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TomWesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 3553
Location: Wyoming,USA
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 Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 10:09 am Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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Just updating. I FINALLY got my shocks installed on the bus. I ended up ruining one of the shocks and having to order another kit. It was completely my fault. While I had one airshock installed and was unable to remove the bolt on the other used shock, I had to drive the bus to get groceries. You are not supposed to drive on them without at least 20 psi in them and since I didn’t have the air lines attached yet to the one I had installed, it ruined the air bladder on that one. I tried to see if I could buy just one shock, but you can only buy the kit. So now I have a spare and plenty of o-rings and air hose!   I am following Rottenkid’s lead and running 40 psi in them for a while to see if they leak. 40 psi is too much for my current load and pitches the bus a bit forward. The ride is so far nicer than the coilovers I had, but they were old so it’s not a fair comparison.
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If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
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TomWesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 3553
Location: Wyoming,USA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2020 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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| TomWesty wrote: |
| rottenkid wrote: |
| MA 803 on the front. They are made for the rear of a beetle from 68 to 75. To line the bolts up you need to give the shock a twist. So install the lower bolt and then the top bolt. |
Hey thank Rottenkid! On the rears I’ve found that starting the upper bolt first and then lining up the lower was easiest. I’m doing the rears today, but ran into a rust welded lower bolt on the passenger side that just won’t budge. I’ve wailed on it with a hammer, a monster breaker bar and my leg and a 1/2” impact wrench and it isn’t moving. Also, I had trouble purchasing the longer upper bolt locally so I ordered them from Fastenal online. They seem to fit quite well. They are not as handy as the originals because they don’t have the taper machine on the end, that’s why I recommend threading the upper first. |
Update: I got the lower shock bolt loose finally! Liquid wrench, beat on it with a sledge hammer (8 lb.), thrashed on it with the 1/2” impact wrench, Mapp gas torch on the shock mount until the lower shock bushing began to support combustion, more sledge hammer, impact wrench, flame, hammer, impact, flame, hammer, impact....LOOSE! Working outdoors and too dark and tired to run the air lines. Manana.
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If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music! |
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TomWesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 3553
Location: Wyoming,USA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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| rottenkid wrote: |
| MA 803 on the front. They are made for the rear of a beetle from 68 to 75. To line the bolts up you need to give the shock a twist. So install the lower bolt and then the top bolt. |
Hey thank Rottenkid! On the rears I’ve found that starting the upper bolt first and then lining up the lower was easiest. I’m doing the rears today, but ran into a rust welded lower bolt on the passenger side that just won’t budge. I’ve wailed on it with a hammer, a monster breaker bar and my leg and a 1/2” impact wrench and it isn’t moving. Also, I had trouble purchasing the longer upper bolt locally so I ordered them from Fastenal online. They seem to fit quite well. They are not as handy as the originals because they don’t have the taper machine on the end, that’s why I recommend threading the upper first.
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If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music! |
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rottenkid
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2015
Posts: 239
Location: Warkworth, ontario
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| Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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MA 803 on the front. They are made for the rear of a beetle from 68 to 75. To line the bolts up you need to give the shock a twist. So install the lower bolt and then the top bolt.
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rottenkid
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2015
Posts: 239
Location: Warkworth, ontario
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| Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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MA 803 on the front. They are made for the rear of a beetle from 68 to 75. To line the bolts up you need to give the shock a twist. So install the lower bolt and then the top bolt.
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TomWesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 3553
Location: Wyoming,USA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 1:39 pm Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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| kp4usa wrote: |
I went through all the post and at the beginning someone posted some pics but they won't show up. My question is what air adjustable shocks can be installed for the front and rear on a 1970 VW Bus. Please part numbers as I am trying to install these with a compressor kit.  |
Monroe MA758 for rear. Rottenkid has Monroe on fronts, but I don’t know what number. He said they were Beetle shocks.
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If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music! |
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rsbadura
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2009
Posts: 761
Location: Berlin, Germany
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kp4usa
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2018
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 7:08 am Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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| I went through all the post and at the beginning someone posted some pics but they won't show up. My question is what air adjustable shocks can be installed for the front and rear on a 1970 VW Bus. Please part numbers as I am trying to install these with a compressor kit. |
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hometurbine
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2014
Posts: 157
Location: Cincinnati
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| Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 5:29 am Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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"Where did you purchase the Bolts? I am having no luck finding that length with enough thread."
I have used Belmetric.com for metric fasteners that are hard to find. They can be a bit pricy, but have a good selection and other speed nuts, etc. 120 mm bolt class 10.9 are about $5 each.
There is also boltdepot.com, but they have less selection.
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Bill
'75 Westy Bus with Subaru EJ25 engine
GE CT58-100 helicopter gas turbine
Tiernay TT10 APU gas turbine |
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scubasteve321
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2015
Posts: 247
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| Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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Would it be a fair assumption that the 49215 HiJackers which fit a 78 apparently will fit my 71 Bay?
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1971 Campmobile Tin-Top
1971 Campmobile Pop-Top
1974 VW Bus |
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12843
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:05 am Post subject: Shock Mounts Rear |
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Just a heads up.
If shocks are installed with load carrying capacity in mind.
Reinforce the upper shock mounts. The metal is pretty thin in that area.
These pictures where the result of hitting something in the road.
But it has been reported that the shock mounts can experience cracking and tear out, with loaded air shocks and coil overs.
Good luck
Tcash |
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rottenkid
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2015
Posts: 239
Location: Warkworth, ontario
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rottenkid
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2015
Posts: 239
Location: Warkworth, ontario
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 2:58 am Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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| all I know is that for my 78 bus the air shocks fit a 2004 Chevy Astro Van. Gabriel can tell you if they will fit your bus. |
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mr_bubles
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2011
Posts: 27
Location: Aarhus, Denmark
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 12:33 am Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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Can someone please provide a part number for Gabriel Hijackers that will fit the rear of my 1969 bay bus.?
Thanx |
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luckydaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2009
Posts: 3
Location: Fullerton, Ca
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 9:39 am Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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| My 1977 Westy has dropped spindles but it sits about 1 1/2 inches to low for my liking so I am thinking of air shocks to raise it up maybe 1 in. for light cruising. Also I need to lower rear 1 to 2 inches empty and was wondering how many splines I would need to accomplish this and then if adding similar air shocks to rear would allow me to raise back up when pulling my small/iight boat. All suspension components are new. Any comments or advice will be appreciated. |
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rottenkid
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2015
Posts: 239
Location: Warkworth, ontario
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| Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2016 4:18 am Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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I use 40 psi in my 1978 VW bus air shocks. I have a smooth ride now. The old shocks gave a very harsh ride.
My shocks are Monroe and are made for an Astro Van. |
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frenchymanxter
Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2006
Posts: 81
Location: france (Europe)
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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| rsbadura wrote: |
| Martin Henriksson wrote: |
| How is it to drive with airshocks? Better handling then before? |
These are standard oil filled shocks with an add on for leveling. So if you need something for a racetrack or an airsuspension like a luxury car, than this is not the best solution.
This solution is best, if you have sometimes an empty car that should be best leveled for car shows and sometimes drive with all your family and luggage in holiday trip - only by change some air pressure. 
If you fill them up with more airpressure than needed for your load it feel a liitle bit harder - but not like red (or yellow) KONI shock. But they feel not spongy or something like that. I drive very quick and fast (at German Autobahn up to 90 miles / h.)... in the front I use red KONI.
regards, |
hi
very interested with your Monroe solution.
But if I want to order them in France (or Germany), I need a part number. |
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rsbadura
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2009
Posts: 761
Location: Berlin, Germany
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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| Martin Henriksson wrote: |
| How is it to drive with airshocks? Better handling then before? |
These are standard oil filled shocks with an add on for leveling. So if you need something for a racetrack or an airsuspension like a luxury car, than this is not the best solution.
This solution is best, if you have sometimes an empty car that should be best leveled for car shows and sometimes drive with all your family and luggage in holiday trip - only by change some air pressure.
If you fill them up with more airpressure than needed for your load it feel a liitle bit harder - but not like red (or yellow) KONI shock. But they feel not spongy or something like that. I drive very quick and fast (at German Autobahn up to 90 miles / h.)... in the front I use red KONI.
regards,
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Rolf-Stephan Badura
1970 VW Karmann-Ghia Coupe
1979 VW Bus L camper conversion
1982 Eriba Pan travel trailer
2017 VW CrossPolo
HAZET classic tools collection |
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Martin Henriksson
Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2004
Posts: 212
Location: Sweden, Europe
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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How is it to drive with airshocks? Better handling then before?
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restorations - paintjobs - bodywork - welding - suspension - surfboards - interiorwork
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levi20AE
Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2005
Posts: 485
Location: Las Vegas, NV
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 9:46 am Post subject: Re: Air shock info |
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That video clip was airing down from ~80 to ~0 and back up to about ~80 psi. With the van fully loaded and the bumper with two jerry cans, a spare and a jack on the back the ride was very comfortable at ~80 psi. I have the same setup on my Caddy and it gets very rough with more than ~40 psi if there is no load in the back. I have been using Gabriels on the caddy for at least the last 5 years with no issues.
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1973 Campmobile http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=524511&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
20th AE VW GTI - 369hp 340tq @ 26 PSI
1982 Rabbit Pickup - German AAZ 1.9TD - daily with lots of MPGs |
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