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Index > Suspension > Thread: Gabriel Air shocks for rear
Thread: Gabriel Air shocks for rear
Brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted July 11, 2005 10:55 AM

Gabriel Air shocks for rear

I have them, and have one shock plumbed up and full of air, sitting on the floor as a test. It was holding 45psi for 3 hours last time I checked. Pretty neat. I'm keeping it at that pressure and will check pressure on friday. Hopefully it'll hold pressure that long. It uses two o rings on each fitting, I like that.

Might install them in a week or so.

With 45 psi in them, I can barely push it down 1/8" with all my weight on it. With 25psi in them I can push it down much easier. Those things are rated to take 25 PSI MIN, 200psi MAX, and 1100lbs of additional load carrying.

Should also be helpful when autocrossing, as I can dial in more rear roll stiffness to induce some oversteer. To get around the tight corners ;)
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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klaus42


Rotorhead
Posts: 1877
posted July 11, 2005 11:18 AM

If you actually need...

...MORE rear stiffness, you must've de-stiffened your springs a whole bunch (!)

       
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Brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted July 11, 2005 11:31 AM

Right - O!

Pulled the 2nd longest leaf out, estimate it dropped rear roll stiffness by 70 lbs.

Rear tires are 20mm wider than front, which reduces oversteer. Yet increases rear traction and rear load rating.

Just trying to compensate. Sounds like a solid plan: drop rear spring rate by 70lbs makes for a noticeably more comfortable ride. Stiffen up rear as needed with air compressor.

____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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Brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted August 08, 2005 09:25 AM

so far, so good

Although the first few weeks they were leaking 1psi of air per day, the last week they have not leaked at all. Holding steady. I haven't driven it yet as I'm carpooling but have jumped on the rear bumper several times. Pretty neat being able to adjust shock stiffness with an air compressor ;)
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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Brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted October 27, 2005 06:07 PM

update

Used REPU to move me out of my Redondo Beach place and into the new house rental. Put 60psi in each air shock and the truck did great. The most weight I carried was:

2 REPU passenger doors, complete
1 REPU rear bumper
And 300lbs of other stuff

Rear of REPU only dipped down 1 5/16" @ 60psi. Considering they can take 200psi they can handle a lotta load.

____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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klaus42


Rotorhead
Posts: 1877
posted October 30, 2005 07:39 AM

Happy Housewarming

...in your new abode! Hope you got a nice, big garage/shop... and fenced yard!

       
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Brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted October 31, 2005 08:58 AM

quote:
...in your new abode! Hope you got a nice, big garage/shop... and fenced yard!


Thanks Klaus!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, my new pad is REPU friendly. 2 car garage with built in shelves, pre-wired for 220 volts if I wanna weld, and side yard with room to store. Nice neighborhood walking distance to Jack-In-The-Box, Starbucks, Quizno's, Panda, etc.. Kragen not too far away.


____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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sparky


Redlining
Posts: 299
posted August 01, 2006 07:25 PM

Hi Brad,
Getting ready to replace the leaf spring bushings on the rear suspension this weekend. I also bought the gabriel air shocks. I'll probably remove a leaf out of the springs. any hindsight advice before I get into it too deep?
____________
'77 REPU
Stock 6-port
T-2 tranny
Weber IDA 48
Alum Flywheel
3rd gen Torsen in rear end.
DLDFIS ignition

       
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Brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted August 02, 2006 09:35 AM

quote:
Hi Brad,
Getting ready to replace the leaf spring bushings on the rear suspension this weekend. I also bought the gabriel air shocks. I'll probably remove a leaf out of the springs. any hindsight advice before I get into it too deep?


Removing the leaf pack is easy but if the shackles and u-bolts have never been popped loose before I'd reccomend a breaker bar and 3' lead pipe cheater bar.

Getting bushings out was tough. Vise grips grabbed the old bushings well, lots of PB'laster and twisting... I used white lithium grease for new bushings, molybendum would work fine too. Most of the grease gets pushed out during assembly. PRO way is to redo shackels completely with thicker steel (3/8") and zerk fitted greasable bolts. My next project.

Removing a leaf requires clamping the leaf pack with two C-clamps, then prying the factory leaf clamps loose with flat head screwdriver. then undoing the center pin. More PB'laster. I also B'lasted the leaves themselves. Then hammer and chiseled the 2nd longest leaf out. That took time. Braced it up against a wooden block when hammering.

Not rocket science, just time and muscle.

With the air shocks, be sure to use one fill valve per shock. And high pressure slicone (RTV Red). OTherwise when the truck leans the compressed shock will increase psi in the air line which will bump up the pressure in uncompressed shock. Jacking that side up more. BAAAAAAAAAAAAD.

I put the fill valves under the bench seat; away from heat, grime, road debris. + easier to fill on a rainy day.

Good luck, it's a rewarding project when all done!
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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Hunter


Hauling
Posts: 178
posted August 03, 2006 06:29 AM

removing a leaf spring

When I did this many years ago on my new 73 RX-3 I ended up with excessive windup of the differential when I changed gears. You did not run into this problem with the REPU setup ?

Toski

       
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Brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted August 03, 2006 09:23 AM

windup

Seems fine to me. Still puts power down. The stock rear spring is 312lbs, that is a LOT. 1st gen mustangs were around 150 for example and I bet the 3 was similar.

Still have 5 leafs in there. I want to put a JEGS leaf spring clamp on the frontof the spring to be sure. Other things can help with wind up if needed like bolt 1/2 a leaf to the front of the spring.
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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sparky


Redlining
Posts: 299
posted August 05, 2006 07:12 PM

Hi Brad,
I replaced the bushings and removed a leaf. Also installed the air shocks. However, the air line kit for the shocks only has one schrader valve on a tee thast splits to each shock. Did you have to get some extra air fittings? If so, then where? What I would like to do is install an isolation valve on a supply line to 1 shock and utilize a single schrader valve for adjusting pressure. After changing pressure then I can close the valve and not worry about pressure transfer when cornering. Thanks for the input.
____________
'77 REPU
Stock 6-port
T-2 tranny
Weber IDA 48
Alum Flywheel
3rd gen Torsen in rear end.
DLDFIS ignition

       
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Brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted August 07, 2006 07:20 AM

Yes

I had to buy a 'dual air line kit'. got it off jcwhitney or carparts.com, been a while.


       
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mazdaorbust


Revvin Up
Posts: 82
posted November 28, 2006 02:49 PM

Tire Size

Brad,


WHat size are the tires on your truck? I like the way it sits.

Thanks

       
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