Fox non-coilover air shocks

kilby

kilby

Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Location
Charlotte, NC
I've got some questions about running these (in my project XJ)...

Do they act like 'regular' coilovers? By that I mean, can I run them as the only springs/shocks in the suspension setup?

Can anybody help me decide on how much travel I'd need for, say, in the neighborhood of 4" of lift? They come in 5" to 14" versions, and my guess is a lot is dependent on the valving of the shock, so how do you set that up?
 
kilby said:
Do they act like 'regular' coilovers? By that I mean, can I run them as the only springs/shocks in the suspension setup?
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Yup.

Can anybody help me decide on how much travel I'd need for, say, in the neighborhood of 4" of lift?
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Can't help ya there. Get the longest ones you can fit. Treat 'em like shocks in regards to length.

They come in 5" to 14" versions, and my guess is a lot is dependent on the valving of the shock, so how do you set that up?
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The damping, "spring" rate, etc... is determined by the amount of shock oil you use, and the charge of the shock. There's alot of information (and misinformation) floating around about that.. The same guy who made the 4-link calc also has an air shock spreadsheet to help set the amount of oil & charge..
 
The only thing i dont like about the air shox so far, is the ride height fluctuates by weather, temperature, etc. On a cold morning they sit about 1~2" shorter. And because they are not remote resevoir, when they get warm, your ride height increases.

The 16" fox shoxs, IIRC, the mounting distance is something like 32.5 for same up/down travel. For only a 4" lift, im willing to put $$$ down that the 16"s would stick way up thru the hood :huggy: You may want the 14"s. Again, IIRC, the mounting distance for 14"s is around 28.5 for same up/down travel.

One good thing, they are alot easier to deal with than coilovers. But both have ups/downs.
 
kilby said:
Thanks...

I'm looking at running the 12-14" versions. For $140 for the air shocks, I'd rather mount those instead of traditional coils and shocks on the front axle.
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You deffinitely cant beat the price and the performance of them. IMO, id go with the 14"s.
 
For heavier rigs air shocks aren't performing as well as coilovers. If your building a light weight buggy they seem to be the craze but for heavier vehicles they are a cheap solution. I know 3 TJ owners that run them and aren't happy and there are a few rigs on POR that have swapped their air shocks for coilovers.

I have been thinking about giving them a shot in the rear of my TJ but only for experimental purposes.
 
I know this thread is really old but I figured i'd just reply to this one than start another.

I'm wantin to run air shocks on the front of my blazer that i've been posting about here lately (s10 blazer) with the tubed out front end so making mounting points for the air shocks is no prob. My question is with Rusty's long arms from an xj which air shocks should i get (ie: 14,16,18,etc.). I want to flex as much as possible so whatever size you guys think will flex best with those rusty's long arms let me know.

Also kilby you mentioned above that the shocks were $140 a peice, lowest i can find em is $225 from rock krawler, where are they sellin em for that cheap?

Thanks
 
Ok so after talking to a friend who has air shocks and doin some measurements im pretty sure im gonna get some 18" shocks 2.5" diameter probably sway a way simply because u can find them cheaper.

anyone know good places to get either fox or sway a ways 2.5" air shocks fer cheap? I figure i'll get a couple quotes from the venders on pirate will be the lowest prices i will be able to find unless any of ya'll local venders want to shoot me a quote on a pair if you carry em
 
Hmmmmm....... I've never even thought about running air shocks instead of coilovers b/c I thought that they'd be more expensive. I wonder what would be the best air shock to run on a samurai?
 
I know the valving can be customized when ordering them. Kilby where are you finding them for $140? Cheapest I have seen is $200 for the Walkers version? They are made to support around 800 lbs per corner.
 
So Andy do you think the small ones with the 5/8 shafts would work for a sami and say 2 200lbs riders, 200lbs worth of equipment and 100lbs winch? Does shaft size even effect the weight rating. I think I'd rather go with a larger shaft model (like the 7/8 shaft), but if you think the small ones would be fine I may just go with them. I'd estimate (and I may be way off) total sprung weight to be on the trail some where around 2000lbs..... no more than 2200lbs.
 
I would think you'd be aight on a sammy since they weigh like nothing.

I was just hopin I could get away with the 2" shocks fer my application because the price jump from 2 to 2.5 inch shocks is ridiculous, lol, but everyone's been tellin me to run the 2.5" on the front of my blazer so . . . .

Now im thinkin at the 700 i will have to pay for 2.5 incher's i might could get coilovers for pretty close to it, but i know absolutly nothing about coilovers, lol, time to do some more reasearchin
 
About the cheapest price on coilovers I've found is close to $400-500 a piece. King had them for $500 complete when I was looking at them, and Sway-A-Way was a little cheaper, but they didn't sell a complete coilover. It had to be pieced together. Keep in mind though that this was rougly 4 years ago, before everyone REALLY wanted them.
 
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