Shocks and Struts

We are Shock Warehouse and have been selling only shocks and struts since 1988.

So let's start with some basics. What is the purpose of my shocks, is it to make my ride better?  Well, yes and no. Their function is to hold the tires in contact with the road and dampen suspension vibration. So yes they do, but they don't do it alone it is all part of your suspension system which controls your ride.

How a vehicle "rides" depends on many things. Tire pressure, the type of vehicle, suspension modifications, tire/rim size, road conditions, etc. If you bought a vehicle that rides terrible, there probably isn't much you can do about it.

Lincolns ride like a luxury car, the same way a Corvette rides like a sports car. Both have shocks, yet ride entirely differently. Just changing the shocks/struts is not likely going to change what the vehicle manufacturer built into a vehicle's suspension. But if you have good tires, rims are in good condition, and need no other modifications to your suspension, having your shocks or struts checked makes good sense.

How a vehicle rides is something that cannot be plotted or graphed scientifically, because it is all a matter of opinion. There is no 'measurement' for 'ride'.

A car/truck manufacturer spends millions of dollars developing a vehicle, if they cannot correct the "ride" for you, chances are you cannot by only spending a few hundred dollars on the suspension. Remember, their function is to hold the tires in contact with the road and dampen suspension vibration.

The products we carry typically are designed to give a vehicle better handling, control, and safety. None of the units we have would be valved as 'soft' as the units your vehicle came with.

Q: Is it the more gas pressure inside a shock / strut, the stiffer the valving or ride will be?

A: That's not really the way it works. The Nitrogen gas only prevents aeration (foaming bubbles) inside the unit. How soft or stiff a shock / strut is, that is determined by valving. Aeration inside a shock or strut 'kills' the dampening ability of the unit, so the higher the pressure (for instance, Bilstein's have 360 psi ), the less chance you will get any aeration and heat, and less chance the units dampening ability will fade. Valving in a shock or strut is calculated using "Rebound" and "Compression" figures. While shock manufacturers rarely publish these figures, their engineers work hard to come up with the best valving for maximum control and performance.

Q: I have a 2001 GMC 2500HD 4X4 Crew Cab. I have been trying to get rear air shocks & I can't find any for my truck. I have Monroes on the front & am very satisfied. I want to know which ones are best suited for my application. I tow a trailer and towing ~35% of the time. With that scenario which one is best balanced for ride & stability?

A: Air shocks are pretty old technology. None of the shock companies we have make them for any of the newer trucks. Airshocks have been replaced by more modern products, such as air bags, see our Airlift line for example. They are great for weights over 1,000 lbs. Regular conventional shocks will do nothing to hold a vehicle up or add support. The springs do that. Since this is a heavy vehicle, we recommend a monotube shock design for better handling / stability at highway speeds, and for durability. The best monotube design we carry (and most popular for GM Trucks) is the Bilsteins

So if you are looking for experience, knowledge, and value remember at Shock Warehouse we do shocks and only shocks!