blew out a shock? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

low 84 · 06-22-2004, 04:34 PM

my truck has been sitting for the most part the past two weeks and a little circle of fluid was forming under it slowly. i stuck my finger in it and it looked like break fluid at first so i figured a had a busted breakline. i got underneath it today to narrow down what the problem was and it looks like my shock blew out. the only thing thats wet is the lower half of the shock and where its been leaking on the lower control arm. this is a d-tech after market drop shock and its the one that is supposed to go on the amount of drop i have.

so what would cause this seal to go out? is it from sitting so long (i havn;t driven it much the past 6 months). another thing is that when i put the shocks on like 2 years ago i put the on upside down, so the canister part was on top and the smaller shaft on bottum. i didn't figure it would matter because it should still dampen the same either way. could the seal facing downwards with the fluid above it casue it to leak like that? its just wierd b/c i've had them on like that for 2 years

ocbaud · 06-22-2004, 04:53 PM

i think i remember reading awhile back about mounting the shocks upside down, not just the dtech ones, but others, how it would affect the ride.

it sounds pretty logical that having it mounted upside down would cause it.

letting it sit for a long time, having all the fluid ontop of the seal, and the seals hardening alittle bit, it could happen i guess

Prerunner1982 · 06-22-2004, 05:30 PM

the shocks on my mountain bike did the same thing, except it looked like Ketchup. took a bit for me to figure out what it was, ends up it was coming out of my bike hanging from the ceiling. I had rancho RS5000s on my truck that were shot, but of course they were originally for an s-10 blazer so i figured that had alot to do with it, but i had them on my truck for about 3-4yrs. So i figure they were pretty worn out anyways.

8t5Silverado · 06-22-2004, 06:03 PM

I am pretty sure the instructions with the D-Tech's says to mount the reservoir side down, and not to do it upside down.

If you need a new set, let me know.

low 84 · 06-22-2004, 10:20 PM

i know its mounted upside down. i've known ever since i put them on that way. i'm just wondering what caused it to fail after 2 years

what size drop are yours for and how much$$?

Izzy · 06-23-2004, 08:06 AM

I'd imagine if it was mounted upside down some junk could have gotten down in the shaft seal and caused it to leak.

06-22-2004, 04:34 PM	#1
low 84 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,144	blew out a shock? my truck has been sitting for the most part the past two weeks and a little circle of fluid was forming under it slowly. i stuck my finger in it and it looked like break fluid at first so i figured a had a busted breakline. i got underneath it today to narrow down what the problem was and it looks like my shock blew out. the only thing thats wet is the lower half of the shock and where its been leaking on the lower control arm. this is a d-tech after market drop shock and its the one that is supposed to go on the amount of drop i have. so what would cause this seal to go out? is it from sitting so long (i havn;t driven it much the past 6 months). another thing is that when i put the shocks on like 2 years ago i put the on upside down, so the canister part was on top and the smaller shaft on bottum. i didn't figure it would matter because it should still dampen the same either way. could the seal facing downwards with the fluid above it casue it to leak like that? its just wierd b/c i've had them on like that for 2 years __________________ '51 F100, backhalf with a narrowed 9 and coil overs, 18.5" mickeys, monte front clip, +400" sbc in the works '05 1500 Crew Cab RIP '84 swb 5/7 drop, solid cammed 408 w/ fully ported dart heads, th350 w/ 10 inch hughes, 12 bolt w/ 3.73 richmonds and a locker '80 swb 4x4 in progress: 7" lift, 350 th350/np205, d44 and 1.5" ORD tie rod, 14BFF w/discs , armored diff covers, 40" MTR's

06-22-2004, 06:03 PM	#4
8t5Silverado Mudslides 'r my specialty Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: STL Posts: 1,106	I am pretty sure the instructions with the D-Tech's says to mount the reservoir side down, and not to do it upside down. If you need a new set, let me know. __________________ Always on the lookout for old cars and parts...(20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.) http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/500339

06-22-2004, 10:20 PM	#5
low 84 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,144	i know its mounted upside down. i've known ever since i put them on that way. i'm just wondering what caused it to fail after 2 years what size drop are yours for and how much$$? __________________ '51 F100, backhalf with a narrowed 9 and coil overs, 18.5" mickeys, monte front clip, +400" sbc in the works '05 1500 Crew Cab RIP '84 swb 5/7 drop, solid cammed 408 w/ fully ported dart heads, th350 w/ 10 inch hughes, 12 bolt w/ 3.73 richmonds and a locker '80 swb 4x4 in progress: 7" lift, 350 th350/np205, d44 and 1.5" ORD tie rod, 14BFF w/discs , armored diff covers, 40" MTR's

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06-22-2004, 04:53 PM	#2
ocbaud Garage Queen Material Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: USA Posts: 4,129	i think i remember reading awhile back about mounting the shocks upside down, not just the dtech ones, but others, how it would affect the ride. it sounds pretty logical that having it mounted upside down would cause it. letting it sit for a long time, having all the fluid ontop of the seal, and the seals hardening alittle bit, it could happen i guess

06-22-2004, 05:30 PM	#3
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,906	the shocks on my mountain bike did the same thing, except it looked like Ketchup. took a bit for me to figure out what it was, ends up it was coming out of my bike hanging from the ceiling. I had rancho RS5000s on my truck that were shot, but of course they were originally for an s-10 blazer so i figured that had alot to do with it, but i had them on my truck for about 3-4yrs. So i figure they were pretty worn out anyways.

06-23-2004, 08:06 AM	#6
Izzy Trucker. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,364	I'd imagine if it was mounted upside down some junk could have gotten down in the shaft seal and caused it to leak.



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