Shocks school
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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Shocks school
Hi all, Question regarding shocks. The excursion generally is a heavy vehicle and would like to buy a set of shock that will stand up to the extra weight. The history is that last year I purchased a set of shocks from a reputable eBay store costing $52 each and didn't have good luck. Had a front and rear start leaking within a month of each other which were replaced. Now another one has started to float and isn't doing the job. The vehicle isn't driven that much and am just looking for a good inexpensive set of shocks that will last more than a year. Can anyone offer any suggestions.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
shock school.
the shocks job is to control the speed at which the suspension can compress and extend.
the shock weight for which the shock is tuned is unsprung weight, that is the parts of the vehicle that the springs do not support, I.E. the axles snd tires.
the body and engine are payload sprung weight.
your shocks leaked because they used cheap seals, the “floating” one failed likely because it is s twin tube design and it cavitated, typical of the cheap to build twin tube design.
you dont state your vehicles lift and tire size or if it is 4x4 or 4x2 so cant make a specific recommendation but you want a Mono Tube shock, not a twin tube.
for stock size and weight tires i like the KYB MonoMax and for a 33” tire the Bilstein 5100 series is a decent shock.
the shocks job is to control the speed at which the suspension can compress and extend.
the shock weight for which the shock is tuned is unsprung weight, that is the parts of the vehicle that the springs do not support, I.E. the axles snd tires.
the body and engine are payload sprung weight.
your shocks leaked because they used cheap seals, the “floating” one failed likely because it is s twin tube design and it cavitated, typical of the cheap to build twin tube design.
you dont state your vehicles lift and tire size or if it is 4x4 or 4x2 so cant make a specific recommendation but you want a Mono Tube shock, not a twin tube.
for stock size and weight tires i like the KYB MonoMax and for a 33” tire the Bilstein 5100 series is a decent shock.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,576
Likes: 41
From: Wyoming
I have 3 excursions.
1 with the 5100 series
1 with the yellow HD shocks
1 with Gabriel ultras
The Gabriel ultra shocks are prefect for me. Better than other 2.
Cost is super good too.
Gabriel - Mobile Product Search | Vehicle Search
1 with the 5100 series
1 with the yellow HD shocks
1 with Gabriel ultras
The Gabriel ultra shocks are prefect for me. Better than other 2.
Cost is super good too.
Gabriel - Mobile Product Search | Vehicle Search
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 180
At stock height, I had the KYB's as well and loved them. And they lasted a heck of a long time. the Bilsteins I have now also ride pretty well with the ProComp springs.
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Tuned
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