Question:

Hi, I have a S10 Blazer, 4 door, 4×4 with a 2 inch suspension lift. My current shocks are older, and since doing the suspension lift several of the shocks squeak. I assume this is because the shocks are not operating at the designed length now. How do I determine what shocks I should get? Thanks for your help.

Answer:

Shocks really don’t have a way to make noise, being a hydraulic cylinder (though the rubber bushings can squeek. WD40 can sometimes take care of that

The noise is probably something else.

More about shocks for lifted trucks is mentioned on our website here -http://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/lifted-trucks.cfm

Basically, you want to check with the lift kit manufacturer and see if a longer shock is required, or if the kit is designed to use stock shocks (kits are made either way).

You can find all the shocks we sell here http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3780&selected_year=1996

What is your driving style: Normal Driver
Vehicle Setup: Rear Wheel Drive
Suspension Type: Lowered 1 1/2 or less

I have the Bilstein Lowering Springs on my 2000 Camaro z28 and my shocks are worn out. I have almost every suspension mod you can put on the car already. I’m pushing 452 RWHP & 437 Ft/lbs torque. The car only gets driven about 1-2 hours a month. I don’t drive it hard and stay on smooth roads. I am looking for a smooth ride from my shocks, not the heavy duty ride that I have now. I also have Bilstein shocks all the way around. I don’t want to spend the money for a shock that I don’t need anymore. Will the 341356 KYB GR2 Camaro shocks work for me? Will they wear out prematurely due to the lowering springs? I want to keep the car lowered for the looks but don’t want to pay for it with a stiff ride.

Answer:

More about ‘ride’ is mentioned on our website here – http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/shock_absorber_myths.cfm

The KYB GR2s are for stock height cars.

However, the KYB AGX units are for cars with up to 1-1/2 lowering / handling springs -
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm/id/16659

Model: Tahoe Z71 4wd

Question:

What do I need for this truck to improve the ride?

Answer:

We list the GM Tahoes in our online catalog – http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=make&type=T

Z71s have monotube shocks on them, so as long as you stay with a monotube (Bilstein is the popular choice) you will be ok.

Model: Colorado

Manufacture Date: /2006

Chassis Designation: Crew Cab

Question:

Edelbrock web site’s application chart says shocks

will only fit a 4WD Chevy Colorado.I have the 2WD with Z71

suspension.Torsion bar/shock front,leaf spring/shock rear.Will 33053 fit

the front,and 34053 fit the rear?

Answer:

If your 2WD truck has a shock in the front, yes.

If it has a strut, no.

Online catalog -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=make&type=T

There are 2 different suspensions for the 2WD, so I don’t know why, but Edelbrock just mentiones the 4WD.

The way their printed catalog is, there’s no way to really add a foot note about the trucks with the strut front end.

Model: Suburban

Manufacture Date: /1988

Chassis Designation: 1500

Question:

Normal Driver

Vehicle Setup: Rear Wheel Drive

Suspension Type: Raised Suspension or Suspension Lift Kit

1500/4door/suburban/3 1/2″ lift from stock what do I need?

Answer:

Rancho makes shocks for the 4WD Suburbans 1981-1991, with a 2-1/2 to 4-inch suspension lift installed.

Front – RS999118 (extra quad shock if you have this option)

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm?id=150296

Front – RS999001

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm?id=13577

Rear – RS999112

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm?id=13600

Free shipping to AZ

 Which shock is better for a stiffer ride on my 2003
Silverado 1500, but better handling, the Monroe REFLEX or Sensatrac? 

Answer:

 More about ‘ride’ is mentioned on our website here-  http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/shock_absorber_myths.cfm Both a Reflex and a Sensatrac are a twin tube (non performance) shock design. They do the same thing, just in a different way.The Sensatrac uses a groove machined inside the tube, the Reflex has a more modern valve.The Senstracs are Monroes older design they came up with first. Both shocks can easily be pushed in and out by hand, like all twin tube shocks.Your original shocks would have been a twin tube design, so you are not really changing the suspension characteristics all that much. Online catalog – http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=make&type=T

Answer:

Sorry, there are no airshocks for modern trucks.

(anything made after 2000)

Airlift makes an airbag kit, which supports more weight than any airshock ever would.

Up to 5000 lbs. # 57275. You need just ONE kit per truck.

Here’s a link to that product -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3823&selected_year=2003

Model: Silverado 2500 HD Diesel

Manufacture Date: /2003

Chassis Designation: Crew Cab

Question:

I plow with this truck.  I do not have the torsion

bars turned up but may in the future.  I have monroe muscle front end load

boosters installed.  I would like a shock that would work well with the

the weight on the front end.  I also tow a trailer in the summer so I

would like a shock that handles loads well.  Thanks.

Answer:

Note that shocks do not support weight, the springs do that on a suspension.

But to use a durable shock, with a lot of dampening (power), you want to use the Bilstein HD Heavy Dutys.

Those are a monotube design.

We list those in our online catalog here -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3823&selected_year=2003

BE5-6081 and BE5-6082.

I would like to know if part number 71290 and 5867
these are the monroe sensatrac shocks and struts, will work with eibach 1.4
inch lowering springs. it will be installed on a 3.8 lt. v6 2001 camaro.
thank you for the assistance.

Answer:

 No, Monroe products are for stock height vehicles only. For a lowered Camaro, you need to use:http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3788&selected_year=2001  The Edebrocks, Bilsteins, or KYB AGX units we list online for those cars..

 Question:

I run a paper delivery rout in Iowa, 100 miles each 
Sunday on mostly gravel. Drive 70 miles round trip to work daily during 
the week. I am looking for shocks that have good control on the gravel and 
still maintain good ride qualities on highway.

Currently the trailblazer LT has its origional equipment shocks with 
52,000 miles on them. Gravel road manners are good, Highway a little 
floaty on anything but relatively new good condition 4 lanes. Can you 
advise which brand will best handle my needs. Pricing for any of the 
brands your system shows for my SUV are fine. Summary, little more control 
on gravel, little less float and more control on highway.
Thanks.

Answer:

More about “ride” is mentioned on our website here -
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/shock_absorber_myths.cfm

To give you better control and handling, especially at highway speeds, you
need to use a high pressure gas monotube design.
Of that design, the Bilsteins are the best (and actually, the most popular
as far as sales).

Online catalog -
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=make&type=T

Comparisn chart -
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/scale.cfm

Free shippin to IA.
No sales tax.

Here’s a picture of the front strut unit –

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm?id=15111  More about truck struts – http://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/bilstein-struts.cfm  This page describes the basic parts of a strut front end unit – http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/spring_seats.cfm We do not do any installation work, so we don’t have that kind of tech information.(every vehicle is a little different)But a company like Chilton or Haynes probably does in a repair manual. Struts are common, primarily on cars (for more than 40 years) so while this is a truck,the parts and repairs are common between them.