Quad Shocks?
- Thread starter richiemoe
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shiftpro
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Shocks are a funny animal. Until you spend some $$ they are all the same, soft and don't do much.
We were talking about GM dual shocks a few weeks ago but it never got resolved, I'm thinking they are sold as a set and should theoretically be valved lighter. But the factory shocks were so soft and useless anyway that doubling them perhaps worked fine. I had a few rides back in the day with factory dual shocked squares but they were street driven stock tired trucks, so didn't feel any difference.
I've built trucks and added aftermarket long dual shocks, and would have been way over damped if not for one truck running a plow and the other wasa firewood/water hauler.
Another funny thing about shocking discoveries, if you have never rode in a truck with REAL shocks then you will never know the difference!
For example this is what I call real shocks. They build them to your specs, you can revalve them your self if you wish, or rebuild them when the time comes. You can buy them without reservoir and always add one on later.
http://www.shocksandsuspension.com/productinfo.asp?item=6&dc=1
We were talking about GM dual shocks a few weeks ago but it never got resolved, I'm thinking they are sold as a set and should theoretically be valved lighter. But the factory shocks were so soft and useless anyway that doubling them perhaps worked fine. I had a few rides back in the day with factory dual shocked squares but they were street driven stock tired trucks, so didn't feel any difference.
I've built trucks and added aftermarket long dual shocks, and would have been way over damped if not for one truck running a plow and the other wasa firewood/water hauler.
Another funny thing about shocking discoveries, if you have never rode in a truck with REAL shocks then you will never know the difference!
For example this is what I call real shocks. They build them to your specs, you can revalve them your self if you wish, or rebuild them when the time comes. You can buy them without reservoir and always add one on later.
http://www.shocksandsuspension.com/productinfo.asp?item=6&dc=1
SrMousse
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Those are beautiful! Major difference in cost and options from the $30 shocks I installed. I'm thinking I'll drop the quad front shocks to dual and see how that rides. I do love those socks though, seems like a great long term investment!
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morrow07
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Correct. I can't say the Rancho quad shocks I put on the 89' didn't help (old ones were over 10 years old), but they are all very similar if not the same. I have 18 way adjustable QA1's on the 77' and it is unreal how much the adjustability changes the characteristics of the truck. I can literally go from Cadillac soft to spinal injury stiff in no time. I have too much money in shocks to mention on that truck, but it was worth every penny to me.
trukman1
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Lots of K5 Blazers came that way. If you go to Rock Auto's website they have them on sale (or did recently) and you can order the correct shocks that way. You can also get their price and Summit MIGHT price match with free shipping on orders over $99. Just thought that might be helpful.
richiemoe
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wow, lots of good info, thank you!!
Eventually, like 3-4 years after i get the truck rust free and driving again, i'll be getting a BDS liftkit. 2"-2.5" should be good, so i don't have to change the drive shafts, and still look clean cut/stock look. And BDS offers a no questions asked, lifetime warranty. Since we plan on keeping this truck and my wife's wrangler indefinitely, i'm ok with spending extra for this brand.
Most definitely i love the bling look and i'm not too worried if it drives stiff. Good to know that i can still order the brackets to put onto my donor frame!
Eventually, like 3-4 years after i get the truck rust free and driving again, i'll be getting a BDS liftkit. 2"-2.5" should be good, so i don't have to change the drive shafts, and still look clean cut/stock look. And BDS offers a no questions asked, lifetime warranty. Since we plan on keeping this truck and my wife's wrangler indefinitely, i'm ok with spending extra for this brand.
Most definitely i love the bling look and i'm not too worried if it drives stiff. Good to know that i can still order the brackets to put onto my donor frame!
Blue Ox
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In my research on these I've found that Delco specs two completely different shocks for the quad application than the standard duals. Most aftermarket companies use the same outer shock for both and just add an inner shock. If and whenever I get around to doing the upgrade on the pickup truck I'm going to try to get Delcos to see what the OEM ride would be like.
If anybody else has experience on that I'd love to hear it before I go spending money.
If anybody else has experience on that I'd love to hear it before I go spending money.
Dooley
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My 1984 K20 Suburban came with the Z75 Front Quad Shock option.
It was an extra $91.00
Keith Seymore
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When I worked at the GM Milford Proving Ground (1986-1990) I knew the guy that tuned the shocks. His name was Bob T.
Back then the evaluation process was very "subjective". Today we use acceleration data and "head toss" numbers to try to bring some objectivity to the process, but back then it was like rating women (on a "1" to "10" scale).
Bob was very indecisive. He wouldn't buy off on a valving until he had driven it home overnight. We suspected it was his wife Joan that was really the one rating the shock tuning.
He got so bad that the engineering technicians began to revolt. Bob would come out a few minutes before quitting time wanting "just one more ride". So the techs would put the truck on the hoist and put it up in the air. After a little while they would lower it halfway, and then right before quitting they would set it on the ground - all without having done anything to it.
Bob would drive it home that night and report back the next morning "...I think it was a little better; don't you?".
K
Back then the evaluation process was very "subjective". Today we use acceleration data and "head toss" numbers to try to bring some objectivity to the process, but back then it was like rating women (on a "1" to "10" scale).
Bob was very indecisive. He wouldn't buy off on a valving until he had driven it home overnight. We suspected it was his wife Joan that was really the one rating the shock tuning.
He got so bad that the engineering technicians began to revolt. Bob would come out a few minutes before quitting time wanting "just one more ride". So the techs would put the truck on the hoist and put it up in the air. After a little while they would lower it halfway, and then right before quitting they would set it on the ground - all without having done anything to it.
Bob would drive it home that night and report back the next morning "...I think it was a little better; don't you?".
K
CORVAIRWILD
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Rare on 2500 3/4 ton. This is mine
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rpcraft
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A good pair of performance shocks is going to be better than the generic quad setups that you find with oem or budget style shocks.
richiemoe
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Quad performance shocks!! That means double the performance and double the coolness, right?
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I put the quad shocks on my K20 Burb with BDS lift springs. Just basic shocks, nothing fancy. I actually drove it for several thousand miles with just one pair of shocks, then added the other pair later. It still rode well and I couldn't tell a difference.
It was mostly for looks anyway. I grew up when all the cool trucks had extra shocks.
It was mostly for looks anyway. I grew up when all the cool trucks had extra shocks.
richiemoe
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Good to know, i'll be going with BDS as well! Thanks!
