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.
