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coil over or air shocks
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 4:53 pm
by Bartso
hey guys thinking ahead even when i haven't finished my current mods but
1. what would be the advantage be to switching to one of these
2. which one would suit me better
i plan on doing the slower medium paced events at the moment
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:19 pm
by antt
i wouldn't run airshocks if ya gonna do any winch challenge/outback challenge stuff. they're too floaty under a full size car
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:45 pm
by Bartso
antt wrote:i wouldn't run airshocks if ya gonna do any winch challenge/outback challenge stuff. they're too floaty under a full size car
i thought this may be the case also what brands am i looking at for coil overs i know they are pretty $$$$$$
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 6:18 pm
by HotFourOk
http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/inde ... eadid=2451
This has some info.. not a lot tho
Good brands include, TEIN, Tacoma, Tundra and Koni.. and look for good shocks such as Bilstein
Lots of $$ tho
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 6:54 pm
by bru21
Air shocks are not at all suitable. Ring ABT they will give you plenty of info, i rang them and was on the phone for at least 30mins. I will be running fox non coil's. I think coilovers are too small for the weight of our trucks. Coil springs work by the wire twisting as the spring compresses. i fail to see how wire of such small diameter would not sag very quickly. It would have to be working close to its yeild point often, even though there are many more turns effectivly reducing the twist per metre.
You might have trouble fitting big shock up the front with a gq diff due to clearence. Mine only just clears with gu diffs and gq's the tyre bottomed out on the spring perch. fitting bigger stronger shocks requires the upper shock mount to be made bigger and braced.
I have been looking into this for the past few weeks. so far i think i will be running 12" front 14" rear at this stage. Fox 2 1/2" r/r non coil
cheers bru
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:15 pm
by Bartso
bru21 wrote:I will be running fox non coil's.
cheers bru
are these on their website
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:17 pm
by mickyd555
whats the difference between air shocks and non-coils????
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:26 pm
by HotFourOk
Coilovers are beneficial as soft springs can be used and they will stay trapped.. i thought this would be good for 4wding as softer springs will allow for good articulation..
I have seen a number of 4x4s with coilovers.. yet most are smaller type ones.. that supports the weight aspect bru said.
Also, the shocks used tend to stick through the bonnet
Arn't non-coilovers just a standard shock and coil spring setup? Where the coil and shock are independant.. not incased like with coilovers
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:32 pm
by Bartso
mickyd555 wrote:whats the difference between air shocks and non-coils????
what he said
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:40 pm
by RV80
HotFourOk wrote:Tacoma, Tundra
I thought Toyota made these

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:53 pm
by HotFourOk
I think he was referring to a non-coilover setup.. as in most vehicles with coil springs. Where the spring and shock are seperate...Unlike coilovers where the coilover unit contains the coil and the shock in the middle. This causes the spring to be more controlled and not allowed to become untrapped.
With air shocks, you can insert a greater amount of air into the unit to increase load carrying ability and stiffen them up a bit.
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:53 pm
by HotFourOk
RV wrote:HotFourOk wrote:Tacoma, Tundra
I thought Toyota made these

yeh, well I am a Toyota boy at heart.. even if it is a Corolla

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:13 pm
by Big Red Toy
A good example of coilovers on a large truck, cheezy's mav & they worked & supported the truck fine, i'd say air shock are really just suited for buggy work.
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:25 pm
by bad_religion_au
wasn't there a big red 40 series at victorian supertrucks that did doeys and ran airshocks?
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 10:10 pm
by bru21
air shocks can handle the weight now that the 21/2's are out, but the bottom aggressively i would imagine (i once pumped up shocks on a kx80 to make them stiffer and it sucked, its like getting a bicycle pump and putting your finger over the end. Also they will foam up during moderate to heavy work as the oil capacity is so small compared to shocks. the non coils are on the fox site, they are the same unit as the coil overs without the spring perches. here's a pic. the res gives them a bigger oil capasity as well as the reduce shaft size a air shock is 11/2" and a non coil or coil is either 5/8 or 7/8. i think the 7/8's are the go. also the res allows the shock to compress further (not sure in the fox case if this is true). you can also buy them without a res. the pics are of a coilover, a non coil with a remote res, and a "emultion shock - same as non coil without a res!
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:34 pm
by Bartso
what are we looking at $$$$ wise for these
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 6:39 pm
by bru21
depends on where you go and how long you wait. I would not like to discuss who and where as service counts for more than dollar's.
$650 each by ship 6 weeks.
$742 each in stock
and a few in between.
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:05 pm
by morkz
have you looked into the king racing shocks?
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:55 pm
by Cheezy4x4
We have done many hours of testing with coilovers and air's over the last 5 years (as we have too). We have done speed testing with numerous brands of airs and coilovers and can say this. Airs will put up with speed and jumps for about 20 mins

Then will fade BIG time, but are the SHYT for crawling. Coilovers are the go for speed and can support weight if need be (the mav had 400pound springs and Antinac had heavier). Coilovers can also be used for crawling also but can take a bit more too set up (coils cost more than nytrogen). We are about too release our own coilovers in 06 that are entirely built in house. (details too follow).
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 1:50 pm
by Bartso
Cheezy4x4 wrote:We have done many hours of testing with coilovers and air's over the last 5 years (as we have too). We have done speed testing with numerous brands of airs and coilovers and can say this. Airs will put up with speed and jumps for about 20 mins

Then will fade BIG time, but are the SHYT for crawling. Coilovers are the go for speed and can support weight if need be (the mav had 400pound springs and Antinac had heavier). Coilovers can also be used for crawling also but can take a bit more too set up (coils cost more than nytrogen). We are about too release our own coilovers in 06 that are entirely built in house. (details too follow).
sweet prob give you a call in the new year
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 3:22 pm
by ofr57
so would air shocks be better for a light car like a zook? instead of coilovers
its still in the design stage most likly start in 07 think ..... gotta get a garage first!
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 10:11 am
by Yarno
What about an air shock paired up with a standard shock on a heavier rig?? ie. have the air to hold up the rig and the skock to stablise it...