Shocking Update

Dynamite 1

Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
should be fairly simple. not knowing if this is a 106 or a 112 ftlnr, but in any case here goes. if it is a 106, monroe gas magnum 55s up front and 65s out back. if a 112 use the 65s all the way around. could use 65s all around on a 106 but the front end is not really heavy enough to warrant that. although being how great our roads are i would go w/65s just for cause. another thing that ftlnr did was to put that little drop on the front 1/4 fender that hides and rests rite against the shock bolt. most places want to take off the 1/4 fender to replace shocks up front. this problem can be solved by either drilling a 2" hole or just simply cutting the drop of a little, which is what i done on my 112. seems like they are very good at engeneering cost into normal maint. if only they would put the effort other places.
 

Dynamite 1

Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
oh yeah, and as for parts or any problem at mgf. call heath. he is the owner, dad is kinda everything, floyd is family in parts and his brother is in the shop. the sweet lady janelda that answers the phone is heaths mom, always go to her for talking to anyone there. press 10 when call and she will pick up then have her get you who you want. cause if you hold to long she will GET someone to help you. you know that matriarc thing all mothers have, she has it on steroids. they all mind momma.
 

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
I recently tried to change the shocks on our truck, and failed. Interestingly, the price for Volvo brand shocks was less than the price for Monroe shocks from a parts store.

Story here.
 

TeamCaffee

Administrator
Staff member
Owner/Operator
One you start changing your shocks at a regular interval you will find they are not nearly as hard to change as the first time you try.
 

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
We have always changed our shocks at regular intervals. The issue is the high torque spec Volvo has for the fasteners.
 

TeamCaffee

Administrator
Staff member
Owner/Operator
I am wondering the same thing as I had not heard of torque specs on shocks only of overzealous mechanics and air tools!

Phil I did not mean you did not change your shocks regularly, it was an idea for many who have not changed their shocks at all or not changed them on a regular interval.
 

guido4475

Not a Member
Too much torque? Doesnt anyone ever use never-seize? Peterbuilt in Romulus has competitive prices, some things are the lowest price there.
 

bluejaybee

Veteran Expediter
Anti seize? Huh? I just get big momma (air gun) out and if she can't screw 'em off, I get my sawz all out. Some can be a pain, while others come right off. I've never been whopped by shocks yet and have the scars to prove it!

And I am the nice guy who helped a fellow trucker (or at least he thought he was helping) take a tire off a rim and put a spare one on, with a screwdriver and a slat off a shipping pallet. On the side off the road no less. If you have the will, you can find a way.
 
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bluejaybee

Veteran Expediter
What u bet them mech's in that truck shop used "big momma"? U think they gonna sweat for their $120 bucks a hour? Nay, don't think so.

You know and I know, the problem with shocks is that you normally don't have room for a cheater. Trying to break those nuts loose with a regular length wrench can be a challenge. Then if you do break them loose and the whole shock starts turning, it is time for a torch or a sawzall. Of course, one should not try to do this in a parking lot at WalMart.
 

guido4475

Not a Member
I usually use my torches to heat them up,alot easier.But I'm sure someone will tell me that by doing that ruins the sructual integrity of the nut/bolt. lol.
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Most parts changers use a 1 inch impact wrench that is also used to put on the nuts/studs of the tires. This produces a lot of torque (350 ft/lbs if it is used for tires) on the nut and sometimes impossible to get off.

If you heat it up and try to get it off, then you will have to replace the bolt and nut because it will take a lot of heat to break it free.

The easiest thing to do is to have the right tools ready, pull into T/A and pay $10 for them to crack them loose with the impact wrench and tighten them by hand with your tools. The torque specs for shocks I think are something like 125 ft/lbs, not a lot.
 

RLENT

Veteran Expediter
What u bet them mech's in that truck shop used "big momma"? U think they gonna sweat for their $120 bucks a hour? Nay, don't think so.
Oh ... I don't doubt it for a minute ....... nothing wrong with using Big Momma to get 'em off .... all kinds of things wrong to tighten 'em with it, in the first place ..... :eek:

Trying to break those nuts loose with a regular length wrench can be a challenge.
Yeah .... that's why ya use anti-seize on 'em the first time you replace 'em - so it's only a problem once .... :D

The torque specs for shocks I think are something like 125 ft/lbs, not a lot.
Yeah ..... that's certainly not all that much ...... shoot - the wheel bolts on my Sprinter go 177 ft lbs (which will give ya a workout doing 20 of 'em)

And yes .... anybody - including myself - that puts the wheels back on, torques them to the correct spec, with a torque wrench .....
 
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