The previous owner installed monroe air shocks.

ANONYMOUS

MEMBER
1978 CHEVROLET CAMARO

The previous owner installed monroe air shocks on my camaro. I plan to remove them but I can't get the car out of my garage because it's sitting to low. My problem is I cannot get the fill valve to fill! Sometimes if I fiddle with it for 10 mins or so I get air in (it's not leaking). But why is it so difficult? I replaced the fill valve twice already, thinking it was bent or broken. But the new fill valve is still having the same issues. I try taking a psi reading and I can't get it to work. They have air in the shocks. I know the reading isin't zero. Help please!

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,741 POSTS

Possibly a kinked hose, but you have a different problem. Shock absorbers do not raise the car up or set the ride height. Air shocks have an extra air spring that IS adjustable, but no shock absorber can make a car sit lower. You need to replace the leaf springs or have them re-arced at a specialty alignment shop. Weak springs is probably why the previous owner installed the air shocks. They get the ride height back which solves the handling problem from insufficient "caster", one of the main alignment angles, but the "spring rate" is different between the air springs and leaf springs. That mainly affects ride quality and comfort which is already in short supply.