Re[4]: Air-adjustable shocks

[Toby Erkson <Toby_Erkson@ccm2.hf.intel.com>]

Shocks do one thing: stop the car from endless bouncing.  They control the 
spring rate of the torsion bars.  You can drive without shocks but if you 
do it will become obvious why they were designed.  There is no need to 
worry about stressing the shock mounts or other related equipment.  Of 
course, this all pertains to a stock vehicle for designed use (street).

Though I am by no means an expert, there is some rather obvious differences 
when it comes to off-road.  A rock/pothole is very different than a jump!  
On the streets (especially race tracks) bumps/depressions are small and 
don't dominate the road like what is found in baja.  Off-road really 
stresses the vehicle and driver as a whole.  It's a tough sport that's just 
as expensive as track racing!  Some off road setups have multiple shocks on 
each corner with refrigerant running through them -- the shocks work that 
hard!!

I'd say that the Bug problems are related to being used off-road and there 
needn't be any concerns for any of the air-cooleds in terms of shock type 
unless it will be used for off-road driving.  Yes, approach and departure 
angles will change if *the ride height is changed* and/or *the suspension 
is changed* (a change in shocks, torsion bars, tires,...).  With ride 
height changes there will be obvious clearance problems across the whole 
length of the body.

Let's put this subject in a nut shell:  Drop a rock in a pond and it will 
sink like you intended, but watch out for the splash and ripples.
     Toby Erkson
     air_cooled_nut@pobox.com
     modified '72 VW Squareback 2.0L
     stock '75 Porsche 914 1.8L

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Air-adjustable shocks
Author:  type-3-errors@umich.edu at SMTPGATE
Date:    12/10/96 11:42 AM

...
>What do you mean by "...break the shock mounts."?  If the rear torsion
>bars  aren't fully gone then the air-shocks will boost up the rear
>without any  undue stress.  However, if you fill the shocks to their
>limit of 200psi you  could be putting stress on the system (shocks,
>mounts, drivetrain,...).  My  shocks are currently at 50psi (25psi is the

Well as I understand it (ho ho ho) the shock mounts are then used to take
some of the weight of the vehicle, instead of the springs.  So then when
you hit a rock/pothole/etc (or jump!) the shock mounts take more load than
they normally would.  What I wanted to find out was whether anyone has had
any experience of pump ups and repeated potholes/bumps/etc when the
suspension goes from "normal" to "high" (no idea what psi, low to normal
should be similar) (concerned about single event and fatigue).  The beetle
(/s?) could well have been past its use by date - and getting treated
harshly.  If the mounts can handle it I might lower mine to "normal"
height and use pump ups for going places I oughtnt

>minimum).  Air-shocks are  (basically) like ordinary shocks and shock
>height will not affect  ground-to-mount clearance.

but they will increase approach and departure angle, body, front beam,
gearbox and motor clearance, and when the rear mounts catch something
you've a hammer and cold chisel ;-)
...