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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,035 Posts1,055,567 Members48,426 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 | I've been looking but can't find anything.
There are the air inflated shocks inside the rear springs on my truck. They gave an inflator valve on them with an extention that leads the rear fender with another inflation valve like that on a bike. Can someone explain this to me. How did it work? Were you supposed to inflate to your preferences? Thanks. Brandon 1988 4Runner: SR5 ~ 3.0 ~ 5-Speed ~ No Sway Bar ~ 3-Point Rear Seatbelts ~ KC Daylighters ~ EGR By-Pass 1946 Stovebolt: Rebuilt 216 ~ 6V ~ All Stock Extras: Stuff for my signature that just wouldn't fit.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 126 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 126 | They are for leveling the truck when you have a heavy load in it. You know how the back end sags with a bunch of gravel or something in there? You put air in the shocks until the truck sits right. It increases the amount of weight you can carry. Sometimes people use them to level the vehicle empty too if one of the springs is sagging...Its pretty handy, I'm planning on putting a set in my '70 Ford (boo boo hiss hiss, I know). | | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 639 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 639 | I have a set on my '53, they were there when I got the truck. I had a set on my '77 El Camino that allowed me to raise or lower the rear end about a foot when empty. With full air pressure and an empty box the back tires would bounce off the ground when I hit the brakes. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 | Brandon, In the pics of your 46, looks like air bags inside coils under the 46. Most common are actual shocks that you can inflate when needed. Never seen ones like your 'air bags' but if it works they are really handy.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,750 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,750 | Brandon, I would think the 'helper' springs are almost certainly a later add-on. As Erik mentions they inflate to increase the load capacity and to assist levelling. I'm sure i've seen them for sale recently. I do know AirRide Technologies sell a similar set-up but without the coil. 1950 Chevy Advance Design 3100 in ScotlandIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pix on Flickr. I've definately got this truck thing in my blood ... my DNA sequence has torque settings"Of all the small nations of this earth,perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind" Winston Churchill.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 | They are for leveling the truck when you have a heavy load in it. You know how the back end sags with a bunch of gravel or something in there? You put air in the shocks until the truck sits right. It increases the amount of weight you can carry. Sometimes people use them to level the vehicle empty too if one of the springs is sagging...Its pretty handy, I'm planning on putting a set in my '70 Ford (boo boo hiss hiss, I know). Brandon, I would think the 'helper' springs are almost certainly a later add-on. As Erik mentions they inflate to increase the load capacity and to assist levelling. I'm sure i've seen them for sale recently. I do know AirRide Technologies sell a similar set-up but without the coil. Thanks guys. That does make sense now. I just wasn't sure if they were stock or not. I've seen the coils added before to soften the ride, just haven't seen it with the air shocks. Brandon, In the pics of your 46, looks like air bags inside coils under the 46. Most common are actual shocks that you can inflate when needed. Never seen ones like your 'air bags' but if it works they are really handy. Well the passenger side shock is torn open; old rubber. But the driver's side one inflates and holds. Makes that side of the rear end higher, so I for sure realize its purpose now. Brandon 1988 4Runner: SR5 ~ 3.0 ~ 5-Speed ~ No Sway Bar ~ 3-Point Rear Seatbelts ~ KC Daylighters ~ EGR By-Pass 1946 Stovebolt: Rebuilt 216 ~ 6V ~ All Stock Extras: Stuff for my signature that just wouldn't fit.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 843 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 843 | Brandon,The Brand name of your air bags may be"Airlift"they've been around a long time.Still are. | | |
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