My el camino sits a little low in the rear. I have regular shocks in the car now. I could raise the car with air shocks or air bags. I want the smoothest ride possible. Which is better.

I could buy new springs but i don't know how worn my current springs are and how it would effect the ride hieght.

I would buy Moog cargo coil replacement springs.
I wouldn't use air shocks to change ride height,and air bags IMHO and experience are for drag racing smile.gif

I wouldn't do the air shocks if I were you. Before I bought my car, I used to see it riding around town pumped up in the rear. Then I bought it, remove the air shocks, replace with regular shocks, and drive some more. Well it didn't take too long before my upper shock mount-spring perch area was torn and mangeled because of the stress the air shocks had put on it. Now granted the previous owner was launching the car with the air shocks filled so that was putting tons of stress on it. I would use air bags, you are not stressing any components that way. Just my own experience with air shocks, but it was not easy to fix.
Good luck, Jeff

if it sits low in the rear, get some new springs. Air shocks are rough on shock mounts. Would you need an airbag for the street?

OK I want to change my answer then, if new springs are an option, do that. You will be happiest that way.
Jeff

Not knowing what you use the car for, (racing cruising, working)
I'd say air bags, like they are using today that replace the springs,
are the way I'd go for raising and lowering the car.

Too many people have broken shock mounts with air shocks. While the spring perch was designed to support the weight of the car.

You know there are air bags that fit inside the springs, and there are "air ride" air bag similar to what the big trucks use, that are available for car like our chevelles and el caminos now.

Another vote for airbags here! My car had air shocks on it, and I immediately took them off and put in the air bags and new coil springs. It is actually a pretty easy job, maybe an hour or two. If you drive on the street, all you have to do is let the air out of the airbags and then the rear is simply sitting on the coil spring as normal. Then just pump up the right side airbag if u want 2 run at the track. The airbag really helped me getter better track, even back when I had a peg leg open rear.

"getter better track" ........... graemlins/clonk.gif

I meant to say it helped me get better TRACTION/60ft at the track.

yea ,when I first bought the chevelle in 81,was leaning funny one day,opened the truck and saw the top of the shock--not good broke the shock mount right off---and up it came through the trunk,must have been drivin it like that a while,soon it poked through,dont use air shocks,they suck---67rat

What year Camino?
I know my 72 came with air shocks from the factory.

If you're trying to go stock, I'd say air shocks. But, for the smoothest ride, use air bags.

I've got a 70 chevelle that I bought last summer. Its got air shocks in the rear. I don't want to change them if I don't have to. I'm not taking it to the track and basicly street crusin with it. Are they gonna cause damage if i've just got them pumped to a moderate level?

Air shocks at a max pressure of 45-50 psi will not hurt the mounts, any more pressure than that is asking for trouble.

I bought a set of springs from NPD that were supposed to be correct but raised the rear of my elky too much to suit me.

I ended up putting the old stock springs back in, added a set of air bags for adjustability, and KYB shocks to add a little stiffnes.

So, as others have said, air bags!

First I would replace the springs, then go to air bags if you plan on racing.

I have a set of Lakewood bags on mine.

What is made to replace a rear spring with a air bag. not just put an air bag inside the spring & who makes it?

Originally posted by ASB:
What is made to replace a rear spring with a air bag. not just put an air bag inside the spring & who makes it? Air Ride Technologies has a set-up that replaces the springs, front and back kits, with air bags. You can use the bags to control the height of your car. Pretty cool system and according to recent magazine reviews, the car handles incredibly with the air bags.
Jeff

Moderately filled air shocks aren't going to hurt anything. Air bags will only marginally provide any body lift, unless the springs are really shot. Look for springs, but be prepared to try a few sets to get the height you want, or consider spacers.

I put the air bags in mine to raise the back up to level it and they work good but if I put it up where it levels it then it rides pretty rough.
If you can get it where you want it with 10 or 15 psi in the bags it will be fine but anymore and it will probably ride rough. I'm going to cut a coil off my front springs to get the front down then just run around 10 pounds in the rear bags. If you ever race the car the bags will be a good tuning aid at the strip.

I had air shocks in my 72 when I bought it. When I redid the suspension I replaced the springs with heavy duty and put regular shocks in it. It sits real nice now with a more comfortable ride. And a lot cheaper than air bags.

Air bags (http://www.airride.com/)Thats the way im going, broke the shock mount like they all have been saying more than twice, now theres like 5 psi in the rear shocks, to keep from breaking again.

I find it cheaper to fabricate the mounts and brackets (what I am doing right now) for the air ride suspension, at least for the front. The rear may be different, I havent got there yet.

concur with replacing w/ higher springs first then adding air bags inside the coil springs if you still need more height. airlift co makes bags that go inside the spring.