I was talkin' with my buddy about this... He's got a blown shock in the rear or his pickup and was asking me if he should pay the little bit more and put nitrogen charged shocks on instead. Would this be a smart decision or not? I was wondering if with an empty bed and gas shocks in the rear only it would bounce around alot when on bumpy terrain.. or is the bed itself enough weight to elimiinate this and give a firm, but smooth ride... I was thinking to either just get two new regular shocks or get all four gas shocks... what is the best option?

 

uh, IIRC, all shocks are gas shocks.

regardless, if one is blown, at least replace the pair. If he's stock, it's not worth the money to upgrade to expensive shocks.

 

Most "standard" shocks still have oil in them... some have a little gas to keep the oil form foaming and these are called "gas-celled" or something like that and true "gas shocks" are filled with nitrogen and are always charged (want to expand). So if a gas charged shock is always trying to expand, would the bed be enough weight when empty to still provide a dampening effect or will they just bounce across the top of everything...?

 

Replace the blown shock and the mate, preferably all 4 with some name brand shocks.

With shocks you get what you pay for.

 

KYB GasAdjust are good value for money, but if you want ones to last, get Bilstein.

 

He's lookin' at Procomp's... either the regular ES3000 replacemnets or the ES9000 gas charged one's. I kinda like the look of the MX6's that they've got... any feedback on any of these?

 

My 9000's lasted about a year. I abuse the hell outta em, and they didn't hold up too great. For my first time usin rancho's more expensive line, I wasn't too satified. KYB are dandy, liked the Bilsteins, but the best I ever had were these offbrand shocks. All it said was EXPLODER on it. Those lasted forever, even with my abuse... Wish I could find out where those came from.

 

Just from what I've heard, you wanna stay away from ProComp shocks. I've pretty much heard that they're crap from everybody I've talked to. Not just on 4Runners...Jeeps, Tahoes and Sequioua's. They're not very beefy shocks.

Rancho's are a pretty good brand from what I've heard and Bilsteins are good but they are also a very stiff shock. I have OME's right now and I love em.

Fink

 

Bilstein's are stiff as much as they are well-controlled. They absorb huge bumps much better than lesser shocks.

 

Sigh....
The forum of "no misinformation" strikes again...
Virtually all shocks have oil and gas in then.
The so called "gas" shocks have nitrogen (or similar inert gas) under higher pressure.



Fred

 

Try again Fred..."no misinformation" would mean he is "correct".

 

I fully understand.
The statement was "tongue in cheek"..





Fred

 

Was it "tongue in cheek" or "foot in mouth"?

I "fully" knew what you meant regardless.

 

Probably "foot 'n mouth"


BTW,
For those interested here's a link that may prove interesting:

http://www.monroe.com/tech_support/t...kabsorbers.asp




Fred

 

how are the Tokico Trekmasters? anyone use them?

 

I have the tokico's you speak of, I like them a lot. They were cheaper than bilsteins. I have heard people refer to them as Japanese Bilsteins. I have only had them for 6 months so I don't know how long they last. I think they were jsut under or around $200 for four of them. That is a little less than bilsteins, for maybe the same quality.
My tires were a bit over inflated with the temp rise from winter, and the ride was a bone jarring, but with tire pressure at 30 psi in front it rides good, and feels snug, and doesn't exhibit body roll unless I really yank the truck back and forth excessivly.

The only tokico reviews I can find online are from ricers with lowered cars, and they have either blown them, or they are too stiff. Being that they are reviewing totally different shocks, I doubt the reviews are relevant.

I found this, so far
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-...73;t=000513;p=
and this
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum...s-vs-bilstein/

I should say that I only off road occasionally, and when I am it's fording a creek with a couple of motocross bikes in the back. For whatever it is worth in that situation, the truck doesn't feel rollish, bottom out, or get tippy with that kind of top heavy weight.