Sinful7

Ok, so here's the problem..



- I Replaced 95% of the front end of my truck.

- Installed the $16 Monroe Gas-matic shocks

- Truck is lowered 4"

- Truck sat for a month while I was saving up to replace the transmission

- Get truck back from new transmission, front feels loose

- Get alignment, problem gets worse (bad alignment job)

- Replace the last 5% of the front end

- Do home correction of alignment, steering feels tight, no more wandering or pulling

- TONS of bump steer, cracks in the road slam the front end, feels like loose A-arms or something



So, I'm wondering if the shocks could've gone bad just sitting there for a month while I was waiting on my transmission? I need to remedy this problem asap, so I'm going in for a professional alignment this weekend, as well as replacing the torsion bar mounts (where the x-member mounts to the frame) and I was thinking new shocks as well. When I get the shocks off, if I compress them and they don't rebound, or rebound slowly, does that mean they're bad?

j9fd3s

the shock should be hard to pull in and out, its there to dampen the spring. if theres no resistance at all, then they are bad.

banzaitoyota

original springs?

Seppuku

i was a mechanic now i call my self a bum until i get another job

fc3sboy1

too much negative toe or camber will also make the vehical wander over bumps and bump steer

phinsup

monroe gas matics could have been ***** going in , but it's definetely possibe they died. actually in a good truck shock you should barely be able to push the piston in at all.

Apex13B

its the shocks, and the arm bushings

Sinful7

Okey dokey. I'm going to replace the shocks along with the torsion bar mounts. The bars are original, but I hear that the mounts are more of a problem than weakening bars. Afterall, on torsion bars, if they start to sag, you can just crank 'em down a little further. I'm excited to see what new mounts will do, because I've heard that replacements will tighten up the entire front end. Although I'm not confident on the source of that information, I'm still hopeful.



Is there a good chance the bump-steer effect is caused by, or amplified by a worn steering gear? From what I understand, the GM gears are pretty tough and not prone to failure, or even wear.. But I'm pushing 210k on the clock and I wonder if that's another source of my grief.

1988RedT2

I think the bushings will help a lot, but I'm just a dad with a finance degree who used to work in technical sales who plays with computers, restores automobiles, builds race cars and stuff, so what do I know?

teknics

check the map sensor.



but in all reality, when you pay $16 shocks, expect them to go bad. i get them at cost and i still buy ones more expensive then that., monro does have some actually good ones.



for dropped trucks buy some "toxic shocks" good company to deal with for lowered truck stuff.



kevin.