember the day that a pair of hijackers air shocks was the thing you had to have. the hijacker rabbit sticker was a big deal too. wow have not thought of them in years.

Tue Mar 29, 2011 2:16 pm

Are you still using your air shocks on the rear ?

Fri May 18, 2012 2:14 pm

Old topic, but installed air shocks on the rear of my sunroof bus. Someone said you could get bolts at a parts house but I was unable to find any. Found a part number for an Audi binder n 909 242 02, its a m12x1.5- 120 mm perfect for the upper shock mount as the bushings are slightly longer than the originals. So I'd your wanting to install some on your bus I figured I would share my info for others.

Thu Oct 10, 2013 8:14 pm

If anyone is interested I can put a step by step kit together for one fair price if you are interested, please e-mail me for questions or concerns, or comments. Kris

Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:09 am

Where did you purchase the Bolts? I am having no luck finding that length with enough thread.

Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:02 am

lonewolfone wrote: Old topic, but installed air shocks on the rear of my sunroof bus. Someone said you could get bolts at a parts house but I was unable to find any. Found a part number for an Audi binder n 909 242 02, its a m12x1.5- 120 mm perfect for the upper shock mount as the bushings are slightly longer than the originals. So I'd your wanting to install some on your bus I figured I would share my info for others.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-insta...20242%2002

Tue Nov 17, 2015 9:43 am

Does anyone have pictures to show where you ran your air lines into the engine compartment . Do you need to have the engine out in order to get the lines into the engine area? I have the shocks mounted on my 1978 VW bus. I just would like to know if there is an easy way to get the lines into the engine compartment.

Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:02 pm

Installed a set of Gabriel's today. With the additional 12x1.50 - 120 bolt mentioned above it was straightforward.

Sun Jan 10, 2016 5:20 pm

levi20AE wrote: Installed a set of Gabriel's today. With the additional 12x1.50 - 120 bolt mentioned above it was straightforward.

What PSI did you put in them?

Sun Jan 10, 2016 7:45 pm

I put 40 psi in mine, but I have not tried the bus out since installing them. I just did that to make sure there are no leaks. I have to wait for spring to do a road test. I will reduce them to 30 psi for the road test. They are the same shocks as on my Astro van. I leave the Astro van shocks at 30psi. The Astro van rides nice with air shocks so I'm hoping my bus rides the same.