When to replace shocks?

[clreinstein]

Ive got Bilsteins on my chebby. The truck got 150000 miles on it. Should I replace them. The truck still drives tight and controlled. I took the shocks off and the bushings are still go and they still rebound and compress smoothly. The guys on the chevy site think I should replace them but they have a throw parts at it mentality. Do they really need to be replaced. I thought bilsteins were a great shock.

[pavelow]

I think you answered your question in your question.

The truck still handles ok, and the shock bushings are good.

Do you have a sway bar?

Does the rear end bounce around at high speeds or anything? Seems like they are fine according to the info you gave.

[clreinstein]

The fronts got a sway bar with poly bushings and hd endlinks. No high speed bouncing besides the on washboard roads that seem to find the resonance frequency of the truck lol. I guess thats why they have a lifetime warranty.

[LoneRanger]

jump your truck, when on landing you bounce more than 3 times~ get new shocks. :cool:


L.R.

[clreinstein]

Nope no bouncing the suspension compresses and returns to ride height no loss of control. This is off a foot high hump in the road downhill.

[Dale]

Shocks are also radiators they "absorb" the shock thru fluid or gas in chambers and radiate the heat caused by shock and friction. That being said drive your truck on a known rough road and feel the shocks. If they are warm after holding onto them for say 30-45 seconds don't sweat it, if they are HOT to touch after about 10-15 seconds the fluid or gas has broken down and lost the "absorbtion" properties and should be replaced.

[NEWMAN]

p.s blistien has a rebuild kit they can send you or they will do for you,

it replaces the fluid and bushings

[LoneRanger]

I like my method better! :cool:


L.R. :brow:

[Toolbox]

Originally posted by DaLe
Shocks are also radiators they "absorb" the shock thru fluid or gas in chambers and radiate the heat caused by shock and friction. That being said drive your truck on a known rough road and feel the shocks. If they are warm after holding onto them for say 30-45 seconds don't sweat it, if they are HOT to touch after about 10-15 seconds the fluid or gas has broken down and lost the "absorbtion" properties and should be replaced.

definitley agree with dale and also to add to what dale said if the shocks are good why not add some polys bushings to help if they aren't already in there.

[clreinstein]

Got more info like a link to the rebuild kit or how much it costs to be rebuilt? Ive felt them after use and they are only warm as far as I can tell.

[Bobby Walter III]

i ordered bilstiens today, 5100's.

i blow out shocks left and right when driven with un/or/shitty balanced 33-35 tires. one time i burned my hand on em they were so fawkin hot from tire shimmy.

i get like 30 k out of em before i notice them going away.

dont buy ssv's, get bilstiens. everything else is a joke. unless you get the 35 dollar bds type ones and just live with replacin em all the time.


bilstien is the good stuff. i dont think yours are rebuildable by you if they are the stock type ones.

[Dale]

Originally posted by clreinstein
Ive felt them after use and they are only warm as far as I can tell.

Then IMO leave them alone. If they aren't hot to touch they are doing thier job............

[clreinstein]

Just wanted to make sure since people usually tell you to replace them and it seems we are taught that all parts wear out and need to be replaced. I guess mine are still good. Ill check them out this spring to see how theyre holdin up.