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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => Topic started by: philo_beddoe on October 15, 2015, 08:05:09 am

Title: Standard or heavy duty?
Post by: philo_beddoe on October 15, 2015, 08:05:09 am

I am about to order new shocks, i prefer a stiffer ride over a floaty boaty feel.  Would getting the ac delco HD shock be fine.  Or should i stick with standard qiality ac delco?

Title: Re: Standard or heavy duty?
Post by: Jakethesnake73 on October 15, 2015, 11:21:08 am

I think i just have the basic ranchos on mine it it rides great. It handles the washboard roads great.


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Title: Re: Standard or heavy duty?
Post by: Greybeard on October 25, 2015, 07:00:06 pm

I'm gonna say it all depends on what you use the truck for 90% of the time. My guess is the HD AC Delco shocks are not very stiff in comparison to some aftermarket shocks designed for 44" tires. If your tires are larger than stock then you need a stronger shock to control the weight. If you have swapped in a 14 bolt the same applies. It's the unsprung weight the shock controls, not the frame and body of the truck. The shock has to control the oscillations of from a few hundred to up to 600 hundred or more pounds of tire/rim/axle housing/brake/and part of the spring weight itself (all unsprung weight hanging off the spring hangers and shackles). In contrast the frame and body of the truck weighs over 2 thousand pounds. Think of that old toy with the small rubber ball mounted to a ping-pong paddle with a rubber band, the paddle is the frame of the truck, the rubber ball is the tire and the rubber band is the spring. So when the unsprung weight starts to get close to the weight of the truck itself (the small rubber ball just got to the size of a softball) the shocks have some serious work to do.

So it all depends. big tires? aluminum or steel rims? lift kit?

If it's all stock its a moot point, buy either of the two. Personally I would opt for two heavy duty for the front and two standard duty for the rear.

Title: Re: Standard or heavy duty?
Post by: philo_beddoe on October 28, 2015, 08:47:13 pm

100% stock everything.  No towing or hauling.

Title: Re: Standard or heavy duty?
Post by: Greybeard on October 28, 2015, 10:23:15 pm

I believe in that situation the HD shocks are more for fade resistance but they might also have more resistance to movement. They have a slightly larger reservoir too so the fluid does not get too hot or foamy. Nitrogen shocks help eliminate these problems by keeping the oil under pressure, limiting the potential for foaming. I think most shocks these days are built this way anyway.

I'm no shock expert but I have replaced a few dozen of them over my lifetime on my own cars and trucks. For a softer ride I'd go with the standards, but like I said, the heavy duty in the front to control the weight of the engine a bit more might make for a more comfortable ride. That sounds counter to what I said before however, the weight of the engine will cause the springs to store more energy when a bump is hit, this energy needs to be turned into heat which is what the shocks do...isn't fluid dynamics fun?

Title: Re: Standard or heavy duty?
Post by: philo_beddoe on October 30, 2015, 09:29:01 pm

Well, the hd were out of stock, so i went with factory stock original ac delco.   Rides great.