Is It Time To Replace My Shocks Yet?

[FiTxAg04]

Please pardon my ignorance...

 

My '04 Z has just over 70,000 miles on it and I got to thinking today about whether or not I need new shocks. I can't remember how the ride was when I just got the truck so I can't really compare it to the ride now. When on residential streets, I seem to feel just about every hole or bump in the road, but when on the highway, she seems to ride pretty smooth.

 

How long do the factory shocks typically last? How can I tell when they are beginning to wear down? What's a good replacement?

[hubbycap]

Please pardon my ignorance...

 

My '04 Z has just over 70,000 miles on it and I got to thinking today about whether or not I need new shocks. I can't remember how the ride was when I just got the truck so I can't really compare it to the ride now. When on residential streets, I seem to feel just about every hole or bump in the road, but when on the highway, she seems to ride pretty smooth.

 

How long do the factory shocks typically last? How can I tell when they are beginning to wear down? What's a good replacement?

 

Could be. By hand, bounce each corner of the truck several times. It shouldn't bounce more that twice after you release it. Brand new shocks probably will bounce once before stabilizing.

[omegafiler]

Those bilstein shocks should last quite awhile, normally around 100k, or more. When they are brand new, they'll get broken in after the first couple thousand miles or so, and won't be quite as rough. Which is actually a good thing. Then they stay about the same for quite awhile. Those shocks are pretty good and I wouldn't replace them unless it's definately time.

 

Normally I just go by what I feel and how I think it should be handling. I figure it gives me a good chance to upgrade something.

[C & A s Dad]

It is usually tough to tell when to replace shocks in most cases. They deteriorate over time and at 70K you will see a difference if you change them. How much is hard to tell?

 

Take a good look at KYB's MonoMax. Nothing at all wrong with Bilstiens but the KYB is a great shock and is of equal or greater quality to the Bilstien.

[hubbycap]

It is usually tough to tell when to replace shocks in most cases. They deteriorate over time and at 70K you will see a difference if you change them. How much is hard to tell?

 

Take a good look at KYB's MonoMax. Nothing at all wrong with Bilstiens but the KYB is a great shock and is of equal or greater quality to the Bilstien.

 

Are the Bilstiens OEM?

[dlstewart01]

Those bilstein shocks should last quite awhile, normally around 100k, or more. When they are brand new, they'll get broken in after the first couple thousand miles or so, and won't be quite as rough. Which is actually a good thing. Then they stay about the same for quite awhile. Those shocks are pretty good and I wouldn't replace them unless it's definately time.

 

Normally I just go by what I feel and how I think it should be handling. I figure it gives me a good chance to upgrade something.

 

 

They stopped putting Bilsteins on the trucks before 1999. From 1999 -2006 the shocks for Z71 are red and are made by tennco ( Monroe)

 

Some one correct me if I am wrong.

 

Don

[asepgrad98]

i put monroe reflex on my 02 at only 45k miles and there is a lot less body roll. the ride feels firmer

[FiTxAg04]

Great info, guys. Thanks.

[LF Motorsports]

Here is how to check, only if you want to go thru the trouble. The shock needs to be removed and you just push the shock in and pull it out. There should be no "dead" spots where the shock moves alot easier than the complete stroke. Also, it should push in with the same force/resistance as you pull out.

 

I replaced mine on my '93 and one front shock pushed in with no resistance (real fast) and pulled out somewhat normal. Therefore JUNK!

 

This is the cheap and easy way we check shocks on the race car. Just to make sure they are not junk.

 

It is only worth doing this if you have time or doubts.

 

Lance

[unit731]

A little off topic here but.

 

When I was a young adult I purchased a nice used 1978 Grand Prix 2 door rear drive. Beautiful car.

Red crushed velour bench seat. Column shift. Few center consoles then. And fast. Car was like new.

 

I went to have brakes done at one of these cheapy chain repair franchise. Brakes done for a fair/good price. But the mechanic told me the rear springs were bad. Coil springs. He even took me over to show me where they were bumping onto car above. I saw something but not much. I bought two rear coil springs for much money back then. Then I got to thinking. The springs themselves were not broken, cracked, chipped, or bent. I took the old ones home in the new box. I looked and looked at them. There was nothing wrong with them. No rust. Both same. So I took it upon myself to telephone the manufacturer of the new springs. I got the name off the box. No computers then. I dialed information.

 

In the preceding conversation, the engineer at the spring manufacturing company told me that the only was to tell if a spring is not 'springing' correctly is on a compression test machine - an expensive machine that most repair shops don't have. If they were not broken, bent, rusted, etc. then the so called mechanic may possibly have taken some of my much needed money for absolutely no valid reason.

 

The 1978 Pontiac Grand Prix rode fine/perfectly before getting the brakes done. The car had no rust and was 3 years old with maybe 40,000 miles.

 

I may have been taken for a money ride by this mechanic. Mechanics/Service Departments don't replace good working parts do they?

[1999 Tahoe 4x4]

i put monroe reflex on my 02 at only 45k miles and there is a lot less body roll. the ride feels firmer

I used Monroe before. To me is was a great dissapointment. In my opinion those Monroes are way too tight for everyday use. Unless you are often transporting something very heavy or are simply in a hurry all the time.

[silversport]

a quick way to check if you have Bilstein's is to look to see if they are yellow and blue...My 2000 Escalade OBS has Bilstein's as did my 2002 Z71 Avalanche...I wondered this same thing about the '00 Esky as it only has 57K miles but is almost eight years old...sometimes it seems a bit harsh over broken pavement but then I hit a nice stretch of good road and it rides smooth as glass...even over minor broken pavement it is nice only rough on the real bombed out stuff...but it is a truck, right???...;)...I second the old "push on the corner and see how many times it rebounds" method...good luck.

I had read a study done on Bilstein's shocks where they seem to perform the same from near new to the end of their life (seemingly after 100K miles) without loss unlike most any other shock which tends to get progressively worse before giving up the ghost...YMMV...I'll spend the extra for Bilstein's when the time comes.

Bill