A truck has various components which jointly work for its smooth operation. One of the parts your truck relies on as it takes you to various places is the shock absorbers. It should be among your crucial maintenance considerations. In this guide, we will focus our attntion on how one can choose the best shock absorbers for their truck.
What are Truck Shocks?
Shocks are one of the systems that protect your truck from taking a hit by the terrain you will be driving through. This ensures that your truck lasts longer. Shocks are located above all the wheels of your truck and play the role of holding the wheels to provide better traction, facilitating motion. The shocks also ensure that the upward energy from the bad driving surfaces does not reach the truck’s body. For instance, when a wheel hits a pothole, the force generated does not reach the body of your truck. Instead, the up and down motion of the shocks disperses it.
When to Replace Truck Shock Absorbers
Shock absorbers are an integral part of a truck’s suspension system, directly contributing to your driving experience. You can tell if your shocks are starting to become faulty even before they do. When your shocks are starting to fail, expect the following.
- Your truck will dip when braking.
- The tires will wear unevenly.
- Your truck will swerve when the wheels are straight.
- You will feel loud vibrations when accelerating.
- The steering wheel will become shaky even when driving on a smooth road.
- Your truck sways when hit with the wind.
- The stopping distance will be longer than usual.
Experiencing any of these signs indicates that your shocks are wearing out, and you should consider replacing them as soon as possible.
Under normal circumstances, your shock absorbers will serve you for 10 years. But if your truck is subjected to too much usage on bad terrains, your shock will last between 5 – 7 years. No matter the circumstances, you should be aware of some factors that facilitate the faster wearing of shock absorbers.
- Frequent driving in deep water and mud.
- Frequent driving over potholes or bad roads.
- Excess bottoming out.
- When you expose your truck to any of the above, think of replacing your shock absorbers more frequently.
Types of Shock Absorbers
When thinking of replacing your shocks, you should think of four types of shocks. The shock absorbers differ for various usages.
- The original-equipment replacement.
- Mono-tube gas shocks
- Short aftermarket shock
- External reservoir shocks
How to Know the Best Shock Absorbers for Your Truck
It is difficult to determine the best shock absorber for your truck because every truck has a different body and usage. It is hard to determine which shock is the best for your truck. However, there are some tricks you can apply to get the best shock absorbers. Consider the following when choosing shock absorbers.
- The intended ride height for ground clearance.
- Chassis clearance when the shocks are fully pressed.
- The intended usage of your truck
If you consider any of the above factors, you will get the best shock absorber for your truck.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you have gained the necessary knowledge when choosing these shocks. Consider further advice from your mechanic before purchasing any shock for your truck.