quick shock question... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

boraxman · 03-20-2005, 02:31 PM

does it matter if you put gas shocks upsidedown or not?, I like the rod pointing down.

They dont say "this side up".

chickenwing · 03-20-2005, 07:05 PM

O.K. I'll bite... The 2 I put in last week had directional arrows.

4x4Poet · 03-20-2005, 07:35 PM

Depends upon the shock design. All twin-tube shocks must ride shaft up, body down.

Longhorn Man · 03-20-2005, 10:01 PM

They need to go in right side up, otherwise the top (now the bottom) will collect dirt and water and damage the seal in no time and the oil will leak out.

boraxman · 03-20-2005, 10:23 PM

Well heres what it looks like, I suppose I can flip em, but there were no arrows or anything.

Longhorn Man · 03-20-2005, 10:34 PM

They apear to be missing the top 1/2 of the body....never seen anything like that.

shifty · 03-21-2005, 12:18 AM

Sure those aren't bicycle tire pumps you got on there?

Tx Firefighter · 03-21-2005, 01:27 AM

Those look like BellTech shocks.

Mudder · 03-21-2005, 02:44 AM

All the 4x4 shocks I have seen look like those. Most mount them the other way but I don't see why what u have wont work.

john_doe · 03-21-2005, 03:33 AM

I have a question boraxman, Am I not seeing that right or is there no plug in your rearend cover? Is that factory? How do you check the fluid? Thanks

Longhorn Man · 03-21-2005, 07:06 AM

There's supposed to be a plug on there?

It's been a while since i had a 12 bolt truck, but isn't the fill hole on the passenger side of the diff....towards the front a little?

Tx Firefighter · 03-21-2005, 08:29 AM

Yep, fill plug will be in the rear housing, on the passenger side. 12 bolts have smooth covers.

boraxman · 03-21-2005, 09:09 AM

Ok the shocks are Doshtsh or something, nitrogen gas charged, along with all new 3"-5" springs and rear shock locators, my ride has improved

Guess i'll leave them bike pumps alone for a while

chevybill · 03-21-2005, 09:47 AM

Contact the shock vendor or the shock manufacturer, surely they have a recommendation.

sneakysnake · 03-21-2005, 01:40 PM

http://www.mepco4x4.com/tech/Shok101.cfm

boraxman · 03-21-2005, 02:21 PM

Good link, but says nothing about mounting up or down.

vfrdude · 03-21-2005, 03:06 PM

I don't think it matters which way they are mounted, as far as performance.. If it was me, I would mount them reveresed as they are pictured, only to keep the rods from getting damaged by rocks and whatever getting kicked up under the truck...

sneakysnake · 03-21-2005, 10:13 PM

IMO, the oil in a shock is designed to be stored and displaced as the piston travels, if upside down would this not cause a problem in performance?

Portmod7 · 03-22-2005, 12:33 AM

I race cars, some shocks can be put on any way you want, while others do have to be mounted a specific direction. I wish I could remeber what the determining factor is. The shocks I use are gas mono-tube bilstein's and they can be mounted however you want. Call the manufacturer I would say.

Although, the way you have em mounted gives you less unsprung weight, should handle better if the shocks will work mounted like that

Probably not enough differece to notice tho.

4x4Poet · 03-22-2005, 06:47 AM

If they are twin tube shocks, the oil would drain away from the piston/valve after the compression and leave gaps in the oil that could lead to cavitation.

03-20-2005, 02:31 PM	#1
boraxman Keepin an eye out Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: So.Cal Posts: 3,920	quick shock question... does it matter if you put gas shocks upsidedown or not?, I like the rod pointing down. They dont say "this side up". __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351 Last edited by boraxman; 03-20-2005 at 02:58 PM.

03-20-2005, 07:05 PM	#2
chickenwing Lovin' Life in Miss.! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, Mississippi Posts: 1,937	O.K. I'll bite... The 2 I put in last week had directional arrows. __________________ The truck... you hear that? No really, you did hear that?!!!

03-20-2005, 07:35 PM	#3
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	Depends upon the shock design. All twin-tube shocks must ride shaft up, body down. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup.

03-20-2005, 10:23 PM	#5
boraxman Keepin an eye out Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: So.Cal Posts: 3,920	Well heres what it looks like, I suppose I can flip em, but there were no arrows or anything. Attached Images __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351

03-21-2005, 12:18 AM	#7
shifty Questionable Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 13,373	Sure those aren't bicycle tire pumps you got on there? __________________ If I've got anything up for grabs, it'll be here: 7-hole gauge cluster for a 67-72 p/u FREE (link) I can't check the forum daily. If I don't reply to you within 24 hours, drop me a PM! I'm (hopefully) still alive and will reply faster to a PM.

03-20-2005, 10:01 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	They need to go in right side up, otherwise the top (now the bottom) will collect dirt and water and damage the seal in no time and the oil will leak out.

03-20-2005, 10:34 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	They apear to be missing the top 1/2 of the body....never seen anything like that.

03-21-2005, 01:27 AM	#8
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Those look like BellTech shocks. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

03-21-2005, 02:44 AM	#9
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	All the 4x4 shocks I have seen look like those. Most mount them the other way but I don't see why what u have wont work.

03-21-2005, 03:33 AM	#10
john_doe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Western New York Posts: 37	I have a question boraxman, Am I not seeing that right or is there no plug in your rearend cover? Is that factory? How do you check the fluid? Thanks

03-21-2005, 07:06 AM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	There's supposed to be a plug on there? It's been a while since i had a 12 bolt truck, but isn't the fill hole on the passenger side of the diff....towards the front a little?

03-21-2005, 08:29 AM	#12
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Yep, fill plug will be in the rear housing, on the passenger side. 12 bolts have smooth covers. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

03-21-2005, 09:09 AM	#13
boraxman Keepin an eye out Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: So.Cal Posts: 3,920	Ok the shocks are Doshtsh or something, nitrogen gas charged, along with all new 3"-5" springs and rear shock locators, my ride has improved Guess i'll leave them bike pumps alone for a while __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351

03-21-2005, 09:47 AM	#14
chevybill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: calhoun city ms Posts: 940	Contact the shock vendor or the shock manufacturer, surely they have a recommendation. __________________ ongoing 1970 c 10 lwb 1994 z-28 few mods.-owned since new 1978 vette silver/grey 25th anniv. paint

03-21-2005, 01:40 PM	#15
sneakysnake It's a catastrophic success. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,077	http://www.mepco4x4.com/tech/Shok101.cfm



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03-21-2005, 02:21 PM	#16
boraxman Keepin an eye out Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: So.Cal Posts: 3,920	Good link, but says nothing about mounting up or down. __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351

03-21-2005, 03:06 PM	#17
vfrdude Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Oakley, Ca. USA Posts: 137	I don't think it matters which way they are mounted, as far as performance.. If it was me, I would mount them reveresed as they are pictured, only to keep the rods from getting damaged by rocks and whatever getting kicked up under the truck... __________________ Rudy Fierros '95 Honda VFR750F Used to have a '71 Chevy Stepside, Guards Red, Lowered 4" rear, 3" front, White Oak bed wood, 700R4 w/373 gears until some low life stole it!

03-21-2005, 10:13 PM	#18
sneakysnake It's a catastrophic success. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,077	IMO, the oil in a shock is designed to be stored and displaced as the piston travels, if upside down would this not cause a problem in performance?

03-22-2005, 12:33 AM	#19
Portmod7 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Aztec, NM Posts: 388	I race cars, some shocks can be put on any way you want, while others do have to be mounted a specific direction. I wish I could remeber what the determining factor is. The shocks I use are gas mono-tube bilstein's and they can be mounted however you want. Call the manufacturer I would say. Although, the way you have em mounted gives you less unsprung weight, should handle better if the shocks will work mounted like that Probably not enough differece to notice tho.

03-22-2005, 06:47 AM	#20
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	If they are twin tube shocks, the oil would drain away from the piston/valve after the compression and leave gaps in the oil that could lead to cavitation. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup.

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