are my shocks dead?
Guest
Posts: n/a
are my shocks dead?
I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and if
released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay till
I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic. But
can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
Greg
that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and if
released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay till
I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic. But
can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
Greg
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: are my shocks dead?
That sounds just great!
On a CJ7 if you put gas charged shocks on, you will be needing a bikers
kidney belt and you better be good friends with the dentist because your
fillings will rattle loose.... Let alone ladies needing duct tape to
help the sports bra along...
You test shocks with the bounce test. Bounce a corner hard and fast and
see how many times it bounces when you let off. They fail at 3 bounces.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
Greg wrote:
>
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic. But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
On a CJ7 if you put gas charged shocks on, you will be needing a bikers
kidney belt and you better be good friends with the dentist because your
fillings will rattle loose.... Let alone ladies needing duct tape to
help the sports bra along...
You test shocks with the bounce test. Bounce a corner hard and fast and
see how many times it bounces when you let off. They fail at 3 bounces.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
Greg wrote:
>
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic. But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: are my shocks dead?
That sounds just great!
On a CJ7 if you put gas charged shocks on, you will be needing a bikers
kidney belt and you better be good friends with the dentist because your
fillings will rattle loose.... Let alone ladies needing duct tape to
help the sports bra along...
You test shocks with the bounce test. Bounce a corner hard and fast and
see how many times it bounces when you let off. They fail at 3 bounces.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
Greg wrote:
>
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic. But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
On a CJ7 if you put gas charged shocks on, you will be needing a bikers
kidney belt and you better be good friends with the dentist because your
fillings will rattle loose.... Let alone ladies needing duct tape to
help the sports bra along...
You test shocks with the bounce test. Bounce a corner hard and fast and
see how many times it bounces when you let off. They fail at 3 bounces.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
Greg wrote:
>
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic. But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: are my shocks dead?
That sounds just great!
On a CJ7 if you put gas charged shocks on, you will be needing a bikers
kidney belt and you better be good friends with the dentist because your
fillings will rattle loose.... Let alone ladies needing duct tape to
help the sports bra along...
You test shocks with the bounce test. Bounce a corner hard and fast and
see how many times it bounces when you let off. They fail at 3 bounces.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
Greg wrote:
>
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic. But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
On a CJ7 if you put gas charged shocks on, you will be needing a bikers
kidney belt and you better be good friends with the dentist because your
fillings will rattle loose.... Let alone ladies needing duct tape to
help the sports bra along...
You test shocks with the bounce test. Bounce a corner hard and fast and
see how many times it bounces when you let off. They fail at 3 bounces.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
Greg wrote:
>
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic. But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: are my shocks dead?
There are different types of shocks, some gas-charged, some not. What you
really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
(quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do the
bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
Earle
"Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
>
>
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really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
(quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do the
bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
Earle
"Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
>
>
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Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: are my shocks dead?
There are different types of shocks, some gas-charged, some not. What you
really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
(quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do the
bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
Earle
"Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
>
>
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*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***
really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
(quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do the
bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
Earle
"Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
>
>
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Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: are my shocks dead?
There are different types of shocks, some gas-charged, some not. What you
really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
(quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do the
bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
Earle
"Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
>
>
*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***
really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
(quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do the
bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
Earle
"Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new shock
> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
if
> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
till
> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift kit
> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
But
> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
> Greg
>
>
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Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: are my shocks dead?
Greg,
As mentioned by previous posters the only way to test a shock absorber is
while it is on the vehicle. You jounce the corner three or four times and
then watch the result. You should get 1-1.5 jounce-rebound cycles, more
than that and the shock is dying or dead.
Neither poster explained why though....
The reason that "new' shocks you are familiar with are under pressure is
they are 'gas charged' (usually with nitrogen) which can be used to
stabilize the ride and handling. They were introduced into the mass market
in the mid 70's and progressively dominated the market as suspension systems
refined to where they are today.
Before that the style of shock absorber was a metal tube composed of two
chambers filled with oil with a valve in-between. There were differences in
the valuing as Earle mentioned in some brands depending on the
need/requirement.
The only function of a shock absorber in that 'older' style was to resist
change (kinda sounds like Bill !) The resistance slowed the rebound when
your wheel fell into a pothole and likewise slowed the jounce if you hit a
bump. Their only action was to 'dampen' the action of the springs.
'Dampen" you say? That sounds familiar.....Yes.... older style shocks
operate exactly the same way as your steering damper does now.
Mike is certainly correct in stating modern gas charged shocks can lead to a
jarring ride in older vehicles that is not present in newer vehicles because
as the use of the new shocks widened the suspension components changed also.
The smaller and lighter the vehicle the worse the effect.
I am not sure who still makes the old style..... who out there has purchased
them in recent years?
"Earle Horton" <nurse--NOSPAM--busters@msn.com> wrote in message
news:44280627$0$9687$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.co m...
> There are different types of shocks, some gas-charged, some not. What you
> really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
> (quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
> pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
> obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
> to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do
> the
> bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
> the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
>
> Earle
>
> "Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
>> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new
>> shock
>> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
> if
>> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
>> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
>> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
> till
>> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift
>> kit
>> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
>> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
> But
>> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
>> Greg
>>
>>
>
>
> *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
> *** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from
> http://www.SecureIX.com ***
As mentioned by previous posters the only way to test a shock absorber is
while it is on the vehicle. You jounce the corner three or four times and
then watch the result. You should get 1-1.5 jounce-rebound cycles, more
than that and the shock is dying or dead.
Neither poster explained why though....
The reason that "new' shocks you are familiar with are under pressure is
they are 'gas charged' (usually with nitrogen) which can be used to
stabilize the ride and handling. They were introduced into the mass market
in the mid 70's and progressively dominated the market as suspension systems
refined to where they are today.
Before that the style of shock absorber was a metal tube composed of two
chambers filled with oil with a valve in-between. There were differences in
the valuing as Earle mentioned in some brands depending on the
need/requirement.
The only function of a shock absorber in that 'older' style was to resist
change (kinda sounds like Bill !) The resistance slowed the rebound when
your wheel fell into a pothole and likewise slowed the jounce if you hit a
bump. Their only action was to 'dampen' the action of the springs.
'Dampen" you say? That sounds familiar.....Yes.... older style shocks
operate exactly the same way as your steering damper does now.
Mike is certainly correct in stating modern gas charged shocks can lead to a
jarring ride in older vehicles that is not present in newer vehicles because
as the use of the new shocks widened the suspension components changed also.
The smaller and lighter the vehicle the worse the effect.
I am not sure who still makes the old style..... who out there has purchased
them in recent years?
"Earle Horton" <nurse--NOSPAM--busters@msn.com> wrote in message
news:44280627$0$9687$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.co m...
> There are different types of shocks, some gas-charged, some not. What you
> really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
> (quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
> pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
> obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
> to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do
> the
> bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
> the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
>
> Earle
>
> "Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
>> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new
>> shock
>> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
> if
>> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
>> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
>> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
> till
>> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift
>> kit
>> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
>> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
> But
>> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
>> Greg
>>
>>
>
>
> *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
> *** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from
> http://www.SecureIX.com ***
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: are my shocks dead?
Greg,
As mentioned by previous posters the only way to test a shock absorber is
while it is on the vehicle. You jounce the corner three or four times and
then watch the result. You should get 1-1.5 jounce-rebound cycles, more
than that and the shock is dying or dead.
Neither poster explained why though....
The reason that "new' shocks you are familiar with are under pressure is
they are 'gas charged' (usually with nitrogen) which can be used to
stabilize the ride and handling. They were introduced into the mass market
in the mid 70's and progressively dominated the market as suspension systems
refined to where they are today.
Before that the style of shock absorber was a metal tube composed of two
chambers filled with oil with a valve in-between. There were differences in
the valuing as Earle mentioned in some brands depending on the
need/requirement.
The only function of a shock absorber in that 'older' style was to resist
change (kinda sounds like Bill !) The resistance slowed the rebound when
your wheel fell into a pothole and likewise slowed the jounce if you hit a
bump. Their only action was to 'dampen' the action of the springs.
'Dampen" you say? That sounds familiar.....Yes.... older style shocks
operate exactly the same way as your steering damper does now.
Mike is certainly correct in stating modern gas charged shocks can lead to a
jarring ride in older vehicles that is not present in newer vehicles because
as the use of the new shocks widened the suspension components changed also.
The smaller and lighter the vehicle the worse the effect.
I am not sure who still makes the old style..... who out there has purchased
them in recent years?
"Earle Horton" <nurse--NOSPAM--busters@msn.com> wrote in message
news:44280627$0$9687$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.co m...
> There are different types of shocks, some gas-charged, some not. What you
> really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
> (quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
> pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
> obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
> to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do
> the
> bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
> the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
>
> Earle
>
> "Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
>> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new
>> shock
>> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
> if
>> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
>> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
>> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
> till
>> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift
>> kit
>> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
>> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
> But
>> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
>> Greg
>>
>>
>
>
> *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
> *** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from
> http://www.SecureIX.com ***
As mentioned by previous posters the only way to test a shock absorber is
while it is on the vehicle. You jounce the corner three or four times and
then watch the result. You should get 1-1.5 jounce-rebound cycles, more
than that and the shock is dying or dead.
Neither poster explained why though....
The reason that "new' shocks you are familiar with are under pressure is
they are 'gas charged' (usually with nitrogen) which can be used to
stabilize the ride and handling. They were introduced into the mass market
in the mid 70's and progressively dominated the market as suspension systems
refined to where they are today.
Before that the style of shock absorber was a metal tube composed of two
chambers filled with oil with a valve in-between. There were differences in
the valuing as Earle mentioned in some brands depending on the
need/requirement.
The only function of a shock absorber in that 'older' style was to resist
change (kinda sounds like Bill !) The resistance slowed the rebound when
your wheel fell into a pothole and likewise slowed the jounce if you hit a
bump. Their only action was to 'dampen' the action of the springs.
'Dampen" you say? That sounds familiar.....Yes.... older style shocks
operate exactly the same way as your steering damper does now.
Mike is certainly correct in stating modern gas charged shocks can lead to a
jarring ride in older vehicles that is not present in newer vehicles because
as the use of the new shocks widened the suspension components changed also.
The smaller and lighter the vehicle the worse the effect.
I am not sure who still makes the old style..... who out there has purchased
them in recent years?
"Earle Horton" <nurse--NOSPAM--busters@msn.com> wrote in message
news:44280627$0$9687$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.co m...
> There are different types of shocks, some gas-charged, some not. What you
> really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
> (quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
> pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
> obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
> to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do
> the
> bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
> the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
>
> Earle
>
> "Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
>> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new
>> shock
>> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
> if
>> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
>> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
>> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
> till
>> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift
>> kit
>> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
>> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
> But
>> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
>> Greg
>>
>>
>
>
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Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: are my shocks dead?
Greg,
As mentioned by previous posters the only way to test a shock absorber is
while it is on the vehicle. You jounce the corner three or four times and
then watch the result. You should get 1-1.5 jounce-rebound cycles, more
than that and the shock is dying or dead.
Neither poster explained why though....
The reason that "new' shocks you are familiar with are under pressure is
they are 'gas charged' (usually with nitrogen) which can be used to
stabilize the ride and handling. They were introduced into the mass market
in the mid 70's and progressively dominated the market as suspension systems
refined to where they are today.
Before that the style of shock absorber was a metal tube composed of two
chambers filled with oil with a valve in-between. There were differences in
the valuing as Earle mentioned in some brands depending on the
need/requirement.
The only function of a shock absorber in that 'older' style was to resist
change (kinda sounds like Bill !) The resistance slowed the rebound when
your wheel fell into a pothole and likewise slowed the jounce if you hit a
bump. Their only action was to 'dampen' the action of the springs.
'Dampen" you say? That sounds familiar.....Yes.... older style shocks
operate exactly the same way as your steering damper does now.
Mike is certainly correct in stating modern gas charged shocks can lead to a
jarring ride in older vehicles that is not present in newer vehicles because
as the use of the new shocks widened the suspension components changed also.
The smaller and lighter the vehicle the worse the effect.
I am not sure who still makes the old style..... who out there has purchased
them in recent years?
"Earle Horton" <nurse--NOSPAM--busters@msn.com> wrote in message
news:44280627$0$9687$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.co m...
> There are different types of shocks, some gas-charged, some not. What you
> really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
> (quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
> pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
> obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
> to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do
> the
> bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
> the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
>
> Earle
>
> "Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
>> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new
>> shock
>> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
> if
>> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
>> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
>> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
> till
>> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift
>> kit
>> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
>> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
> But
>> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
>> Greg
>>
>>
>
>
> *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
> *** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from
> http://www.SecureIX.com ***
As mentioned by previous posters the only way to test a shock absorber is
while it is on the vehicle. You jounce the corner three or four times and
then watch the result. You should get 1-1.5 jounce-rebound cycles, more
than that and the shock is dying or dead.
Neither poster explained why though....
The reason that "new' shocks you are familiar with are under pressure is
they are 'gas charged' (usually with nitrogen) which can be used to
stabilize the ride and handling. They were introduced into the mass market
in the mid 70's and progressively dominated the market as suspension systems
refined to where they are today.
Before that the style of shock absorber was a metal tube composed of two
chambers filled with oil with a valve in-between. There were differences in
the valuing as Earle mentioned in some brands depending on the
need/requirement.
The only function of a shock absorber in that 'older' style was to resist
change (kinda sounds like Bill !) The resistance slowed the rebound when
your wheel fell into a pothole and likewise slowed the jounce if you hit a
bump. Their only action was to 'dampen' the action of the springs.
'Dampen" you say? That sounds familiar.....Yes.... older style shocks
operate exactly the same way as your steering damper does now.
Mike is certainly correct in stating modern gas charged shocks can lead to a
jarring ride in older vehicles that is not present in newer vehicles because
as the use of the new shocks widened the suspension components changed also.
The smaller and lighter the vehicle the worse the effect.
I am not sure who still makes the old style..... who out there has purchased
them in recent years?
"Earle Horton" <nurse--NOSPAM--busters@msn.com> wrote in message
news:44280627$0$9687$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.co m...
> There are different types of shocks, some gas-charged, some not. What you
> really care about, is the resistance to being pulled out or pushed in
> (quickly). Some shocks are designed to compress easily, but resist being
> pulled back to normal operating length. Other than shocks that are
> obviously damaged, or that display no resistance at all, the only real way
> to tell, if you have "dead" shocks, is to put them on the vehicle and do
> the
> bounce test. After pressing down on the fender or bumper, and releasing,
> the vehicle should stop moving after one complete up and down cycle.
>
> Earle
>
> "Greg" <greglc84@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:NhTVf.189877$B94.118060@pd7tw3no...
>> I don't know much about shocks, but everytime I've picked up a new
>> shock
>> that someone is putting in, or on a store shelf, they are compressed, and
> if
>> released they come out and are very hard to push back in. Well doing my
>> front axles I have shocks dissconnected, there is no bounce back in these
>> shocks, I can push them in to any point and that's were they will stay
> till
>> I pull it out. So as I say, I don't know much about shocks, maybe lift
>> kit
>> shocks are different, this is an older Warn Black Diamond lift kit, only
>> reason I haven't put in a new lift kit is my articulation is fantastic.
> But
>> can someone let me know if these are dead shocks?
>> Greg
>>
>>
>
>
> *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
> *** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from
> http://www.SecureIX.com ***
