Gas or hydraulic shocks ????
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 14
From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
Gas or hydraulic shocks ????
Merry christmas to all...
Ok, a buddy of mine with many years in the muscle car hobby, keeps telling me to replace my shocks with hydraulic (oil) filled rather than gas. I am not completly convinced with his recomendations and would like to here what the forum has to say. Besides the fact that they are more difficult to find, I think only KYB still makes oil filled shocks.
Ok, a buddy of mine with many years in the muscle car hobby, keeps telling me to replace my shocks with hydraulic (oil) filled rather than gas. I am not completly convinced with his recomendations and would like to here what the forum has to say. Besides the fact that they are more difficult to find, I think only KYB still makes oil filled shocks.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
I think your buddy is confused. Gas shocks are still filled with oil. The difference is they are also charged with compressed nitrogen. The nitrogen prevents foaming of the oil. The cheap oil shocks work fine until you stress them and then the oil foams and the shock stops working. To me, stressing the shocks is part of driving a vette. 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Here's a good introduction to shock absorber technology:
http://www.monroe.com/tech_support/t...kabsorbers.asp
http://www.monroe.com/tech_support/t...kabsorbers.asp
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 14
From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
Yep, I agree, it does go against conventional thinking, I think Zwede has answered my question very well,,, should have seen my eyes widen as I read it,,lololl. I think the majority of the driving population have no idee that there is still oil in shocks,,lollll including ME... 
The link to the article is excellent, I will be a very wise customer when I make my choice in the near future. My buddy and I will be having a good discussion on this very soon. Thanks !!! 
The link to the article is excellent, I will be a very wise customer when I make my choice in the near future. My buddy and I will be having a good discussion on this very soon. Thanks !!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Originally Posted by Michel B
Merry christmas to all...
Ok, a buddy of mine with many years in the muscle car hobby, keeps telling me to replace my shocks with hydraulic (oil) filled rather than gas. I am not completly convinced with his recomendations and would like to here what the forum has to say. Besides the fact that they are more difficult to find, I think only KYB still makes oil filled shocks.
Ok, a buddy of mine with many years in the muscle car hobby, keeps telling me to replace my shocks with hydraulic (oil) filled rather than gas. I am not completly convinced with his recomendations and would like to here what the forum has to say. Besides the fact that they are more difficult to find, I think only KYB still makes oil filled shocks.
I decided to replace the last set I installed on my '73 after a couple of years with Bilstein's and donate the KYB's to a friend since they were considered by many to be a good shock. Unfortunately I was "shocked" to find that one of my inexpensive KYB's had lost its nitrogen charge. I have used nothing but Bilsteins for the past 20 years and have never been disappointed.
For those that think you can’t afford to spring for the Bilstein’s or Koni’s wait until you have to throw your inexpensive KYB’s away… Less expensive isn’t always cheaper.
GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; Dec 26, 2005 at 11:24 PM.
