Truck Shocks? Lucky to get one year?

We had Fox shocks, which worked out well for a while but weren't cost-effective. Went back to OEM-supplied shocks, they get changed out every 125k or if they are defective.

 

Did you get any extra mileage out of the fox’s ?

 

Sometimes I feel like it. Ugh,,briefly, Hendrickson walking beam didn't have shocks, the Mack Camelback didn't, that I remember, or if they broke off, nobody replaced them. Don't remember Reyco having shocks either. Fact is, lots of spring or no spring ride trucks I drove didn't have shocks.

 

My 1980 W9 had shocks on the rear axle. Hendrickson rubber block/walking beam. The mounts looked factory.

 

Yeah, KW put shocks on that "torture bar" too, but they didn't do anything. Sorry, I just don't remember trucks with shocks. I looked up several images of Hendrickson walking beams, with no provisions for a shock absorber.

 

White-Frieghtliner spring did not have shocks. The original Peterbilt Stabile-Air ( which later became FL’s Air Liner) did not have shocks. Every walking beAm i’ve ever seen did not have shocks except for Kw application. Even the Autocar-Hendrickson-Alcoa all aluminum walking beam from the 1960’s no shocks. There were lots of steer axles up to the early 70’s that did not have shocks. Shocks were useless with Heavy stacked springs back then.

 

Thank you, you know, sometimes I feel like I'm all alone here.

 

Since shocks are designed to slow down movement, I question the yellow gas charged Monroe’s. They have more resistance than conventional shocks. Might be good for a bouncy front end, on some Trucks, like short wb Volvos, or 377’s. 80k miles/ 1 year seems to be the max life. The sachs are said to last longer. Most newer air rides seem to have a design that’s prone to more movement. Based on the larger air bags. They ride softer. Good shocks are more important than ever. Bad shocks are more noticeable than the old air rides with smaller bags with less movement. I’ve tried Monroe, Gabriel’s, Fleetpride. Monroe gas charged on rears only, front only. The gas charge seems to defeat the purpose of softer suspensions. Biggest problem is once they lose the gas charge, they’re instantly useless. No oil leak warnings. I’ve tried adjusting the air ride up. Rides better that way with bad shocks, due to less movement. Best ride is at spec, with good shocks. Once they’re bad, you notice right away. Too much movement just wears out the suspension bushings. Every time I change shocks, I ask myself, Why did I wait so long? Makes all the difference, like night and day. Well worth the cost.