This is a good video. I bought shocks for my car and they are oil filled. They didn’t extend back out and having done my research now I’m happy they are the right ones for the job. Thanks
Gas shock absorbers - The biggest misconception about gas shock absorbers is they are filled exclusively with gas. Not true. Every shock absorber has hydraulic oil. Nitrogen gas is used to pressurize the oil which prevents the oil from foaming, a term called cavitation. This provides a reliable stable shock absorber, big safety improvement over the oil damper which suffers from a noticeable drop in damping force under load. So with this in mind changing your standard oil shock absorbers for gas ones will improve your vehicle stability, road holding and safety.
Tanks for this content i dont need to change my rear shock coz its hydraulic i taught it was in bad condition i need to have comfortable ride i was tinking to change in gas type but now I've totaly change my mind i stik to hydraulic shock tanks for that sir i have delica L400 4X4 here in Philippines tanks to two of you. Have a 👍 day.
Most shocks nowadays have a light nitrogen gas charge to reduce foaming of the oil. If you can push the piston down by hand, it's not supporting your car. Try pushing in a piston for a hood or trunk lid and you will see what I mean.
Daxton Brown same here if I had seen this video before I wouldn’t have gone for the gas, the garage should install it tomorrow but I bought it already, too late
Best shocks I ever bought were Delco Super Pleasureizers for a 66 Chevelle SS with a HP 396. gas charged shocks do not provide a ride as comfortable as the old oil charged shocks. However, I cannot find any company making hydraulic shocks anymore.
this is the answer i was looking for, i had my mechanic tell me to put gas shocks and now my car just hits every bump so hard my rear window started to rattle, even the slightest bump is noticeable ,
hey man, did you found any resolution to it ? the mechanic is of a view this would settle after driving about 400-500 kms and Car would run more stable. Is that true ? please share your experience
I have a leaf sprung land cruiser 70 series. A few months ago I installed the kyb excel g (low gas) in all corner, and the ride was terrible. After I watch your video I replaced the rear with the OEM tokico hidraulic shock, and it transformed the vehicle, smooth the ride right away. I will change the front ones soon. Stick with hydraulic shock for older cars if CONFORT is your purpose!!!!!!!
@@marianluc6235 i don't use Monroe. The rear one is the original TOKICO, and the front one will be KYB premium (blue box). I prefer Tokico over Kyb, but both are made in japan, excelent quality.
@ 2:22 when he mentions "or the car will bounce up and down uncontrollably".... modern vehicles really DO bounce up and down uncontrollably but it's too "tight" to realize... They stiffened everything up because people are poor drivers so it's for safety. I ride in Uber a lot and it is the most uncomfortable experience compared to say a Crown Victoria yellow cab (float like a dream).. from jeeps to minivans and especially VWs the suspension is TERRIBLE and the seats are awful.. it feels like a train with no suspension or something.. they ride like a mine cart. I grew up with luxury cars and conversion vans... This video helped me in getting hydraulic shocks and choosing rubber over poly for my old truck ( well uber helped too)... So many restorations are ruined automobiles for the wrong suspension and wheels. My MN12 Thunderbird would float beautifully over bridge gaps on the highway.. but it still had motors to dampen the shocks further for sportier handling.. it was truly outstanding feeling even with the car on lowering springs.. Thank you.
Wish I would have watched this video and saw your comment too! Bought new gas shocks for my 96 Dodge Ram 1/2 ton. Really rough ride. Which shocks did you buy to smooth out your ride? Thanks!
Personally I think hydraulic shocks don't perform as well as gas charged. I had hydraulic shocks on my jeep and when it hit bumpy and even roads at high speeds the axle would be sloppy and lose traction, while my gas charged keep the axle down on the road and I don't lose traction. However the gas charged shocks make it very bouncy, kinda fun when you go through dips and humps in the road you get a floaty feeling, or when braking and comming to a stop it likes to nose dive and pop back up when stopped.
5 лет назад
What you are saying is backwards and makes absolutely no sense at all. This video explained it flawlessly. Gas shocks make the ride quality insanely bumpy and pathetic. But hydraulic oil shocks make the ride feel like a cloud.
Really helpfull guys. My car just feels too stiff over bumps...the whole car vibrates. I hav gas shocks with 40mm lowered springs.
7 лет назад
This is absolutely amazing!! Thanks A LOT for creating this video!! So, why in the world were gas shocks even invented??? What is the problem with just exclusively using hydraulic shocks???
@@jimpaul162 I just want someone to say which is better than which in general. Without dancing around the Bush as if they're going to get sued if they said in general hydraulics is good for motorway where there is no speed bumps and gas is good for back street driving. 👍🏿edited or is it the other way round 🤔 🇬🇧
Gas shocks work much better with modern and independent suspension that's why most shocks on the store shelves are gas charged,. If you have a classic car and you have the stock suspension then you want hydraulic shocks cause like what they said, they're designed for it. For example, if you have a ladder frame with factory beam axles and leaf spring suspension you don't want that thing teetering fast on an uneven ground or else you'll get a very bouncy ride so you need hydraulic shocks so it can coast and dampen over the road imperfections properly. With an IRS, gas shocks works best because the wheels are moving up and down independent of each other so even if the spring rate is higher, the occupants stay level.
@@zigzag7194 Your shock of choice will depend on what car and suspension you have. Classic factory suspension = hydraulic. Modern car = gas charged. So basically go with factory.
If the vehicles suspension was not designed for gas shocks, due to the internal pressure of the gas shocks, their use may cause the ride height to increase.
my cusin jeff and I tony are wanting to know which is better. I used to work at Firestone long ago. I learned that I forgot it. Being old. How to know what is good? Firestone said factory.
I have looked all over for hydraulic shocks and cannot find them. I have a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis and put gas shocks on the rear and it rides like a lumber wagon!!! Gas charged shocks suck!!! I also replaced all the struts on a 2006 Impala with Monroe sens track gas charges struts, and it rides rides like shit!!!
5 лет назад
Vi-king.com makes custom hydraulic oil shocks, fully hand-crafted in the USA.
"gas" shocks are hydraulic. They have oil in them that passes through an orifice to dampen the spring. The gas just keeps the oil from foaming under heavy use. Google "how do gas shocks work".
Gas charged shocks DO NOT RIDE as smooth as shocks only filled with oil. Gas charged shocks do have oil in them, but the gas is what makes them extend all the way out and are hard to compress in. Dual actions oil filled shocks ride the smoothest and better that gas charged shocks.
A compressed gas acts as a spring. A compressed gas cannot act as a damper. If you springs are weak a "gas" shock would improve the ride by making the spring stronger. The pressurized gas is just there to prevent air and oil emulsifying. Google is your friend... There are videos on youtube that show what's inside a gas shock and how and why it works better. Which it does... work better I mean.
Sure they have oil in them, however, they are fully expanded all the time and THAT give a harsh ride and not as smooth as a shock that is not gas charged in any way. A dual action oil filled only shock, gives a much smoother ride by far.
I'm planning to replace the damaged RR (or both as advised) shock on my 06 Lexus GS300, the OEMs' are oil! would the ride be stiffer if I install the KYBs' GAS shocks ( as recommended OEM replacement) ?
always go with factory. this video is for classic cars. If the kyb's are oem replacement then they're the same design as oem which is most likely gas charged.
I cannot find hydraulic shocks now. Every offering under $100 per shock are gas charged. EVERYTHING at Summit, everything at all the local auto parts stores, everything everywhere.
I have a 53 F 100 with a Heidts Mustang II suspension setup. It came with what I believe are gas shocks. I took the shocks off because it rode so harshly when I got it on the road for the first time. So I’ve been driving it around with no shocks at all. I realize that I need to put some kind of shocks back on it but I’m not sure what type to use. Maybe I need a softer spring?
@@heisenberg7186 I have the shocks back on it now, but it drove okay without them. I got no bounce in the front which makes me think my front springs are too stiff. I got SOME bounce in the back, but not that bad.
@@chucksgarage7165 mustang springs are definitely a stiffer spring rate. see if you can fit some grand marquis or town car springs. those at least have the softer spring rate.
What's the spring rate? You have to find out that your spring rate will work for the weight of the front of your truck. If rate is too high it will be harsh. Changing just the shocks isn't gonna help. Remember, you want the suspension to articulate and do its job. Having too much stiff of a spring will also make your sway bar useless.
@@cyrus138 Shocks can play a big role in how stiff the suspension is. I understand that the spring rate has to be right. I don't know what the spring rate is. I don't have the boxes they came with and I haven't found any markings on them. I thought about sending them to Eaton to test and let them recommend what I need.
now isnt the shocks job to keep the tires on the ground? i feel with hydro shocks they dont react to the ground on the rebound levels imo. hit a few bumps at the correct time the hydro hasnt cycled properly. my 73 rides like crap with hydros( too slugglish to react to the road conditions and acts like its skipping vs constant tire contact. is a hydro just stiffer valving?
No, the shocks job is to control the release of the springs kinetic energy. That is, to slow down the springs bouncing up and down. The difference between gas and hydraulic shocks is mainly internal. As the oil in both types of shocks moves through the valving it heats up and starts cavitation, that is bubbles form. As more and more bubbles form as the shocks work up and down, the effectiveness of the shocks becomes less and less. With hydraulic shocks there is nothing inside the shock tube that controls the cavitation. In side gas shocks there is a little bag of gas that has been pressurized and this bag reduces the cavitation. The downside of gas shocks is the gas bag adds stiffness to the shocks which adds to the amount of weight required to move the suspension. Another way to look at this is added spring rate. The suspensions on cars of the late 70's and early 80's were adjusted to allow for gas shocks while the suspensions of older cars were designed to use hydraulic shocks. Your shocks may be worn enough to require replacement or they could be spec'ed wrong.
Am I wrong? Am I? You tell me. I always hated double-acting shocks because I don't believe a shock should influence the compression of the spring. I believe that the spring does that job and the shock's job is to capture the rebound that the spring will attempt. I believe...Hey, that was a song. "I believe..."? Some guy sang that on the Ed Sullivan Shoe. Those were the good old days.
Dampers are designed to control both the compression and rebound characteristics of a spring because road conditions, weight, and engine load are not constant.
6 hours I'm searching the internet for a vid to answer this question, what shocks gives more comfort to passengers oil or gas shocks, now I know the answer. But I've a other question now.. What makes the oil shocks extend back if they are not gonna extend by its own?
A hydraulic shock should not extend on it's own. The shocks job is to control the release of the spring's kinetic energy. That is the shock stops/slows down the spring wanting to continue bouncing. It does this by slowly (?) letting fluid pass through an internal valve. There is no internal pressure inside a hydraulic shock like there is in a gas charged shock. It is the gas charge that causes a gas shock to expand on its own.
so what is solution apart from replacing it back with hydraulic ones ? the mechanic is of a view this would settle after driving about 400-500 kms and Car would run more stable. Is that true ?
I have searched all over the net and talked to several suppliers of shocks. No one makes oil filled or charged shocks anymore. I found one place that will take gas charged shocks and remove the gas and fill them up with oil. but they want around $90 per shock. The link below is the place that does that. Shocks and Springs since 1936 800-344-1966 or 970-513-8283 www.shocks2springs.com/Hydraulic%20vs%20Gas%20Charged%20Shocks
I am planning to get the shocks and struts replaced for my Mazda 3 2004, 2.0 L engine. Which shocks would you guys reommend? Kyb gas-a just shocks or Monroe struts? Please help.
This is the first factual explanation of a shock absorber that I've seen. Shock absorbers are the most misunderstood mechanisms in a car. Nobody knows what you just explained. All the videos are useless and avoid the question of what a shock does. Gas shocks are touted as mediating the problem of cavitation in the fluid. From what I can tell, spring rates for hydraulic shocks would need to be carefully adjusted down in order to install gas shocks. Can cavitation be cured in a way other than with gas shocks?
alex tworkowski Yes a great explanation of the added spring rate but unfortunately they only told half the story. They made the classic assumption when explaining something that people already know how a shock works. They should have explained that both have fluid in them to do the actual damping action and actually why the gas is in there. Not just the negative aspect of the gas. Or change the title of the vid.
5 лет назад
@@DiscoFang You make it sound like there are still positive benefits to utilizing gas shocks {just because there is a partial amount of fluid in there}. 100% of everyone I have ever met who drives today's new modern automobiles already realize how pathetic, harsh, and bumpy the ride-quality always is. And all these people actually believe this is just the normal way it is supposed to be. They don't realize that the only reason it is this way, is strictly because of whoever the bastard was that invented the worthless gas shock technology. And when I give anyone a ride in my 1978 Lincoln Continental Town Car with 100% pure hydraulic oil shocks, they ask me how in the hell the ride quality feels like they are literally floating on still waters, with absolutely no feeling of bumps or motion; just the most astonishing level of comfort in history.
Gábriel Priòre There's more to the modern and old ride than just the type of shock. Unfortunately every sedan & even SUV (?!) now has to have the perception of "sporty abilty" even at the expense of ride "quality"'. That those cars in fact do handle better than a 1978 Lincoln is another thing worth noting.
5 лет назад
@@DiscoFang The reason there is some accuracy in what you stated, is strictly because, everyone nowadays is 'addicted' to speeding like an immature fool {including making high-speed turns around corners}. I am glad I am not one of those types of people. I actually follow the speed limit, and drive very gracefully. And I have an infinite amount of reasons why I boycott 100% of all new modern automobiles.
Gábriel Priòre An old luxo-barge with modern safety features and electric drive is the perfect commuter. I reckon they'll probably return to luxury cars being luxury rather than so called "sports sedans". If we do actually end up with autonomous cars I'd want mine to feel like a feather filled lounge suite!
Dull action shocks are the best. Gas charged shocks forces you wheels down into every little bump, crack or uneven surface in the road and the result is your vehicle rides like a lumber wagon or as I prefer to say, rides like shit!!!!
Did you actually watch the entire video with the speakers turned on? It clearly explained that gas shocks are absolute garbage and cause horrifically pathetic ride quality. Only hydraulic oil shocks can offer a smooth and comfortable ride quality.
Freakennn gen Xers, it’s alllll about performance and hydronic shruts are a thing of the past. Buy the right springs or even stock and gas struts will break in to just as good of a ride. as well as extra performance with breaking and accelerate... instead of your hydro struts taking the energy. Buy gas unless you got an old beater. But most older restorations have ungraded suspension that will suggest using gas struts anyways... but if you like losing mpg and breaking power go for it.
This video is fake news sorry. Gas shocks and hydraulic shocks can both be made to the same damping rate specs. Having weak shocks increases the oscillation of the springs, and you'll be bouncing up and down a lot more. And your tyres are also more likely to lose traction. If you want a softer ride, you need softer springs. At the risk of a wallowy, slow rollercoaster like ride and increased body roll.
I am not sure what you are trying to say here. If you are saying gas and hydraulic shocks are the same, you are incorrect. If you are saying they both perform the same function, you are correct. It is the make up of the shocks that is different. Hydraulic shocks have zero internal.While gas shocks can have many pounds of internal pressure. In designing suspensions, both the spring rate and the shock rate are taken into consideration. Early suspensions had higher spring rates because the shock had no rate. Later, mid 80's onward, used lower spring rates combined with gas shocks which had higher rebound and compression strengths/rate.
@@EatonDetroitSpring they can be made to the exact same damping rates, and they both use hydraulics to achieve this. The fact that gas shocks extend by themselves is not by design, it's just incidental. The aim is to keep the hydraulic oil under a bit if pressure. They don't carry any load, they just control the speed of the suspension with their resistance to movement in both directions, exactly like oil shocks. The advantage of the gas shocks is that they can avoid aeration and foaming of the oil, and therefore provide consistent performance for longer. In gas shocks, the oil can move faster thanks to the gas pressure, so if all else is equal, that would result in a firmer ride. But all else doesn't need to be equal, gas shocks can use smaller hydraulic passages as needed to provide more resistance to movement.
Gas shocks have oil and are more durable better handling on hwy and keep you attached to the ground hydraulic just give you better smooth ride. I'll leave a link form the Monroe engineers www.jmg.com.gt/en/oil-shock-absorbers-or-gas
uriel0002 finally sombody know what they are talking .just because you see an old guy talking about shock absorber doesn't mean he knows a lot.the old guy is stuck with the old cars.new cars handle gas ones very good .I just put some kyb gas ones on kia soul and there is no bumpy ride.original hydraulic. With the original ones the car was jumpy like a goat sideways.i got tired of them.gas much better.
this information in the video is totally wrong. both shocks will provide a force proportional to velocity. that fluid filled shock WILL absolutely increase it's force as a function of velocity
@@EatonDetroitSpring I need a pair of front hydraulic shocks for a 2002 infiniti G20 wagon. We call it a Nissan P11 Primera wagon here in the caribbean. Do you have any in stock for this vehicle?
Actually, this video was astonishingly flawless. It seems like you believe there are positive benefits to utilizing gas shocks. 100% of everyone I have ever met who drives today's new modern automobiles already realize how pathetic, harsh, and bumpy the ride-quality always is. And all these people actually believe this is just the normal way it is supposed to be. They don't realize that the only reason it is this way, is strictly because of whoever the bastard was that invented the worthless gas shock technology. And when I give anyone a ride in my 1978 Lincoln Continental Town Car with 100% pure hydraulic oil shocks, they ask me how in the hell the ride quality feels like they are literally floating on still waters, with absolutely no feeling of bumps or motion; just the most astonishing level of comfort in history.
Most shocks nowadays have a light nitrogen gas charge to reduce foaming of the oil. If you can push the piston down by hand, it's not supporting your car. Try pushing in a piston for a hood or trunk lid and you will see what I mean.
@@kenmarriott5772 shocks are not supposed to "support your car". Only to slow down the speed of bounce of the suspension. Less oscillation, tyres stay more in contact with the road.
