Camaro Air Suspension - Coilover - Super Chevy Magazine

The shock and upper spring tower. The tower is not modified at all, but the shock has to be removed to get the new spring mount fitted.

The shock and upper spring tower. The tower is not modified at all, but the shock has to b

So how difficult or involved is it to install? Well, it's not a boon to a tech writer's career. If it took a lot of complication and arduous effort, grease baths and busted knuckles, more could be written-maybe even pack it into a couple of articles. As it is, there are some important details to be aware of, but if you have a Saturday, basic hand tools, a decent jack and jack stands, a drill, and the ability to follow plain English instruction, you're well on you way to celebrating the completion with a tall cold one.

When removing the old parts, you'll want to be careful. The rear springs will come out without incident if you get the car up in the air, support the axle with a hydraulic jack, disconnect the sway bar and shocks, and slowly let the axle drop. The springs will decompress and you can reach in and pop them out.

Camaro Air Suspension Upper Mount Location

By removing the interior trim panel, rolling the carpet back, and pulling out the small pad, you will get down to the upper shock mount. This is as far as you need to go with the interior.

By removing the interior trim panel, rolling the carpet back, and pulling out the small pa

The front is another issue. The Camaro coilover units will come out in a similar manner, supporting the car on stands, lowering the A-arm on the jack, and disconnecting the coilover before letting the jack slowly drop down to remove the assembly. The concern comes when you disassemble the coilover. This has to be done because parts of the coilover mount are reused to mount the ShockWave assembly.

STOP! Don't even think about trying to take the coilover apart unless you have the proper equipment to compress it. You're unlikely to have such an item on the bench unless you do suspension work for a living-they're not cheap. Jury-rigging something could get you seriously hurt. The trick is to make arrangements to go to your local shop and have them take them apart for you. It doesn't take but a couple of minutes to do, it generally costs just a few bucks, it could save you a lot of grunting and groaning, and maybe it'll keep you from getting seriously hurt.

Camaro Air Suspension Rear Shock Bayonet Mount

Down in a pocket inside the car you'll find the shock bayonet mount. In most cases, you'll need help-one on top and one on the bottom to get it loose.

Down in a pocket inside the car you'll find the shock bayonet mount. In most cases, you'll

On the other side, there are some important issues about suspension. These are tried and true parts with a lot of miles behind them. The technology is used on semis and buses and other expensive and liability-laden rolling stock. The system is extraordinarily reliable and designed so even in the event of total loss of the air the car will not drop to the ground or cause loss of control. In a worst-case scenario, you might have a bumpy ride limping back home to make a repair. It all relies on the equipment being installed properly and safely.

A good installation will not only have the basic components in the right places and tightened down, but the air lines, supply system, storage tank and controls installed so they are secure and out of harm's way. For example, you want the lines tied down tight so they can't flop around or vibrate and kept out of the path of moving parts. It's just common sense, but you have to use it.

Although the control side has a number of options, probably the best way to get the most out of an air suspension system like this is to opt for four-wheel control. In this version, each air CooRide and ShockWave unit is independently controlled. The advantages include the capacity to accommodate uneven loads (Big Bertha in the shotgun seat) or special road conditions by adding or subtracting air pressure as needed. You'll also find that by isolating the corners the handling is improved because there is no transfer of pressure from the loaded to the unloaded side in cornering. You control it with air switches.

The air spring, mount, and air fitting are assembled like this. You also want to run the air lines to the mount area before installing these units. Plug the lines in as you lift it into place.
The air spring, mount, and air fitting are assembled like this. You also want to run the a
This hole needs to be reamed out to 3/8. It's slightly smaller originally, and it makes getting the mount bolt in difficult if not enlarged.
This hole needs to be reamed out to 3/8. It's slightly smaller originally, and it makes ge
The tricky one. This carriage bolt fits onto the mount from the inside and through that hole you just enlarged. Hold the air spring unit up with one hand and reach up into the spring tower to push the bolt through.
The tricky one. This carriage bolt fits onto the mount from the inside and through that ho

Go ahead and snug the self-locking nut down, but don't tighten it yet. It will hold the unit up, but there's another step to locating the mount properly.
Go ahead and snug the self-locking nut down, but don't tighten it yet. It will hold the un
Slide the shock back up through the new spring mount and the original body mount-push it tight. Have your help start the bayonet mount bolt and tighten the shock. Now you can also tighten the carriage bolt.
Slide the shock back up through the new spring mount and the original body mount-push it t
The lower mount is created by simply dropping this ring plate on top of the original spring mount. It provides the perfect mount for the new air spring. Just set the bottom of the spring assembly on top of this plate and it's done.
The lower mount is created by simply dropping this ring plate on top of the original sprin