How are shock lengths measured?
A shock is measured by its extended and collapsed lengths, and is measured from the center of the loop mount or the base of the stud mount. To get the extended length of a shock, remove it from the vehicle and allow it to expand on its own or pull it to the fully extended position and take a measurement.
How long should my shocks be?
Some shock absorber manufacturers say you should replace them at 50,000 miles, but that’s more for their benefit than yours. Having the shocks and suspension parts inspected at 40,000 or 50,000 miles, then annually after that, is a better idea.
How much travel should a shock have?
The amount of shock travel needed depends on the type of suspension you are working with (solid axle, or independent) so it is best to consider wheel travel as well. Most street driven vehicles should have a minimum of 2.5-3” of compression travel at the wheel and 2-2.5” of rebound travel as a good rule of thumb.
Does it matter which way shocks are mounted?
Bilstein tech advises that you should always mount your shocks so that the Bilstein logo is right-side up. Above is Bilstein rear shock 24-186742 for the 1999-2010 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. The shock has 14.1 mm mounting eyes on each end. If it is upside down, so are your shocks!
Should shocks stay compressed?
The more compression, the harsher the bumps, but the harder it works in the turn. Gas-charged shocks have an initial load pressure due to the gas charge, which is why they don’t stay compressed like the original shock.
How many kms do shocks last?
Generally, your car’s shocks may need replacement much earlier than the abovementioned timeframes, depending on how you use your car. For this reason, a better measure of its useful life is the distance that your car has clicked. A good rule of thumb is to have your car shocks replaced every 80,000 kilometres.
Should a shock absorber extend on its own?
Fully compress unit and allow the rod to extend on its own. This should require less than 45 seconds on a unit with normal gas pressure and up to 2 minutes for a low gas unit. If the unit fully extends to these specs, it is considered fully functional. Non-gas units do not extend.
Do shocks change ride height?
Bad shocks affect ride and handling, but they won’t change the ride height of the car. But since the height is the same on both sides of the same end of the car, it’s more likely that they’ve just worn out and need to be replaced.
What happens if you put shocks upside down?
Some people say that monotube or gas pressurize shocks can be mounted upside down, however in time they will develop and extra inch or more of piston travel that has little to no dampening effect whatsoever. Ultimately: don’t mount shocks upside down just because it looks cool.
How do you measure shock length?
A shock is measured by its extended and collapsed lengths, and is measured from the center of the loop mount or the base of the stud mount. To get the extended length of a shock, remove it from the vehicle and allow it to expand on its own or pull it to the fully extended position and take a measurement.
What is the life span of a shock absorber?
The consensus for shock absorber life span is around 50,000 miles. The lifespan of your shocks depends on what they have to deal with and how good quality they are.
Do shock absorbers have a shelf life?
Shelf Life of a Shock Absorber. Monroe shock absorbers are designed to withstand 50,000 miles of driving. Every mile driven cycles the shock absorber at least 1500 times. That adds up to at least 75,000,000 cycles over 50,000 miles. The shocks are also designed to withstand the extreme conditions under a moving car.
What is the purpose of a shock absorber?
In a vehicle, shock absorbers reduce the effect of traveling over rough ground, leading to improved ride quality and vehicle handling. While shock absorbers serve the purpose of limiting excessive suspension movement, their intended sole purpose is to damp spring oscillations.