Factory Auto Air Ride/Shocks with Bell Tech Lowing Springs...Will It Work?

Hello,

How does the factory auto level system and air shocks work with lowering springs on Roadmaster Wagons. Doable? Or if you lower the rear you need to ditch the factory air ride?


Currently the auto air ride is disconnected, but I was replacing the air shocks and lines and hoped the sensor was good. I'm thinking of putting the Bell Tech springs on to lower the stance a bit.

Thoughts? Thanks!

All you would have to do is re-adjust the level sensor to the new static ride height. Located on the passenger side rear axle housing.

Bill

convert2diesel wrote:

All you would have to do is re-adjust the level sensor to the new static ride height.  Located on the passenger side rear axle housing.

Bill

Thanks, I was going to pull the trigger, but the picture on Amazon was misleading showing 4 springs for just the rear kit. Now I got something to think about...

If you put lowering springs in the back, you will probably need to weld a 3 inch piece of exhaust pipe to the upper spring perch to keep the springs from falling out when jacking to change a tire. You can also tiewrap the spring to the lower perch as well.

Sooo, I bought Impala SS springs. I like their stance on the sedan, I'm hoping to match it with the wagon. I think I'll probably pull the air shocks that I have (Monroe) and install some AC Delcos that are sitting on a shelf. I might look into aftermarket airbags depending on how it turns out. Looking forward to it.

Make sure the rear shocks are the same length as stock, otherwise you will not be able to get the wheel out from under the fender. You can use shorter ones on the front. If you want more front suspension travel, you can cut the tapered top off of the bump stop. Remove a .030 (1/32 inch) shim from each of the front shim stacks for each 1/2 inch of drop you achieve (measured from the wheel opening to the top of the rim to avoid tire inflation/size errors), or you will have negative camber enough to cause adverse tire wear.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

Make sure the rear shocks are the same length as stock, otherwise you will not be able to get the wheel out from under the fender. You can use shorter ones on the front. If you want more front suspension travel, you can cut the tapered top off of the bump stop. Remove a .030 (1/32 inch) shim from each of the front shim stacks for each 1/2 inch of drop you achieve (measured from the wheel opening to the top of the rim to avoid tire inflation/size errors), or you will have negative camber enough to cause adverse tire wear.

Great info. Thanks. I'm using Monroe MA717 air shocks on the back, but might put conventional shocks on, I got some AC Delco 530-2s sitting on a shelf that would match the 530-9s in the front. They're all stock replacements for Buicks and Impala.

I got some OEM Impala SS springs to install. They're just a little shorter and should lower and make the car look just the way I'd like. If the air shocks don't work out, I'm going to swap in the conventional ones.