I've got a 73 XKE V12 and replaced my "Girling/Decarbon 640524570 GF06 "Spring/Gas loaded" shocks with Gaz adjustable shocks just to improve the ride and can't get them to work. The Gaz shocks are not spring/gas loaded and the torsion bars don't seem to have enough return power to return the Gaz's to the extended position. The front end either locks up or bounces (depending on the setting) Should the front shocks be spring/gas loaded or do I have a bigger problem. (torsion bars)I've increased the ground clearance adjustment to its max, still no help.....can someone help

Submitted by NW61-43367CJ on Thu, 06/26/2014 - 02:49

Jerry There's a simple explanation of the differences between ordinary shocks, gas shocks. and air spring shocks at; http://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modified-jk-tech-2/hydraulic-vs-gas-shock...

I highly doubt that you have a shock that has an air spring, (does your shock have an air valve on it) or any other spring for that matter in it. Gas shocks are better for you car ( but have no springing action), but only if you use the car in situations where you will heat an ordinary shock up to it's fading point (see article). Increasing the ride height of your car has no practical effect on how the torsion bars work. They will work the same at any reasonable ride height. What you will do by raising the ride height is to alter the normal tire contact patch with the road as the camber of the wheel changes with ride height (usually becomes more positive with increased ride height). Not a good thing to do as this effects cornering power and braking, not to mention bad tire wear.

Submitted by jchbr549@gmail.com on Mon, 06/16/2014 - 09:22

Thanks George for your response. True shocks are shocks but for some reason they make dampening shocks and gas/spring loaded shocks. It seems with the Girling/Decarbon gas/spring loaded shocks my Jag ran fine. It's when I put dampening only shocks on the front end do I get poor performance. I've had no problem setting the "front suspension riding height" and to increase the response of the torsion bars I increased this height. Do I assume that if I can over shoot the riding height my torsion bars are set pretty close. The gas/spring loaded shocks do help in the return of the front end after a bump/dip/curve. So does my Jag require dampening shocks or gas/spring loaded ones.
Thanks Gorge, maybe we'll get this straightened out.

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Sun, 06/15/2014 - 11:26

Jerry the shocks have no value for the height. They are simply shocks. You have other issues. Have you attempted to set your bars? Fairly easy on a V 12 E.