Can I drive without shocks?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
The shock absorber is there to control the "springiness" of the suspension. Without shocks, it will bounce and you will have much less tire contact with the road. In a straight axle 4x4 truck you very well may wind up with a bad case of death wobble, I had that issue with inadequate shocks on my 84 F250. After I swapped in the straight axle, it had very stiff suspension, but if I hit a bump just right the front end would hop around until I was down to about 15mph. Hitting the brakes made things worse as well, I had to let it slow down on it's own.
The whole point of suspension isn't to keep the vehicle up, it's to keep the tires in contact with the ground. Without shocks, that doesn't happen very well.
The whole point of suspension isn't to keep the vehicle up, it's to keep the tires in contact with the ground. Without shocks, that doesn't happen very well.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,219
Likes: 190
From: Colorado Springs
Heck yea, its a nice drive with all the windows down and the top off!
..........and no shocks yet.
..........and no shocks yet.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,592
Likes: 10
From: **** hole San Jose ca.
Being as it's a f250 4x4 with the ad-A-leaf springs all the way around, you'll never know their missing. The F-250 you dana 44 axle only really need is to maybe reset the steeling wheel if the 1.1/2" lift changed it any. Ford didn't use wedge shims on these models. I Ran with rear shocks and didn't even know the difference as the 4x4 with the stiffer suspension. Not like a car the that gets a recoil body bounce going down the road. Shocks just stopped the wheel hop the old rock n roll stuff. You have a truck man and a 4x4 at that.. Ps If they want to put in the spindles shims you better hang around and watch as I got screw this same way yrs ago. back in the lat 70's. The shop got 175. out of me and said if, I removed the camper, I'd need to have the spindle shims taken out to correct the alignment..Well, years later, I replaced the front axle u-joint. And HA no spindle shims were ever installed.The shop got me. The later trucks use spindle-shims.. Your truck looks to be a 1972 with the grille...My 2cents
orich
orich
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,876
Likes: 0
From: Hollister MO
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Im trying to figure out how this went from a 'can I drive to get an alignment without shocks' question to a safety issue 
Basically YES, you can drive without shocks but the shop may prefer them on there. NO it is not recommended to drive everyday without shocks. Shouldn't that pretty much sum all the confusion up??
Basically YES, you can drive without shocks but the shop may prefer them on there. NO it is not recommended to drive everyday without shocks. Shouldn't that pretty much sum all the confusion up??
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 15,014
Likes: 35
From: Semper Fi tell I die!
Im trying to figure out how this went from a 'can I drive to get an alignment without shocks' question to a safety issue Basically YES, you can drive without shocks but the shop may prefer them on there. NO it is not recommended to drive everyday without shocks. Shouldn't that pretty much sum all the confusion up??
Basically YES, you can drive without shocks but the shop may prefer them on there. NO it is not recommended to drive everyday without shocks. Shouldn't that pretty much sum all the confusion up??sounds good to me.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: New York City
Didn't the guys from Top Gear remove the shocks from Cadillac Sedan DeVille to exaggerate crappy handling of that car. I think that you will be safe taking it carefully few blocks. I certainly wouldnt go above 25 mph. Also, good point in the rest of the replies...why would a licensed mechanic recommend something that might go wrong? Liability is the most important thing in this country. More important than innovation.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 4
From: Cupertino
B-UNO's idea of replacing the two outboard shocks on a solid axle with one shock in the middle is an interesting concept. Most manufacturers have headed to independent suspension over the past decades. He has gone to totally dependent suspension with a teeter-totter on the axle where one wheel goes up and the other wheel goes down by the same amount.
I would like to see a photo of the setup and hear more about the ride. Maybe we can all learn something here.
I would like to see a photo of the setup and hear more about the ride. Maybe we can all learn something here.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Palm Coast, FL
Well thanks for all the feed back guys. I moved my alignment to Monday and Wednesday i'll install the new front shocks and stabilizer. Next question...I'll probably get new rims and tires in May. Do I need another alignment? I'm thinking no, but some people have told me anytime you get new tires you need one.
Elder User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 957
Likes: 3
From: Valley Center, CA
I changed the front shocks on my 4-Runner and it needed an alignment afterwards
(which i had already been told by my Toyota mechanic it would). I did the work at a buddies who lives around the corner from Toyota's alignment center...it was out of wack the whole mile there.. Get the shocks installed and then do the alignment.In a bad alignment situation, you can destroy tires pretty quickly.You should be fine once the new tires go on.
(which i had already been told by my Toyota mechanic it would). I did the work at a buddies who lives around the corner from Toyota's alignment center...it was out of wack the whole mile there.. Get the shocks installed and then do the alignment.In a bad alignment situation, you can destroy tires pretty quickly.You should be fine once the new tires go on.