my a-body front shockwave blew up!

[downset71]

have had a full system in my 71 monte for about 2 years, never a problem.Today i went to give it an oil change, and as a did a hundred times before, i inflated the front to gain clearance under the front crossmember for my jack. As i jacked it up, with the bags inflated,(as i ALWAYS do), i heard a snap. After i finished up, i went to lower the car. I heard the bags deflate, but the drivers-side stayed up. The adjustable shock broke in the middle, but the bag in intact. pulled it all out, and the oil gushed out. Def. snapped in the middle. It looks bent also. can it be rebuilt or what are my options? http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u240/whosnext2/IMG_1467.jpg

[darren@ridetech.com]

Send it back. We will have to take a look at it to see what happened. Call in for a return #.

What air pressure do you drive it at?

[downset71]

will call today.i normally ride at 120 frt. and 70-80 rear.maybe 3/4 of full height.only time i ever drop down is at rest and parked.like i said, thank god whatever happened occured in my garage! would of sucked gettin towed and pushed back into my garage!!!def curious to a cause.also is a single adjustable at 3 clicks stiff from the softest position

[darren@ridetech.com]

I think that you may have a little too much pressure in it. Typically we will drive it at about just over half way. You should have about 5" of travel in that front suspension, ride height will be about 3" from fully compressed, and 2" from topped out. This will insure that the shock does not top out or bottom out when hitting a bump. My 70 Chevelle with a big block and iron heads takes about 105 psi at ride height.

We also normally run around 6-8 clicks in the shock (this will mainly control the rebound). So, running it a little too high coupled with not enough rebound may have allowed the shock to top out on larger bumps. I bet it actually popped the top off while driving, then the piston pulled out of the shock body when you put the jack under it. Hard to say for sure until we get it in here and check it out tho. Running it at 3/4 height would have been OK, if there was enough rebound in the shock to keep it from topping out.

[darren@ridetech.com]

Stock height spindles or dropped?

[downset71]

the pressures always fluctuated from day one.years later and i never solved the sensor ground problem.jumped around 20-25psi. always set it all the way up, then hold the deflated buttons equally for like 2 seconds......lol. its a all aluminum small block, but heavy hood and bumpers. it has B-body spindles and your lower arms.18" with a 245/40 tire.with this setup, all the way down will leave about 1/4" below crossmember.all the way up will clear my 2 ton floorjack....barely.i had the car out4 days before that. drove about 5 miles round trip to a car show, no out-the-ordinary potholes or bumps.

[darren@ridetech.com]

Let try to fix the fluctuating pressure problem while we are at it. What color are your sending units. Are they gold or silver? (The sending units look like an oil pressure sending unit)

[downset71]

they are gold with the numbers 40-04
999-010-009

[darren@ridetech.com]

That is your problem. Send those back with the shockwaves and we will exchange them out for some different ones.

[downset71]

damn.shockwave went out yesterday!! that should be getting there friday afternoon.ill send out the sensors tomorrow...thanx again

[downset71]

i sent out the sensors today. should be there monday, tues. forgot to call in for a RA# on those. i put my screen name on the box anyway...

[Tony@AirRide]

Steve,
After inspecting the corpse, the only thing I can come up with is that it looks like the Shockwave was being run topped out when it let go. I would double check your installed ride height. We did get it fixed up and is heading out the door back to you.

[chevelleman]

Sorry to be nosey but WOW great service! I feel even more confident in buying Air ride as soon as I get the info I need!

[downset71]

service is the best i think> just received my rebuilt shockwave yesterday.put it back in today.didnt testdrive yet, but works fine.Where else can you get a rebuilt piece for LESS than half the price of original?? Also replaced my original style gold sending units for FREE with neww style silver VDOs...2 yrs later! my ongoing pressure problem finally solved. readings fluctuate only 2psi with a quicky ground just to check them. Awesome. no more soldering or having 4 grounds run all the way to BAT. Thanks again guys for keeping me true to my name.. Downset.http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u240/whosnext2/monte.jpg

[STEPPED 69]

Sweet monte

what kind/size of wheels are you runnin

[downset71]

runnin BMW 740 MK Motorsport(RIP) 18x8 with 245/35 and 275/35. BMW 5 and 7 series fit GM 5 bolt,just have to open up center cap on front wheel due to GM spindle hub.The lug conical taper is a little off also,but so far so good.................

[STEPPED 69]

they look great


thanx