Hey all. I recenlty bought an 86 trans am. The rear suspension uses airbags instead of standard shocks and has tire type valve stem on the left side to adjust air pressure. The guy i bought it from said it was a rare option in 1986, but i am having a lot of trouble finding anything about it. Does anyone know what kind of air pressure it uses for different applications?

 

Not that I know of. But I don't know every option there ever was.

Sounds like somebody put air shocks on your poor car. Probably wanted that hilljack jacked-up look. Yuck.

Get them off of there, quick, if they even still work; before they punch the top shock mount right through the sheet metal on a good bump. Even stock shocks will do that after a few miles. Put some real shocks on it instead. You might really like the car alot better.

 

Welcome to the boards...

I do not think it was an option. If someone does not do it and I find the time where this thread lasts, I might look it up in my parts & illustration catalogs.

Another thing, the 350 was not availble in 1986 & a 5 speed was not available any year with a 350.

Sounds like someone has modified a few things. no biggie, enjoy it.

 

absolutely. yea stock it was a 305 4bbl. the entire drivetrain has been swapped. ITS MUCH BETTER NOW. lots of other upgrades, which makes me think the rear suspension is one too. the person who did some of the work to it did some of it pretty half assed, and so far ive had to go back and redo a some things. in fact right now im having a major lighting problem. do u think that the airbags in the back would be ok to leave on there?
thanks

 

I would strongly urge getting them out. They aren't usually as effective as real shocks at the actual job of being shock absorbers, so they won't give the best ride control or any of that. But, what's worse, is that the thing they are good for in the right situation, namely lifting the car to compensate for loads or whatever, is VERY BAD to do with the shocks in these cars, because the top shock mount is basically just a hole in the floor pan; excessive stress on it will break it right out of its little home. Even regular shocks will do this after enough miles. I've already had to have both of mine repaired, and the chassis only has 300,000 some odd miles. They're really pretty flimsy right there. When you go to replace them, you'll see what I mean.

People relatively rarely upgrade the rear suspensions on these cars. More likely, somebody just tried to jack the back end up and stick big wide tires on it, like people used to do back in high school; that's not an appropriate mod for these cars anyway, as it puts the whole suspension into an awkward position, and makes it not work as well as it might if properly levelled. It's not like an old Dodge Dart with leaf springs or something.

There definitely are REAL upgrades you can do to your rear suspension that actually make them work better. But air shocks isn't one of them.

 

ok. consider em gone. now i just need some money. thanks.

 

Can you clarify? Are they airbags as you mentioned or are they air shocks as the others are thinking? I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know that air shocks were standard on my 86 olds 442. The regular Cutlass didn't use them, but the 442 had em. I wonder if the Trans Am could've had them also.

Air Bag suspension is definately not a factory item though.

 

I agree with Scott, Are we talking about airbag springs, OR are we talking about Air-shocks, there is a difference.

John

 

Well that im not sure. The previous owner called em two different things as well. But i can explain em. Theyre two thick rubber bags inside of the spring. Red colored. Then each has a metal line running out of them which comes together and then comes to the lr corner with a tire-like valve stem. Ill get some pics in the daylight. Right now its dark.

 

Those are airbags, not as bad as air shocks. http://www.airliftcompany.com/new-index/Frameset.htm

Specifically these:




http://airlift.r-catalog.com/ymm.asp

 

That's a whole different deal then; not at all what I was talking about.

Still not factory though. Somebody added them. They're not so bad at all. Not usually real helpful, except for racing; but at least not destructive.

I'd suggest just putting some air in them, maybe add 5 psi, then 5 more, etc.; and find out if they do anything useful for you.

 

The advantage they have is they can raise your CG (Center of Gravity) which means you will get better weight transfer to the rear wheels. For Drag racing they are ideal in some ways.

I remember when I lowered a car of mine, before I did it, I could only break loose if I really tried., Lower it 2" and wham, it breaks loose much easier. Same principal applies.

John

 

ok theyre definitely airbags. stock shocks and springs are there with those in the center of the spring. ill experiment with different air pressures. heres a pic. thanks.

 

 

not really an ideal purpose for the car but i think it looks good, may look better with some TTll'sor a set of draglites IMO