The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Wanting to hear some Shocking stories from ya'll

Gonna be putting new shocks on our new truck, (1954, 3604) and I wasn’t to nuts about the off shore no-name gas shocks that I got from Chevy Duty a couple of years ago for my ’50, 3600.
Been looking at KYB, but used Monroe many times in the past. Any practicale experience that you might care to share??? Mind you, I’m not going to do any road racing with this “Stock” truck, so I don’t think the Gas-a-Just shocks are needed. Just a good quality double action gas shock that fits the way they should.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I am waiting too Denny. I need fronts and will go to the local nappa store and research some.

You can go on the FLAPS sites and do some research. i would like to put better shocks on my truck but it is lowered and i can't figure the right length. the ones on the front are not heavy enough and it makes it ride rough over large bumps and bottom out. one of the rear ones has a bend in it. i thought of Gabriel hi-jackers but again i can't figure out the height.

This is a good site to determine the exact shock you need. I found that locally Gabriel shocks are less expensive than Monroe by about half. I used the reference I linked to and did a cross reference at the parts store to the Gabriel shock.

I used Monroe from NAPA, but sorry, don't have a stock number. The only problem I had on the fronts was getting the shock to compress enough to allow the placement of the upper most rubber bushing on the threaded end. I found it was easier to thread the nut on,drop the truck to the ground for compression, then complete the installation of the compression rubber,metal flange and nut.

Denny, I changed out all my gas shocks for cheaper less duty shocks. I was having trouble with to short of a shock on front. Due to lowering of the front a little bit over time, I lost track of the shock length and over hard bumps they would hit the inter stops. I went with a standard duty car shock, I found the truck shocks I was using were just to stiff for the truck. It rides much better now. The rear shocks were heavy duty load masters, It now has a car shock as well. I could jump in the bead and not get it to move, now it almost bounces like a real car would.

I guess what I am saying is, you might not want the heavy duty even though its a truck. Mines sure likes the soft, cheap shocks much better. Mine only weighs 3200 lbs with me in it, not sure what yours weighs.

Joe

Using Bilstein shocks in front, work well on my daily driver only vehicle.

I've got my ear to the door guys, just haven't got much to say myself about this one yet.

DONE, made a decision and placed my order!!!! Thanks for the comments
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Come on dude, tell us what you got!

Morning Woody, had your first cup of coffee yet? I'm on my second cup.
Sometimes you get to the point where the water is so murky that the best thing to do is close your eyes and just point!!
After looking at a dozen vendors listings, several editions of the Chevrolet parts books and listening to a bunch of opinions for a week I just picked out the vendor that gives me the best service and price.
If I were shooting for points and wanted the original GM shock design with the spiral around the lower tube I could get them for sixty bucks each. Or if I was looking for that just right handling and ride I could get them for $50. But since I'm not looking to make it a show winner or slalom competitor, I just settled on the $25 specials from Chevy Duty and get on to the next challenge.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL.

I'm still going to research mine more. On the rear I have monroe's. I just measured the minimum (compressed) that I wanted and then the Max. Went to the flaps store and looked thru their books and found what I wanted. I am going to be a little more particular this time. The low compressed measurement is really low. I also need better dampining on compression. it is too easy to bottom out the air bags on a hard bump.even with 90 psi in the front bags. I figure a 40/60 ratio is needed.

The only bag I have to worry about on the front of mine is the water bag! http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/116522323

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Thought you were gonna say the old bag

Now Dollar, everyone here knows that I never talk about my "big old wife" in those terms!!!

DG