4x4 Shocks

4x4 shocks are different from light truck or minivan shocks in the same way that all 4x4 parts are different. 4x4 shocks do the same job as regular shocks; they just do it under more extreme conditions. Whether you just need to replace your factory shocks or you need more specialized performance, a little education is in order. Knowing what shocks do and which shocks to look for is important before you whip out your credit card.

A Shock is a cylinder installed behind your wheel which is filled with oil or compressed air. When the cylinder is compressed, the oil or air slows down the rate of compression. In this way, shocks slow down the movement of the other parts of your suspension. For instance, if you hit a bump, your tire will want to move upward while your chassis would prefer to stay at the same height. Your shock will still allow these items to move independently, but it will happen slowly, without the impact being transferred to your lower back. Simply put, shocks smooth out your ride.

4x4 shocks do all of these things, but in more extreme ways. For instance, the shocks in a lift kit will be longer than your factory shocks, to accommodate the added distance between your wheel and your frame. These shocks will also allow for more travel distance between the frame and the wheel, which becomes necessary when your left and right wheels are articulated, that is, when one is trying to go up and the other is trying to stay down. All 4x4 shocks - even standard sized ones - are engineered to absorb harder impacts more often, simply because driving off-road will cause that sort of abuse.