Just finished shock swap

[Justbob]

So I just finished swapping in Texas Shock Works rebuilt shocks and Geiser front springs. The “do it yourself” shop I did it at is an hour and 30 min away (great place and owner, I will do a separate post on that), but point is I got a good mix of driving in with plenty of pot holes, milled pavement, off ramp bridge expansion joints, etc. I opted for the “B” valve “settings” advertised as street/off-road balance. When I bought the truck 15,000 miles ago (now at 60,000) felt like the suspension was much smoother. My easiest local test is hitting some “table top” speed bumps at about 30-35 mph in a parking lot near me that are about 8-10” high. When I first got the truck it felt like I could have had an open cup of coffee and barely spilt any, the shocks went south pretty fast over the last 5-10k miles (back end skipping out over bumps, etc.). My “real off-roading” is limited to logging roads so maybe I didn’t need the “B” spec. My ride back felt only mildly better than my worn out shocks and definitely not as smooth as when I first got the truck.
My question are, does anyone else feel like this with the “B” spec? Am I just being over analytical?
Would reducing the nitrogen pressure soften the ride?

 

[Justbob]

Getting no love on this question ?!?!?! Update, now when I go over speed bumps I get the soft “clunk” you get when your shocks are going and the bushings have play (I didn’t get the replaced bushings with my rebuilt shocks).

 

[CoronaRaptor]

Did you use a torque wrench on the bottom bolt and set it to 425 ft lbs

 

[Jeff550]

and TSW isnt dealing with this issue?

Hit up forged-offroad for all your future needs.

 

[Canuck714]

Did anything else change from the time you bought it to the time it started to feel different?
Like new tires....

 

[2slo4u]

If you are on stock leaf springs, they could be worn out and flattened which will greatly impact the ride. Just a thought

 

[Justbob]

I haven’t reached out to TSW on this. There isn’t any leaks on the shocks so I am guessing they will just indicate that’s the street/off-road valving. I am due for an oil change soon so plan to go back to the same shop, and move the shocks to lower perch. I think with the Geisers I won’t see much (if any) drop in height, but hoping it reduces the “preload” on the socks and smooths the ride out. I don’t think the rear leaf springs have lost much given the limited off roaring and limited hauling . I just did 1000 miles of mostly highway over the holidays and did notice the back end “hops out” pretty much the same as my old 1/2 tons. Feel like that was nonexistent when I first got the truck. Am I just having selective memory?

 

[Justbob]

No other changes other than rotating tires and installing 1-1/2” spacers.

 

[MFNG]

@Justbob I know what you mean. I had the same experience w TSW; put on rebuilds (can’t remember what valving i ordered) but they lasted probably 10-15k miles before the rears felt like the blown shocks I had when I bought the truck.

I will say I am probably due for new/upgraded leafs as it’s a 2014 w 115k on it, but I thought 10-15k miles was a little soon for the rebuilds to start leaking from strictly on-road use.

I reached out to them and they offered to send me a replacement rear if I sent in the blown rebuild, but I already had a line on some 2019 live valve delete take offs by the time they got back to me.

BTW even with the old leafs the 3.0’s make the truck float like a Cadillac compared to what it came with and the OE rebuilds - highly recommended this route.

 

[Bulldog15]

Just received my rebuilds from TSW haven't installed them yet. I had excellent customer service! I had the C service and hoping the ride is way better?? Just turned 70k on the truck from what I understand the lowest perch is a more comfortable ride? Any thoughts.