Community Forums

chunker · 03-23-2016, 04:56 PM

I know how to inspect a car's shock absorber but how do you effectively inspect a shock absorber on a 32,000 pound DP? Not likely to rock the chassis looking for recoil and rebound. Short of physical damage or leaking, what's the method. Along that line, what would be a good replacement on the Freightliner evolution chassis?

BFlinn181 · 03-23-2016, 05:02 PM

Damage or leaking is a good place to start. Driving and paying attention to number of bounces after a bridge seam, how much it dips and continues to bounce after a hard braking, are about the only ways I know. Koni or Bilstein both make pretty good shocks, Koni has an adjustable shock that allows fine tuning of the ride.

Mr_D · 03-23-2016, 05:15 PM

Better off with the KONI FSD's than the adjustable in most cases, smoother ride and still hard enough for the big bumps.
For our rig they just came out with a new EVO shock for our 20,000# front axle. They incorporate the FSD technology but they aren't cheap at $233 each.

TMan59 · 03-23-2016, 06:23 PM

Ours didnt really show anything that would have been an issue.
But they were 14 years pld.
Replaced with bolsters from source engineering and made a big difference.
It's hard to tell by looking.

chunker · 03-25-2016, 03:02 PM

Got under on the creeper and inspected them and no leakage. They are Sachs brand. Does anyone know if these and replacement Bilstein or Koni are gas charged? The front shocks look easy enough to remove the lower bolt and check the rebound. Not going to try that if they are gas charged though. The rear shocks lower bolt is relatively easy to access but the top bolts will take some work. They might be a job for a shop.

Driving there seems to be side to side leaning, but this is my first DP so nothing to compare them with.

Dutch Star Don · 03-25-2016, 07:10 PM

Sachs are a cheap shock ad if they're the original equipment, they are junk. The Koni FSD shocks would be a good replacement. They take away a lot of that short chop you get on cut freeways.

2 Stroker · 03-25-2016, 08:51 PM

I just had my Koni shocks replaced with new Koni, what a difference. The front still ok but the rear were shot. Had them installed at Oregon Motor Coach.
2 stroker