Old style dampening shocks - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bigd65 · 07-07-2019, 11:43 AM

2004 Silverado crew cab 2wd

I lifted the front with 2" lift springs. I am looking for some regular dampening shocks. Old style, non gas. These springs are a little stiff and GAS SHOCKS just make it a bit bouncy on the stiff side. I drove it without shocks and figure the older dampening shocks would be great to balance it out. Problem is now, the stock shocks are not long enough .... any ideas

Tom · 07-10-2019, 08:55 PM

Pretty sure all shocks are gas and oil.

bigd65 · 07-12-2019, 11:53 AM

Your telling me you dont remember when shocks were not GAS CHARGED....

95 S_Trucker · 07-12-2019, 12:50 PM

There are hydraulic shocks, and there are gas charged shocks. They both have oil in them. The gas charged shocks are less prone to aeration in the fluid, and they will work better than the non gas charged shocks.

If you wanted to keep your smooth ride, you should have gotten lift spindles/knuckles. Your suspension geometry would stay the same and you would be able to reuse your factory shocks.

bigd65 · 07-12-2019, 07:12 PM

It already had BILSTIENS. And the front spring appeared saggy. I'm not sure they wernt lowering springs. Anyway the 2 in lift MAXTRAC springs are perfect size. And right good, but I feel the older HYDRAULIC SHOCKS would stabilize the ride rather than stiffen even further as Gas Shocks.... thank you for reminding me HYDRAULIC SHOCKS... I could not remember the term for my life.... getting old I guess

95 S_Trucker · 07-12-2019, 10:45 PM

If the fluid gets aerated, it will bounce and jounce. The only purpose of the gas charge( nitrogen is most common) is to prevent the fluid from getting aerated. They will dampen vibrations better. The only purpose of the shock is to dampen. It will not make the suspension stiffer.

Your ride will be bad because of the springs/suspension geometry, not the shocks.

In my opinion, bilstein shocks are the best you can buy. I like the “cheap” 4600 series.

Tom · 07-16-2019, 01:32 PM

If shocks didn't affect the ride they wouldn't be adjustable.
All they do is dampen the energy being absorbed and released by the spring. If the compression damping is too strong on some older style shocks they can even hydro lock inside.
OP- my guess is your only option would be adjustable shocks that you can turn the compression way down on. Truck might handle worse but it might soften up the hits from bumps and what not.

bigd65 · 07-27-2019, 07:02 PM

I guess I was just hoping someone could remember a part # for regular HYDRAULIC SHOCKS that would be about 2" in longer than stock

07-07-2019, 11:43 AM	#1
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Clute, TX. Posts: 1,935	Old style dampening shocks 2004 Silverado crew cab 2wd I lifted the front with 2" lift springs. I am looking for some regular dampening shocks. Old style, non gas. These springs are a little stiff and GAS SHOCKS just make it a bit bouncy on the stiff side. I drove it without shocks and figure the older dampening shocks would be great to balance it out. Problem is now, the stock shocks are not long enough .... any ideas __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo 2017 Chevy Tahoe

07-10-2019, 08:55 PM	#2
Tom driving is in my blood Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 5,748	Re: Old style dampening shocks Pretty sure all shocks are gas and oil. __________________ -78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle. -98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes. -02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front -CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.

07-12-2019, 11:53 AM	#3
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Clute, TX. Posts: 1,935	Re: Old style dampening shocks Your telling me you dont remember when shocks were not GAS CHARGED.... __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo 2017 Chevy Tahoe

07-12-2019, 12:50 PM	#4
95 S_Trucker Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: . Posts: 2,187	Re: Old style dampening shocks There are hydraulic shocks, and there are gas charged shocks. They both have oil in them. The gas charged shocks are less prone to aeration in the fluid, and they will work better than the non gas charged shocks. If you wanted to keep your smooth ride, you should have gotten lift spindles/knuckles. Your suspension geometry would stay the same and you would be able to reuse your factory shocks.

07-12-2019, 07:12 PM	#5
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Clute, TX. Posts: 1,935	Re: Old style dampening shocks It already had BILSTIENS. And the front spring appeared saggy. I'm not sure they wernt lowering springs. Anyway the 2 in lift MAXTRAC springs are perfect size. And right good, but I feel the older HYDRAULIC SHOCKS would stabilize the ride rather than stiffen even further as Gas Shocks.... thank you for reminding me HYDRAULIC SHOCKS... I could not remember the term for my life.... getting old I guess __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo 2017 Chevy Tahoe

07-12-2019, 10:45 PM	#6
95 S_Trucker Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: . Posts: 2,187	Re: Old style dampening shocks If the fluid gets aerated, it will bounce and jounce. The only purpose of the gas charge( nitrogen is most common) is to prevent the fluid from getting aerated. They will dampen vibrations better. The only purpose of the shock is to dampen. It will not make the suspension stiffer. Your ride will be bad because of the springs/suspension geometry, not the shocks. In my opinion, bilstein shocks are the best you can buy. I like the “cheap” 4600 series.

07-16-2019, 01:32 PM	#7
Tom driving is in my blood Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 5,748	Re: Old style dampening shocks If shocks didn't affect the ride they wouldn't be adjustable. All they do is dampen the energy being absorbed and released by the spring. If the compression damping is too strong on some older style shocks they can even hydro lock inside. OP- my guess is your only option would be adjustable shocks that you can turn the compression way down on. Truck might handle worse but it might soften up the hits from bumps and what not. __________________ -78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle. -98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes. -02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front -CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.

07-27-2019, 07:02 PM	#8
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Clute, TX. Posts: 1,935	Re: Old style dampening shocks I guess I was just hoping someone could remember a part # for regular HYDRAULIC SHOCKS that would be about 2" in longer than stock __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo 2017 Chevy Tahoe



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