Shocks. Not very interesting are they? Most people never think twice about them. Which is OK for some cars that have very good long lasting shocks. But your typical 4x4 does not! So they do need special attention paid to them.
Good shocks = Smooth ride, Bad shocks = Bounce all around, right? That is true but there is more to it than just just that. On a True Blue MudRunner, your choice in shocks can not only save your back alot of pain, but save you repair money, also!
The constant abuse the suspension is under makes the shocks very important in how the system works. Example: In 2-wheel drive, you nail the throttle on hard packed dirt. What happens? The front bumper jumps about 2' into the air and the truck lunges foward. A second later, ALL that weight that was lifted into the air is now SLAMMED back down on the ground. Your suspension system has just gone from one extreme to the other. 1st, fully decompressed(max travel) and then 2cd, fully compressed(Min travel). Hopefully, your shocks were long enough to not bottom or top out. If they are to short, they will be scrap iron after a few good bounces. That is why they are usually included in lift kits. No mistakes on lengths.
(TIP: I do NOT recommend it, but it is possible to use your stock OEM shocks with a 4" or even a 6" lift. Requires blowing or drilling new holes in your frame 4" or 6" below the factory mounts. If you are on a tight budget then, hey..... whatever works, right?)
What kind to get? That depends on how much you are willing to spend. From $50 for a set of plain hydraulics up to $1000+ for the double and triple nitrogen sets. Whatever your choice, the main thing is that they are the right size.
There is one other shock on your truck that can be the difference in being right side up or flipped upside down in a ditch. Or dead. It's not really a shock but it works the same way. It is your STEERING DAMPER. It helps to keep the vehicle going in a straight line. Any size tire has a certain amount of "Veer and Dart" in it. Smaller tires we usually never even notice, as long as the steering is tight. But the larger the tire, the larger the amount of Veer and Dart you get. Running 44's with no damper at all, you would be doing great just to keep it on the highway, much less in your own lane. But add a couple of dampers and it calms down greatly. They are not that expensive and are a GOTTA HAVE item.
|
