Is there a chart anywhere that shows how many pounds of pressure it should take to compress a healthy shock or strut? I'm talking about a good street shock, not racing. I was just curious, I'd like to have a frame of reference to use to pull my own and check them. They arent horrible, but don't seem right either. I'm not experienced enough yet to be able to spot one that needs changing just right off the bat when they are borderline.

 

I don't know that it would be possible to characterize shocks that way...

Their primary property is damping. Ultimately, if you move them very slow, they offer almost no resistance at all; but the more rapidly you move them, the more resistance they provide. Each design of shock (or for that matter, each adjustment of ones that have that) sets different resistances for any given rate of motion. And of course the resistance can be completely different in the 2 directions of motion, like 90/10 drag shocks for example. It would be theoretically possible to have shocks that behaved normally in the compression direction but were completely ineffective in the other.

Gas-charged shocks have a certain degree of constant pressure in them, but it's not part of their primary function. Mostly the pressure is just there to keep the fluid that actually does the work from foaming. I suppose if you had shocks that lost that, then you could assume that they would lose their effectiveness quickly under lots of rapid motions, from the fluid turning to foam; but you'd have to have new ones of the particular product to compare.

 

Ok, thx Sofa that's makes sense. I wasn't sure how it worked, so thats why I asked. When I unbolt the shocks at the bottom and push them up with my arm there is what I'd call pretty "normal" resistance. But the car drives like crap when I go over bumps, feels like I don't have shocks at all sometimes, so what you said adds up, they probably need to be replaced. I found some AC Delco struts and shocks on Rockauto for a good price that were gas charged, may go with them, I can't afford to go super expensive right now.

 

If the AC Delcos are direct replacements/the same as stock you might concider the KYB "Gas A Just" shocks. They are a firm shock.They don't flote when your going down the road but work well when needed. There only $41.00 each and Summit offers a "no shipping charge.
Summit = http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ky...t/model/Camaro


KYB =
http://www.kyb.com/products/gas-a-just/

 

I have the KYB gas a justs in my 69. They are a nice sporty ride. Their compression valving is stiffer to give them that sporty feel. Bilstiens would also be a nice strut/shock for a street car.