Shock absorbers

Discussion in 'Peterbilt Forum' started by spindrift, Apr 22, 2020.

  1. MM71

    MM71 Heavy Load Member

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    Fox .... spendy tho
     
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  3. spindrift

    spindrift Road Train Member

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    Yeah, I'll say, $280/.
    The OEM Paccar shocks are oil. For a change I went with the Monroe gas shocks. You would think someone would step in and fill the void between what we've always used and the super spendy Fox shock.
     
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  4. Luwi67

    Luwi67 Heavy Load Member

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    Oct 24, 2012
    Long island
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    My experience is oil or hydraulic shocks give a smoother ride than gas charged. I have been using Gabriel SLX for about 10 years and prefer them over the Monroe gas shocks (yellow) commonly available
     
  5. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    I’ve used both Gabriel’s and Monroes yellow gas. The Monroe’s are always cheaper, and have a bigger piston. They’re fine, till they blow out. Typically, when I’m replacing them, most have no shock effect left. May as well have no shocks, very disappointing. Be sure not to run them longer than a year or so. They don’t last. Lose the gas charge.Ive used the adjustable Gabriel’s a couple times, originally set on medium, after a year adjusted to firm. Seems to be a gimmick.
     
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  6. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    The original Black Freightliner Shocks,( I think they’re made by Gabriel) , I may be wrong. Regardless they seem to hold up better than the Monroe gas, ( yellow) shocks.
     
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  7. PureLeafTea

    PureLeafTea Light Load Member

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    Mar 21, 2013
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    My two cents... Gabriel fleet line never let me down until lately. Drives recently had one shock two months old leak and a front shock leak less than a month. Tried the SLX model once and they were the worst. Didn’t last and the adjustment is a gimmick. If you don’t know you can’t adjust them without taking them off and twisting them! Sorry but that’s dumb. I’m not paying $120/hour shop rate to try each of the settings to decide what I like. So since they didn’t last longer than Fleet Lines I never bought them again. I hear Sachs makes freightliner OEM, but never tried them. I might on my new ride. Monroes I have no experience but I over the years have heard mixed reviews.

    Moral of the story it’s a crap shoot. They all suck. Nobody makes anything that lasts any more so just throw something at the wall and see what sticks. Carry a couple extra in the truck to replace ones that go. A lot cheaper to buy them on Rock Auto for $48 each shipped then at the dealer for $88 or more.
     
  8. Luwi67

    Luwi67 Heavy Load Member

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    Oct 24, 2012
    Long island
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    I agree it's a crap shoot but, I like the SLX on the lightest setting. I've tried all 3 settings over the worlds ####iest road, the Cross Bronx Expressway and the lightest setting is a noticeable ride improvement for me. They are not hard to adjust and I certainly would not pay a shop to do it.

    What's important to know about the SLX is the warranty. You have to use it for the ones that leak early. For what it's worth, ones that leak early still damp just the same as ones that don't, to a point. I've tested the ones that leak early on a homemade torque scale and they have the same resistance as new. I test them on the truck every once in a while by removing the lower mount and hooking up to the scale and pull on it through the full range. I replace them when they are noticeably weaker.
     
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  9. QUALITYTRUCK

    QUALITYTRUCK Road Train Member

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    romulus,mi
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    Take it from the shop owner. Sachs is better than the popular shocks (Monroe, Gabriel, Meritor) Over the last 2 years they have come down in price to match the others. If I had to choose a second place finisher it would be Meritor.
     
  10. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    omaha , ne
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    I just buy oem shocks and yank em off every 2 years .
     
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