About Off Road Shocks

Contributing greatly to the 4x4 experience are off road shocks. Finding the perfect set for your truck, SUV, or 4x4, however, can be a daunting experience. There are so many manufacturers – from Monroe to Rubicon, Donahoe to Sway-A-Way – so many different types, and various styles which run from flashy to functional, that choosing a set for your off road vehicle requires some prior research.

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Part of your decision will be deciding what you hope to achieve by adding aftermarket shock absorbers. The best set will allow for smooth driving on the highway, superb handling for cornering on the race track, and the most comfortable ride off road. If your truck is lifted, or has offset wheels, the shocks which work best tend to be different from OEM. Your decision will ultimately come down to how much you have to spend and what performance aspects you want to change. You may just want to change the looks of your vehicle, and in that case, performance will not be the deciding factor.

Types of Shocks

The basic shock is a twin-tube damper set up, with outer and inner cans separated by a sheet of foam and oil to serve as damper. As more force is exerted on this shocks, the more they allow for resistance. These standard shock absorbers do nothing for performance enhancement. They tend to heat up quickly and fade as well as having low volume of oil and small diameter pistons.

A giant step up from these basic shock absorber are those constructed with a monotube assembly. These shocks have only one wall without the second tube, which allows for a greater volume of fluid inside. A larger piston diameter creates a larger area for the oil to flow through, as well. What most makes these shocks stand out, however, is the addition of nitrogen. Located in a separate chamber from the oil, a floating piston separates the two. The piston moves as the damper piston forces through the damping oil.

Even more advanced are bypass shock absorbers. Monotube dampers work differently in these off road shocks. Bypass tubes force a portion of the damping oil along part of the shock’s body, then returning it to the main body with a one-way flow pattern. These bypass tubes provide the advantage of damping which is sensitive to position and can be finely tuned. While most of these types of shocks have three bypass tubes, there are some manufacturers which add more, thus allowing for the ultimate in customization.

Modern shock absorbers can usually be rebuilt. This is a handy feature which allows for modifications according to what type of terrain you might plan on encountering.

As with most anything, the more you spend on your off road shocks, the better quality and greater flexibility are provided. If you are going to go to the expense of lifting your truck or SUV or adding larger wheels and tires, then it just makes sense to upgrade the quality of your shocks, too.