are shocks supposed to be..
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,582
Likes: 12
From: 21791
They should have compression on them, and push outward to it's limits if not restricted. That is why Bilstein puts plastic strips around their's to contain them in the boxes. My stock shocks were very easy to compress however loading my lift kit into my toolbox today i tried compressing a 5100 bilstein and it took a good bit of force, i'd say 75 pounds of pressure or so.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Good condition shocks will take a good bit of force to compress. When I replaced my shocks on my Ranger, the old ones could be held up, easily compressed with just a little bit of force, released, and they would slowly expand.
The replacements, which were Gabriel MaxControls, took a LOT of force to compress (a PITA under the rather low-riding Ranger), and when released quickly returned to the extended position.
The easiest way to know if your shocks are worn is to hit a bump. The truck should, after hitting any sort of bump, pothole, etc, immediately return to the stock position. It should not bounce like a boat on the ocean while the suspension recenters.
The replacements, which were Gabriel MaxControls, took a LOT of force to compress (a PITA under the rather low-riding Ranger), and when released quickly returned to the extended position.
The easiest way to know if your shocks are worn is to hit a bump. The truck should, after hitting any sort of bump, pothole, etc, immediately return to the stock position. It should not bounce like a boat on the ocean while the suspension recenters.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
Originally Posted by strokin_it7.3
My stock shocks were very easy to compress however loading my lift kit into my toolbox today i tried compressing a 5100 bilstein and it took a good bit of force, i'd say 75 pounds of pressure or so.
