YACT: Suspension questions.

[Codewiz]

At 90K on my dodge ram 1500 truck, I replaced the original shocks. They were still working fine, they just didn't give a good ride. After I replaced all shocks, about 4 months later, the front new ones just died. As in completely dead. I went to sears since they were having a special on shocks and had new front shocks put on. That is where I am at today. The new ones that sears put on have died after 6 months.

Could this second set have died because the coil springs in the front were damaged when the first set of new shocks died? I am planning to go out and purchase some top of the line shocks but I don't want to do that if they are just going to die because the springs aren't good anymore.

Also how hard are coil springs to replace? Shocks are simple stupid to replace and I can do normal maintenance type work on cars but I don't want to get involved if replacing the coil springs can be dangerous.

 

[KokomoGST]

Ick, for one thing... new shocks shouldn't have gone so quickly. Since you don't describe how the front coils were damaged its hard to say if that's a contributing factor.

Normally replacement aftermarket shocks (my family's two Ford Exploders have lifetime KYB shocks) will ride better than your originals ever did due to the better build quality and design. I never replaced coil springs though I have taken them off and reused the old ones. A spring compressor is pretty much all you need. Hardest part is getting everything apart.

 

Please explain to me why you think your springs are damaged because of the old shocks.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

It sounds like you're putting car shocks on a truck. They aren't made to handle a vehicle of your size and are blowing out the seals. I'm not familiar with exactly how your truck's suspension is setup, but there's a likelyhood that all you need to swap them out is a couple of wrenches.

 

[huesmann]

Your springs are not damaged. All the shocks do is dampen the oscillations so that there aren't multiple jounces. Most shock absorbers only dampen compression

 

[Codewiz]

Originally posted by: Roger
Please explain to me why you think your springs are damaged because of the old shocks.

Yeah I have no idea. I just know that shocks should not go out this quickly.

As for putting car shocks instead of light truck shocks on. I went to auto zone and told them what I had. They gave me the shocks and I installed them. They could have been car shocks for all I know.

That would explain why they died so quickly.

Now after they died I just took my truck to sears and had them put the shocks on. I purchased Monroe truck shocks. I assume that is what they put on. Now they are dead.

I would like to hear any opinions on why two different sets of shocks would have died so quickly.

 

[DurocShark]

Cheap shocks <ahem>kyb<ahem> can go out in months. I had a set of KYBs on my GTI that lasted only 8 months.

Get some good TRUCK shocks and do it yourself. If they're shocks, and not struts, it's super easy.

BTW: Shock absorbers are misnamed. Should be "Shock Dampeners".

 

[Codewiz]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Cheap shocks <ahem>kyb<ahem> can go out in months. I had a set of KYBs on my GTI that lasted only 8 months.

Get some good TRUCK shocks and do it yourself. If they're shocks, and not struts, it's super easy.

BTW: Shock absorbers are misnamed. Should be "Shock Dampeners".

Are these good shocks?? http://shop.store.yahoo.com/truckstuffusa/rsxshocksbyrancho.html#order

What is a good brand of shocks. I have a '95 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2 liter 318cu 2wd shortbed truck.

I would prefer something I could get at Advance Auto/AutoZone/Napa.

 

[RegaPlanet]

Monroe shocks are about the worst. KYB's for cars are good for the money but not for any kind of heavy duty use. I know those Rancho shocks are really popular for trucks. I'm not sure on the best for trucks but for cars the best companies are Bilstein, Koni, Tokico, Carrera, QA1...

 

[Codewiz]

I'm not sure on the best for trucks but for cars the best companies are Bilstein, Koni, Tokico, Carrera, QA1

I don't think any local parts store has these brands? Where could I purchase some of these brands?

 

[Nyical]

I put on Gabriel GAS RYDER LT damn things have a lifetime warrenty and have had no problems with them unlike my stock shocks that blew there seals after only 50k miles.

There made for truck and SUV.

 

[Ns1]

tokico shocks are ass

friend had em on his car, horrible ride quality

 

[TechnoKid]

I like bilstein...they are very good engineered shocks.

 

[LAUST]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
I like bilstein...they are very good engineered shocks.

Yep... thats the only Autopart out of Germany I will actually put on any of my vehicles... get some Bilstein HD's from eshocks.com they will last years and years no problem.