Gabriel Load Carrier shocks 86 K10 Stock lift

[Camar068]

Right now I'm stock and one of my cheap gabriels in the front is leaking. I think autozone will be nice enough to me and swap it out. Might get lucky and they swap both out since they are supposed to be replaced in pairs.

Anyway, has anyone got any experience with the Gabriel Load Carrier shocks? I think these will tighten up the front a bit. If they will swap out both I'm out $44 and think it would be better than the 61522's I've got right now.

Thought's/Opinions?

Thanks Guys

 

[Camar068]

The manager agreed I should replace both, and didn't have an issue allowing me to upgrade. We'll find out just how stiff they are LOL.

 

[glockholiday]

Damn! I wish they made those for the rear of my Suburban.

 

[theblindchicken]

Damn! I wish they made those for the rear of my Suburban.

As long as they have the right length, you should be able to pick up a pair since they've got a pair of eyehole mounts.

My guess is that they don't say they fit for the rear so someone doesn't buy a pair to use them as a helper spring and overloading their truck.

 

[Camar068]

They don't list V10, but do K10 suburban. Same difference? If so, same part # as mine. If they offered them for my truck, while I had the chance I'd spring for the Max Controls...after further research of course.

http://gabriel.com/product-search/light-vehicle/?yr=1973&make=Chevrolet&model=K10+Suburban&engine=

 

[Camar068]

oh yeh, cheaper on rockauto than autozone, plus we get a discount. I'm dealing with autozone due to warranty.

 

[glockholiday]

That got me a little closer but my Suburban being lifted tossed me back out of the ring. I don't really need them, the back end is a little soft, it's just they are not that much more expensive the an average shock so why not.

 

[Camar068]

Well I messed up and didn't measure before so I don't know how much lift they gave, but they did lift it an inch or two.

So I take the old shocks off to take and exchange/upgrade to the new shocks. I get to Autozone expecting to pay ~$45 for the upgrade set. Well they weren't in the system so he (the manager) couldn't ring it up. I started to say my typical line when that happens which is "Cool it's free".....which I do a lot. Anyway, I didn't do it this time and I'll be dog gone if he didn't say "don't worry about it".

I only got to drive around the subdivision (few select beverages). It did feel a lot tighter than before. I'll update tomorrow when the barley wears off.

All in All....excellent day off!

 

[Camar068]

Update:

Took her out on the interstate today. Handles a lot better at 70-80 for sure. Ran over a bad spot and felt it, but didn't get the jarring I was having before. The jarring could have came from the leaking drivers side though.

Also over longer/rolling humps in the road she doesn't have the endless rolling bounce she had before.

I'll be putting them on the back soon. I think I need to read up on leaf springs and figure out how to tell if they're bad or not. These shocks maybe masking them a bit.

 

[89Suburban]

I have had them on my '89 Burb:

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?t=448&highlight=shock

 

[Camar068]

I have had them on my '89 Burb:

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?t=448&highlight=shock

still got it? How long they last? Would you do it again?

Thanks 89

 

[chevymanmike]

puttting these in my 84 scottsdale c10 seems like there pretty good from you guys and the reviews

 

[89Suburban]

still got it? How long they last? Would you do it again?

Thanks 89

I think I had them about 2 years before I got rid of that truck. They tightened up the ass end a little bit and felt like you added a rear sway bar going through highway off ramps. Only thing i did not like and many pointed out is the extra stress they put on the shock mounts themselves. I can vouch for one thing for sure, if you put these on the back of a pickup truck it will ride like a brick. Trust me. I have no plans at the moment to install them on my current Suburban.

 

[Camar068]

Thanks for the feedback, prolly stick with what I've got in the back (same line I had on the front).

 

[Camar068]

Noticed these on Rock Auto:

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=294404&cc=1300587&jsn=68

There's a lot of coil overs for these. I went for Gabriels because Autozone was covering them under warranty. Link below scroll down to adjustable.

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/chevrolet,1986,k10+pickup,5.7l+350cid+v8,1300587,suspension,shock+absorber,7556