Bad Shock

A

andrew

New member
Apr 28, 2011
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Hey all, I need some peace of mind... I have 1 bad shock in the rear, is it OK to drive like that? I understand ride might suffer, but I just want to
make sure I'm not doing anything stupid. I've got some replacement KYBs but I won't have time to get the wheels off till next week.
--
1978 Kingsley -
Kansas City, MO
 
If your just taking some short trips it will be fine. Probably been broke longer than you think.

JR Wright
78 GMC Buskirk Stretch
Michigan

>
> Hey all, I need some peace of mind... I have 1 bad shock in the rear, is it OK to drive like that? I understand ride might suffer, but I just want to
> make sure I'm not doing anything stupid. I've got some replacement KYBs but I won't have time to get the wheels off till next week.
> --
> 1978 Kingsley -
> Kansas City, MO
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
I just replaced all my shocks with new KYBs last month. Made a world of difference in the ride. Three of the old shocks were completely shot and the
other three were getting weak. I have no ideal how long they were bad.

Jerry
--
Jerry Sitzlar..... 77 Eleganza II, Twin bed, dry bath......
Lenoir City, TN
 
I had 5 bad shocks, basically no resistance. Only the drivers front was even close.

Drove on them for a year before I figured it out LOL

So Yeah, you're probably OK

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Jerry Sitzlar via Gmclist
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2017 10:56:23 PM
To: gmclist
Cc: Jerry Sitzlar
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Bad Shock

I just replaced all my shocks with new KYBs last month. Made a world of difference in the ride. Three of the old shocks were completely shot and the
other three were getting weak. I have no ideal how long they were bad.

Jerry
--
Jerry Sitzlar..... 77 Eleganza II, Twin bed, dry bath......
Lenoir City, TN

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Even ONE bad shock can cause all sorts of handling misbehavior during braking!

~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Keith V
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2017 09:46
To: gmclist
Cc: Jerry Sitzlar
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Bad Shock

I had 5 bad shocks, basically no resistance. Only the drivers front was even close.

Drove on them for a year before I figured it out LOL

So Yeah, you're probably OK

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Jerry Sitzlar via Gmclist
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2017 10:56:23 PM
To: gmclist
Cc: Jerry Sitzlar
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Bad Shock

I just replaced all my shocks with new KYBs last month. Made a world of difference in the ride. Three of the old shocks were completely shot and the
other three were getting weak. I have no ideal how long they were bad.

Jerry
--
Jerry Sitzlar..... 77 Eleganza II, Twin bed, dry bath......
Lenoir City, TN

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Ok, can't hold it in any longer, gotta ask. How can you tell you have bad shock? It's not like you can walk up to the hood or trunk of these and do
the bounce test. There I feel better now!
 
I would say if you drive it and it does ANYTHING funny over bumps / rolls you have shock issues.

Mine did this weird corner to corner rocking that made sense one I saw which shock was good.

Otherwise you has to pull them and push on em. If they move without a lot of work, they are bad.

If they are Bilstiens, they are probably bad

If they are not KYB they are probably bad

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of tom geiger
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2017 4:00:30 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Bad Shock

Ok, can't hold it in any longer, gotta ask. How can you tell you have bad shock? It's not like you can walk up to the hood or trunk of these and do
the bounce test. There I feel better now!

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On the KYB shocks, if they still are holding gas, you can consider them as
o.k. Look under the upper bell onto the shafts and inspect for any liquid.
If you see any, replace the shock.
Jim Hupy
Salem. OR
78 Gmc ROYALE 403

> I would say if you drive it and it does ANYTHING funny over bumps / rolls
> you have shock issues.
>
> Mine did this weird corner to corner rocking that made sense one I saw
> which shock was good.
>
>
> Otherwise you has to pull them and push on em. If they move without a lot
> of work, they are bad.
>
> If they are Bilstiens, they are probably bad
>
> If they are not KYB they are probably bad
>
> ________________________________
> From: Gmclist on behalf of tom geiger <
> tgeiger>
> Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2017 4:00:30 PM
> To: gmclist
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Bad Shock
>
> Ok, can't hold it in any longer, gotta ask. How can you tell you have bad
> shock? It's not like you can walk up to the hood or trunk of these and do
> the bounce test. There I feel better now!
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
The last 3 shocks I had go bad over several years. On one the shaft was busted in half under /inside the boot area, the other 2 leaked oil on the
floor.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
If/when you go to remove the shocks, do yourself a favor and hit the nuts/bolts with your favorite lubricant. WD, PB Blaster, Kroil. A few days if
possible ahead of time. Mine were darn near impossible. Given that your head ends up in the wheel well leverage can be difficult if you dont have
a big impact wrench. Use all proper cautions when the coach is up in the air. blocks, jack stands, common sense. There is no reason your body needs
to be under any part of the coach.

It helps to release the air in the bag, so you can move the bogie arm up and down a bit as needed to get the old ones out. A length of 2x4 helps as a
lever in this regard under the bogie arm.

Its a good time to inspect your air lines, brake lines, and drums and inspect and repack your rear bearings, since your only one more cotter pin and
bolt away to pull the rear hub assembly... If your feeling brave, crack open the wheel cylinder bleeder screws and put a few wraps of teflon tape on
them. (Thanks Matt C). It will make your life easier.

Lastly at least for KYB shocks in the front. The odd angle over time sometimes damages the poly shock eye bushings. If the shocks are still good you
can just replace the eye bushings. Jim K sells them I think and I have a part number around here somewhere. I did this for the fronts of mine and
it helped a lot. Its somewhat of a chore squeezing the new bushings in but a bench vice and large washer helps. You become a pro on the 4th one.


--
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
 
I have the replacements for mine, and I suspect when I install them, I will again enjoy thhe value of the $40 H-F impact wrench.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
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