SHock Absorber Maintenance

EASYTRADER · Oct 21, 2009

How often do you guys change your shocks, I for the first time changed the shocks on my HINO, 350k miles - which my mechanic thinks is KRAZY. I noticed the ride in the rear of the truck had become sloppy, the front shocks had resistance on the pull but not the push, so I guess they are shot too. I was under the impression that shocks leaked when they were shot and hence I never changed them cause they never leaked.

I am beggining to think Shocks should be an annual affair. Is this par for the course?

Dakota · Oct 21, 2009

I change mine when the front end continues to bounce when I am stopped. I didn't even know the rear had shocks on a Hino, Now I gotta go look LOL

danthewolf00 · Oct 21, 2009

i don't no i have 176k on my sprinter and i am just thinking of getting new shocks

greg334 · Oct 21, 2009

Here is a link to another shocking thread about shocks

http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/truck-talk/35656-shocking-update.html

TeamCaffee · Oct 21, 2009

Bob also wrote an article about this subject earlier this year:

Expediters Online.com - The Expedited Freight Information Center

greg334 · Oct 21, 2009

The only thing about the article is the 100k replacement info, where did that come from?

Just trying to figure it out.

piper1 · Oct 21, 2009

One quick check you can do, right after you pull off the road...if your shocks are working...they should be warm to the touch.

Bob is very right...most are very ineffective after 100k. At the very least you should change them when you change tires on that axle.

TeamCaffee · Oct 21, 2009

Bob is speaking from his experience as a mechanic for many years on many different types of trucks.

Dakota · Oct 22, 2009

Okay, my Hino doesn't have rear shocks only front

greg334 · Oct 22, 2009

Thank you Bob and Piper for that. Sometimes we read the article and wonder how they came up with the idea.

Dakota, no shocks? OK who else doesn't have shocks on the rear?

TeamCaffee · Oct 22, 2009

Has anyone been able to afford or try the Road King Shocks?
Shock absorbers for big trucks and class 8 trucks by RoadKing

These shocks are high priced and I wonder if they are worth the price?

greg334 · Oct 22, 2009

They are rebuildable, the cost of rebuilding one is the cost of four shocks for my truck and they have a one year warranty.

I wonder if these are copies of some of the off road shocks?

Dakota · Oct 22, 2009

greg334 said:
Thank you Bob and Piper for that. Sometimes we read the article and wonder how they came up with the idea.

Dakota, no shocks? OK who else doesn't have shocks on the rear?

I know what shocks look like and my trucks doesn't have them just a very thick pack of leaf springs. That's why my turck rides like a pogo stick unloaded

greg334 · Oct 22, 2009

I know that you know what shocks look like, I was just shocked to hear you had no rear shocks.

Dakota · Oct 22, 2009

greg334 said:
I know that you know what shocks look like, I was just shocked to hear you had no rear shocks.

I know that you knew that I know, shocking huh

Slo-Ride · Oct 23, 2009

$55 dollars apiece for front stteer axle shocks @ the freightliner dealler..I just priced em this morning,But no money left over after recent repair bill and I could use em.
Thought this was good price for dealer parts I was totally Shocked.

guido4475 · Oct 24, 2009

Most, not all,trucks with springs in the rear, not air bags have no shocks.My K-W T-300 and Topkick had springride with no shocks.The K-W did actually ride pretty decent.I change mine every 75,000 miles.I am thinking about putting Monroe severe service shocks on the van. Ryder put new shocks on this when I bought it, but it seems too soft for me.But it does ride good.The polyurethane bushings I put on last week made a huge difference in the handling.