I am looking into useing air shocks on the front of a TJ buggy. Is ther any reason that I should not use these? What type of suspension setup are you useing them with, and what would you do diffirent. Where is the best place to purchase, and what other brand should I consider. Should I use an air shock instead of a coilover, or am I asking for a problem?
Fox or Sway-A-Away shocks
- Thread starter TELFORD
- Start date
I went with air shocks on my buggy, partly for cost...I see no reason you will have any issues with using them on you TJ. As for which brand, I went with Fox because they were the only ones available at the time, now with Fox, SAW, and Walker all offering air shocks I would have to research more into each one. The one thing that turns me off on the Walkers (for a trail rig) is the aluminum shafts. I dont think you could go wrong with any of them, but I am still partial to the Fox shocks...check with Rocklogic for awesome pricing on the Foxes and they have them in stock...
RockMonkey
Suddenly Enthusiastic
Personally I think there are only three advantages to air shocks over coilovers. They are cheaper, they are slightly smaller, and they are lighter. I think coilovers work better, are easier to set up right, and offer more adjustability. Just my opinion from watching a lot of buggies over the years. Air shocks pretty much require some kind of sway bar.
I have been looking at both shocks also, as I plan on linking out the front of my 'Yota. I was leaning towards the Sway-A-Way because of the weight capacities of the Fox shocks. However, now Fox has come out with 2.5 inch air shocks that have double the weight capacity of the 2 inchers.
Milner
formerly "rckcrlr"
- Location
- Hiding behind a camera
RockMonkey said:
I agree with the Monkey (I like to say that
)I have also noticed a little more hop with the air shocks. It depends on the suspension and weight of the vehicle, but from what I have noticed, the are shocks don't seem to provide enough dampening. One tube/piston is doing two jobs....with coil overs the shock provides only the dampening and the coils provide the spring....not as big of deal on the light moon buggies, but on heavier vehicles, it will more noticable. For a DD and/or trail rig I would go with CO....no fade, and just plain simple....
JMHO
PS I like the Foxes, smaller resivors, braided hose, easier to revalve, coil retainer stays on, and priced better....
I have finished my project TJ & have run it locally on your typical trails a bit & have the first trip to Moab out of the way as well. I am running 14" Fox Air Shox front & rear, 4 links, w/ Antirocks on both! The nitrogen, valving, & oil height make this setup extreamly tunable. I have played w/ several different configurations & could get you pointed in the right direction if you end up going w/ the air shox! I also believe the people that have a negative opinion about the air shox likely do not understand just how adjustable they really are, or may have a problem w/ suspension geometry that hinders the performance of the shox. I think they are more sensative in that respect as well. On the flip side it is really tough to beat a good coilover. I personally couldn't be happier w/ the overall performance. I am not saying they are hands down the best set up for all aplications, but have some great advantages. If you have any other ?s call me 435-757-7919 Tim
rckcrlr said:
I haven't really been around air shox on other rigs, but I can definately say that I don't get any extra hop with mine. My fox air shox seem to dampen everything quite a bit, but it's taken a lot of adjustment to get them where they are now... I can't even remember the numbers. I think vehicle weight has a lot of do with this factor too.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Monkey, you said that Air shocks pretty much require a sway bar. Would this be true with air shocks on the rear only? Herzog, how much sway do you get? Are you running a sway bar front or rear?
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Good to hear.Herzog said:
RockMonkey
Suddenly Enthusiastic
Yup, that's me... Der, how does air hold up the car?hayli6 said:
You don't know me, or my experience, so don't judge me.
Milner
formerly "rckcrlr"
- Location
- Hiding behind a camera
RockMonkey said:Yup, that's me... Der, how does air hold up the car?
You don't know me, or my experience, so don't judge me.
I'm wit du Monkey
grinch
inner city redneck
- Location
- Salt Lake City
I actually think the air shocks are easier to adjust.... You dont have to wait around for new springs to be sent to you if you got the spring rates wrong the first time. Just my 2 cents.
I never ran sway bars on my rig with fox shocks in the rear and leaf springs up front. Body roll was never an issue. I did have to run a center limiting strap to keep the rear from unloading but that would happen with coilovers as well.....
I have liked the air shocks so much on are comp rig and how they were on my old heep that im going to use them on all 4 corners of my new buggy im building this winter...
I never ran sway bars on my rig with fox shocks in the rear and leaf springs up front. Body roll was never an issue. I did have to run a center limiting strap to keep the rear from unloading but that would happen with coilovers as well.....
I have liked the air shocks so much on are comp rig and how they were on my old heep that im going to use them on all 4 corners of my new buggy im building this winter...
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I am planing on running the anti-rock up front so that should help, any sugestions on what length, dose it make any diff or not. Should I be worried about the front unloading (hali6 had any problems with this?) I know TJ's have a tendencey to do this. I am leaning towards the fox shock
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
I would run a center limit strap on any front link suspension that would be more than mildly modified.TELFORD said:
grinch
inner city redneck
- Location
- Salt Lake City
Yep what hickey said....Hickey said: