Table of Contents
- 1 How many times should a shock absorber bounce?
- 2 How fast should shocks extend?
- 3 How many times does a shock or strut cycle?
- 4 How do you test a shocker?
- 5 How do you calculate travel shocks?
- 6 What happens if shocks are too short?
- 7 How long do shocks last on a truck?
- 8 How long should a shock absorber last?
- 9 What is the function of shock absorbers in suspension springs?
- 10 Why do I need shock absorbers on my tyres?
How many times should a shock absorber bounce?
After you release the pressure, you shouldn’t notice more than two bounces. If your vehicle bounces more than that, the suspension could be wearing out. “Taking a nosedive” is exactly what it sounds like in this case.
How fast should shocks extend?
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.
How much travel should a shock absorber 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.
How many times does a shock or strut cycle?
When a wheel reacts to a bump or body motion, the shock or strut is cycled. The length of the stroke doesn’t matter as much as the frequency of the cycles. Even under normal conditions on a smooth road, shocks can cycle an average of 1,750 times for every mile traveled.
How do you test a shocker?
The usual way to test a shock absorber is to push down on a corner of the vehicle a few times to get it to bounce and then stop pushing and see how much it continues to bounce before stopping. A good shock absorber should stop the bouncing right away.
Should a shock be fully extended?
It is important to get shocks that will not bottom out or fully extend. This will limit your suspension travel and damage the shock. If you use a suspension kit, the manufacturer will usually list recommended shocks. If you make custom suspension changes, you will need to measure for Universal Shocks.
How do you calculate travel shocks?
The most accurate method for shock measurement:
- Measure the eye to eye length.
- Attach a shock pump and slowly remove all the air from the shock.
- Compress the shock fully and measure the eye to eye length again.
- Subtract this measurement from the initial eye to eye length to find the usable stroke. (ie. 185 – 132.5 = 52.5)
What happens if shocks are too short?
If the extended length of the shock absorber is too short it will “top-out” and reduce the extended travel. Damage to the upper and lower shock mounts. Damage to the cylinder head and the unit may leak oil.
How often should shocks be replaced?
every 50,000-100,000 miles
Generally, shocks and struts wear out every 50,000-100,000 miles. If you’re a more aggressive driver and/or frequently drive on rough roads, they will wear out faster. Shocks and struts don’t go out all at once; they deteriorate slowly over time.
How long do shocks last on a truck?
On average, if your car has been “babied,” you can expect your shocks/struts to last about 10 years. If you have really used your car like a workhorse, 5 years is probably all you can expect. This means that for the average driver, 7 or 8 years is the maximum life expectancy of most shocks and struts.
How long should a shock absorber last?
In general, a shock absorber should last at least 50,000 miles before you need to have it replaced. However, the real determining factor is where you drive and how you drive.
How far outboard should shock absorbers be mounted?
If you have a leaf spring, solid front axle with the shackles mounted in the rear, your shock absorbers should be mounted as far outboard as possible, but with a slight lean to the rear (About 1 to 2 degrees of rearward rake for every 2 inches of lift above stock, compounded geometrically).
What is the function of shock absorbers in suspension springs?
That is the work of suspension springs. Instead, the primary function of shock absorbers is to damp the spring oscillations. It does so by slowing down the spring movements so a vehicle does not bounce up and down too many times. As you can see, the shock absorber meaning does not match its name.
Why do I need shock absorbers on my tyres?
Apart from controlling the movement of springs and suspension, shock absorbers also keep your tyres in contact with the ground at all times. At rest or in motion, the bottom surface of your tyres is the only part of your vehicle in contact with the road.