Testing shock absorbers

[oddkid82]

Hey Guys,
Just a quick one. need to pick your brains. I have noticed that the front end of the car seems to bounce a bit more than it use too.
So I disconnected the front shocks from the bottom shock mount and compressed each shock and they didn't depress back out like they did when they were new.
my question is should they automatically open back out?

Is there other ways of checking if shocks are on the way out.

I have the 3inch tough dog adjustable shock.

Any info would be great

[Rock Trol]

They should push out again. Where they firm when you pushed them in or easy to do? A big 4wd shock should be pretty stiff and take some effort to push in.

[MudRunnerTD]

I'm had to take the bottom mount of my rear Amada shock off to measure the open length and as soon as I leavered it off the pin it opened with force and I hade to use a jack to close it again!!!! Was a bastard!!! Your shocks are Knackered. Are they adjustable TDs?

[oddkid82]

I could push them in laying on my back. I wasnt struggling to hard. If i tried to push and pull them as wuick as I could they seemed to get stiffer.
One was easier to push in than the other.
They are the tough dog adjustables.
When i adjusted the dial on the shocks to the softest setting they went in a bit easier.

[Rock Trol]

Sounds like they are gone. Too soft if you are not pushing too hard. If the front end feels like its wallowing when you are driving then its the shocks for sure.

[oddkid82]

That what I was thinking. Not to happy about it as they are only two years old and done about 60 000 kmls.

What to go with next? Was thinking about some remote res shocks

[Ironman 4x4]

Hey Guys,
Just a quick one. need to pick your brains. I have noticed that the front end of the car seems to bounce a bit more than it use too.
So I disconnected the front shocks from the bottom shock mount and compressed each shock and they didn't depress back out like they did when they were new.
my question is should they automatically open back out?

Is there other ways of checking if shocks are on the way out.

I have the 3inch tough dog adjustable shock.

Any info would be great

On foam cell shocks there is no internal gas pressure which allows them to self extend.

Nitrogen gas based shocks self extend due to the gas pressure internally.

Hope that helps,

Cheers,

Matt
Ironman 4x4

[Rock Trol]

On foam cell shocks there is no internal gas pressure which allows them to self extend.

Nitrogen gas based shocks self extend due to the gas pressure internally.

Hope that helps,

Cheers,

Matt
Ironman 4x4

That's very interesting to know! I had not been aware of that. So basically all you can do is judge if there is enough resistance (both in and out) in the shock to do the job required.

[Ironman 4x4]

That's very interesting to know! I had not been aware of that. So basically all you can do is judge if there is enough resistance (both in and out) in the shock to do the job required.

Yep, the big thing you want to feel for is if it gets sticky at any points in the valving. It should be a smooth movement the whole way out and in. It shouldn't be impossible to push them back in or pull out, it'll just be slow work with a decent constant pressure applied.

We actually had a shock display stand at the Explore Australia Expo and will have it at the upcoming National 4x4 Show as well (in Melbourne). It'll show you the difference in feel and valving between our foam cell pro, foam cell, nitro gas, oem and the different valvings we do for our shock varieties as well. I'd suggest checking it out, it's very informative.

If you're ever really worried, take them back to where you get them from and get the seller to have a look over them.

If we get people who's shocks feel off, we'll often throw them on the shock dyno and compare the performance to a stock shock. Obviously over time the performance will degrade from brand new, but there are expected performance levels that we'd expect to achieve - otherwise if the shock is still in warranty, it'd be a warranty claim - otherwise it's probably well and truely overdue for them to fit a new set of suspension in their vehicle.

Cheers,

Matt
Ironman 4x4

[gremlin]

whats the warranty period on ironman foamcell shocks?