Alright. I've got maybe 6000 miles on my new skyjacker lift. No hard off roading. Just driving around the lovely streets of college station. When the guy at the exhaust shop went to put my tail pipe on, I started poking around checking things out and that's when I noticed that my rear driver side shock was covered in oil. It goes from the bottom of the boot all the way down. How do I tell if a shock is bad? Take it off and see if it's real spongy? If these shocks are already blown, I'm gonna be really ticked off. My factory one's lasted longer than this. I've already gotta take back my brand new, 5 month old rims because they are rusting and pitting. Maybe lifting my truck wasn't such a good idea. Thanks for the help yall.

 

I believe you should be able to take them off and compress them. See how long it takes to spring back into full extension. Compare to your other shock (clean one) and see if different. I would hope that the company you bought them from might replace it. But usually oil leaking is not a good sign.

I lifted mine (1992 1st gen) 4" and 6 months later I needed to remove them to make adjustments. I noticed upon removing them, they only extended about 1/2" longer from when they were bolted up. So mine are WAY too short giving me no suspension at all. But, noticed too late so they won't replace them. Next time, I plan to measure the length it is with no shocks on and then order ones that will extend a few inches out and compress a few inches, instead of 8" compression, 1/2" extension.

 

Even when they were brand new in the box, they would compress, but wouldn't extend back out. These shocks came with my kit so I would hope that they are the right length. If skyjacker won't warranty them, then I'm going to bilsteins.

 

I had to get my shcks custom cause i had 13" of lift on my F350 with just leaf spring so I measured my distance and added 3" to it. Plus I heard a good rule of thumb is to add atleast 2inches or more if you will be BAJA

 

BB - you had standard, non-pressurized, "twin tube" shocks. they will not extend on their own. If there's shock oil on it, it's done. They are cheap shocks, and they should warranty them.

I'd also look into Edelbrock IAS's, which have gotten good reviews from guys that use them for a daily driver and mild wheeling rig... I've got KYB monomax's on my 3500, which are a Bilstein 5100 copy, and they are great, and not expensive at all!

3kracker's method of measuring for shocks may work for some show truck wannabe that has no suspension travel (like a truck with that much suspension lift), but the real way to measure is to disconnect the shocks, get the truck REALLY crossed up in a ditch, where opposite wheels are compressed (I.e. RF and LR), and measure the compressed length of that side. Then select shocks with a compressed length slightly shorter than what you've measured.

http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/shocks/Shock_Specs_2-0.xls is a good spreadsheet with all the lengths of shocks out there.

Whatever you run... clamp the shock boot in place at the top, and leave the bottom loose, so that as the shock moves, dirt and crap that has gotten in has a way to get out. The stuff that gets caught in there is the quickest way to cause the failure you described.

 

Thanks eskimo. I'm starting to wonder if it's a blown shock or oil from when I had a small transmission leak. But with my luck, it's the shock. How can I tell if the shock really is bad? Cut the boot off and see if there is oil inside the boot?

 

Pretty sure Skyjacker warrants the shocks for a year.

IMHO, go with Bilsteins or Rancho's.

Pretty sure the Skyjackers suck,
but all I have to compare them to are the stockers that came off when the lift went on.


phox

 

phox, if I could swing the bilsteins right now I would but money is extremely tight right now with taxes coming up. I'm already having to cancel my spring break trip to costa rica.

 

IIRC, the KYB monomax's I run are around $40-45 each from tire rack... (lifetime warranty too)

shock oil and ATf are very similar in weights, so I'd pull the shock, and cycle it, watch for bubbles and fluid around the seal... if there are any "free" spots where there's little damping, it's done for.

 

Why was my post removed?

 

I see a post up there, did you post again?


phox

 

I'd say the shock is history. I had one go out the same way (not on the Ram). Take it off and cycle it a few times, you might hear a bubbly noise if it is leaking...as if it sucked in some air. That's what mine did. Also, one good way to compare would be to take both off on the same axle and cycle them, compare the two. If it is leaking what so ever, though, I'd return it ASAP.

 

99.999% sure the shock is blown. I have had it happen numerous times with Rancho's and KYB's. Get the warranty fix and then save up for some Bilstein 5100's. They have a lifetime warranty and are rebuildable. KEEP ONE OLD FRONT AND ONE REAR SHOCK AT LEAST if you do buy the 5100's. They will need to be sent in and you will need the old ones until they get returned from being rebuilt......... mi dos centavos