Old shock, bad shock... stiff shock?

[Squankum]

I'm pondering the ways in which old, worn shocks can go bad.

The car: 2000 Durango 4x4

Current shocks: CarQuest Bruiser Gas XD. They're some kind of gas shock. Made in USA, back in the day (2006.)

Went on at 126K mi, cost $42/ea as installed by the tire shop (long before this car joined by fleet.)

Current mileage: 241K mi

Just based on mileage, it's against my religion to have these things on the car. But it's not my car, got to convince the missus. You know. (Bilstein! Bilstein! Bilstein!)

Removed the fronts the other night. One was super stiff to compress and super hard to pull out. (It did not extend itself, no more gas.) The other one was fairly stiff in both directions, but still had gas pressure. It might even be normal.

Not a shock dyno, I know, but I am a somewhat large guy.

I'm used to shocks that go bad by having their valving wear out or just losing most of their oil and getting all sloppity-floppity. Can they go bad the other way? Super stiff?

No abnormal tire wear at all.

I don't know what this thing is supposed to ride like. (As for handling, I consider it a motorized barstool and am very careful with it.) I'd never been able to put my finger on anything, and say, "that was bad shocks." No bobbing, no diving, no squatting, really. Had a sea-sick bobbing moment over some large undulations at very low speed on a gravel road last week, but that was a new one.

I had a fuzzy memory that Dodge likes firmer spring rates on their trucks. Now I'm wondering...

Your input is appreciated.

 

[Long haul]

I had the same problem with a set of ProComp shocks on my old K5 Blazer a few years ago. One side had no resistance and the other side I'm not sure how but it doesnt move at all (even marked the shaft an drove it down the roughest road I know of). I would say you got your life out of them looking at the milage. I would throw a new set on an see if it handles a little better.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Had a sea-sick bobbing moment over some large undulations at very low speed on a gravel road last week, but that was a new one.

Variation in "performance" of shocks on the same axle is bad.

Replace them.

 

[djjsr]

Absolutely, positively remove those shocks ASAP. They are an extreme safety hazard and tell your wife I said so. You're looking out for HER well being by installing those Bilsteins.