Shock Absorber Function Question
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Shock Absorber Function Question
New shocks always extend to full length. When you push them down on the bench they quickly re-extend. Now, your used shocks don't do that or do it very weakly, but still seem to have substantial restiance on both up and down stroke, is there anything wrong with them?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 238
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From: Troy USA
Shock Absorber Function Question
You are experiencing two characteristics of some shock absorbers. One is providing resistance in each direction. The other is the expanding because it is a gas-filled or gas-charged shock. I'm not sure is most shocks nowdays are gas-filled, but if you have a gas-filled shock that does not expand well it is worn out.
Another way to tell a shock is worn out is if there is not much resistance when expanding and contracting the shock. The best way is to do a side-by-side comparison with a 'new' and 'old' version of the exact same make and model shock.
One thing to remember is, even though the shock is gas-filled and expands when at rest, this DOES NOT lift your vehicle. Shocks, with the exception of AIR-SHOCKS, do not provide lift to your vehicle. They simply provide resistance in up-and-down movement. The few pounds of force exerted by the expansion of the gas-filled shock does not give your vehicle lift. Some seem to think going to gas-filled shocks will give them an inch or two lift. Not so.
Another way to tell a shock is worn out is if there is not much resistance when expanding and contracting the shock. The best way is to do a side-by-side comparison with a 'new' and 'old' version of the exact same make and model shock.
One thing to remember is, even though the shock is gas-filled and expands when at rest, this DOES NOT lift your vehicle. Shocks, with the exception of AIR-SHOCKS, do not provide lift to your vehicle. They simply provide resistance in up-and-down movement. The few pounds of force exerted by the expansion of the gas-filled shock does not give your vehicle lift. Some seem to think going to gas-filled shocks will give them an inch or two lift. Not so.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Shock Absorber Function Question
Thanks, Glad to hear I did the right thing. The Bilsteins I put on are so strong you have to really bear down on them to get them to squish in and they expand back out hard and fast. I thought, man these things probably will lift the front end, but soon found out they didn't, which makes sense--if I can push them down, the weight of the truck will moreso.
Why do they call them shock absorbers when really they are dampers and the real shock absorbers are the springs?
In that same line why do they call them freeze plugs when they really are core plugs, put there only to wash the sand out of the casting? I guess because someone once saw the core plugs pop out when the block froze and so assumed that was their purpose.
Why do they call them shock absorbers when really they are dampers and the real shock absorbers are the springs?
In that same line why do they call them freeze plugs when they really are core plugs, put there only to wash the sand out of the casting? I guess because someone once saw the core plugs pop out when the block froze and so assumed that was their purpose.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 861
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From: SE PA
Shock Absorber Function Question
Bit of trivia, since you brought it up! Freeze plugs got there name way, way back when. They didn't have this thing we take for granted called anti-freeze. These were actually used in the first water cooled engines to keep the block from cracking when the water would freeze in colder weather. It would pop the plug to allow for the expansion-although you must keep in mind that this was when bikes still had total loss oil systems!
