Shock Absorbers

Like many companies in the high performance racing shock market, Walker Evans was founded by a racing enthusiast, whose name happened to be Walker Evans.  His story is a little different than most, since his professional racing accomplishments are legendary enough to have earned him the official nickname –“The Legend.”  WE has been manufacturing shocks and suspension products from Riverside, California for almost fifty years.  Today the company has professional racing teams in UTV, Off Road, and Snowmobile racing, with Walker’s son, Evan, the lead racer in the Off Road team.

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They make shocks for trucks, SUVs, rock crawlers, and sand cars.  In addition, they offer shocks for UTVs and snowmobiles.  Finally, they have shock kits and a few shocks for miscellaneous applications.  Wheels are crucial to suspension system performance and Walker Evans offers racing wheels, buggy wheels, street wheels, and UTV wheels.  If you’ve already checked the Internet automotive discussion forums, you know they get high marks, not only for their outstanding performance and durability, but also for their reasonable prices when compared to the hefty prices of many of their extreme high end competitors.  While they’re certainly not cheap, they offer good value for the money.

If you’re new to the racing world and you don’t yet have a favorite local dealer where you can go for advice, you probably think you can just hop on the net and find out everything you need to know about Walker Evans shocks.  Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.  Their web site has more information about racing and racing events than it does about the technical specifications of their products.  In addition, their “Find a Dealer” button yields no dealers!  The site states a dealer list is coming soon, but there is a form for you to fill out if you are interested in becoming a dealer!

There’s always the forums for advice, and entering “where to buy Walker Evans Shocks” into your favorite Internet Search Engine will lead to a few sites where you can actually buy them.  Racingplus.com lists six different Walker Evans UTV shocks for the Polaris line.  They range in price from about $350 to $450.  Most are coil over designs and you have a choice of piggyback or remote reservoirs.

Polyperformance.com has a Walker Evans Air Shock, which has a lightweight aluminum body with a hard anodized steel shaft and piston.  Powersports360.com has front and rear shocks for Polaris snowmobiles, the RMK Air Piggyback Shock.  They are completely rebuildable and revalveable.

Although the average American consumer may have never heard of Tokico, the company has been making shock absorbers for over 65 years.   Now part of the Hitachi Automotive Group,  they have three locations in the United States where they manufacture and distribute both OEM and Aftermarket shocks as well as brake and other hydraulic automotive component parts.

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Traditionally there has always between a trade-off between the performance handling and ride quality capabilities of shock absorbers.  As a major supplier of OEM suspension systems, Tokico began to address this problem in the 1970’s and they claim they were the first manufacturer to develop the twin tube low pressure gas shock.  Today this technology is used in shock absorbers all over the globe.  The first American car to use twin tube shocks was the 1982 Lincoln Continental and those shocks were designed and built by Tokico.  You won’t find motorcycle or snowmobile shocks at Tokico, but they do provide high performance shocks for various racing applications.  They have four main product groups:  the HP Series, the D-Spec Series, the Illumina Series, and the RAK series.  Let’s look at a few of them:

Tokico Shocks:  the HP Series (High Performance)
Tokico HP shocks are recognized by ardent high performance fans the world over as “the blue shock.”  While the HP series uses the twin tube gas-charged design pioneered by Tokico ,  those “in the know” when it comes to shocks are aware all gas charged shocks are not filled with gas, but with oil.  The gas that is present is there to keep the oil under pressure and that oil can begin to foam due to pressure variations as the shock’s piston moves through the oil.  The oil Tokico uses is different than that used by other manufacturers, specially compounded to minimize viscosity changes.  But the core of Tokico HP Shocks is the piston design.  Their piston rod guide is chrome-plated and micro-polished with Teflon coated bushings.  According to Tokico, it is their pistons that set their shocks a cut above the others in the market.

Tokico Shocks:  the Illumina Series
The Tokico HP shock series are non adjustable but the Illumina Series is adjustable, with five different settings which allow the driver to change the balance between ride quality and performance handling to match the driving conditions at the time.  With Illumina Shocks the daily driving needs can be adjusted for “street” needs, like drag racing, or even a spin on a professional race track.

For light truck and SUV owners, Tokico offers the Trekmaster Series.  With Tokico’s various technological improvements, they claim Trekmaster Shocks produce 65% less drag than comparable shocks.  If you own a Honda or Acura you want to lower, Tokico has the RAK series of kits.

If you’re interested in Tokico shocks, their web site at tokicousa.com has an excellent set of Application Charts, where you can see the different types of Tokico shocks available for your vehicle.

Showa is a Japanese manufacturer that was born in the aircraft component industry way back in 1938. By 1946 they had evolved into the manufacturing of automobile components and added shock absorbers to their line in 1953. Like most manufacturers in this industry, Showa is active in the racing world, with Showa shocks in Formula 1 and MotoGp racing contributing to many victories.

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When it comes to their extensive product line, Showa is probably the only manufacturer in the world to make shock absorbers for boats!  That’s right, they actually make four different power tilt and trim electrically powered units that protect both the boat’s outboard motor and its hull from shock damage when the hull or motor is hit by an object while the boat is underway.  Check these out at their web site – showa1.com/en – as they are truly amazing examples of engineering.

Showa is, of course, best known for their vehicle shocks – available for the automotive and motorcycle markets.  Showa’s shock technology is grounded in the use of lightweight, high tension construction materials, and unique oil seals, which serve to limit resistance.  They have four different basic styles of automotive shocks.

Their double wishbone shock is a coil over design with an outer tube gas chamber, filled with low pressure nitrogen gas.  The Single Tube design uses an external bypass chamber to separate the oil and nitrogen gas, resulting in improved damper and better overall performance.

They feature two strut style shocks — both coil over.  One is a double tube design and the other uses an inverted (upside down in effect) tube.  Finally they offer an independent single tube design unit for mounting with an existing spring.

Showa’s automotive products are not limited to shock absorbers.  They have gas powered springs for use in hatchback style vehicles as well as differential gears and both hydraulic and electric powered steering systems.  Most consumers don’t realize that on 4 wheel and rear wheel drive vehicles, the axle and engine are not connected.  Instead a propeller shaft transmits the drive force from the engine to the axle, and Showa makes three different styles of propeller shaft:  single piece, two piece, and three piece.

For motorcycles Showa makes shocks, front forks, and drive trains.  Since Showa cycle shocks are incorporated directly into the frame of the motorcycle, appearance, as well as performance, is important.  Showa motorcycle shocks excel on both counts.  They have a double tube coil over design, with attractive anodized black powder springs, and two different pressurized designs.  The single tube style features attractive red coil over springs while another single tube style features a separate pressurizing sub tank for better heat variation and a wider range of settings.  The coil over springs on this model are a stylish bright yellow.

ZF Services is an international supplier of a wide variety of automotive products for both OEM and aftermarket suppliers. They have a variety of product brands, including highly regarded Sachs and Boge Shocks. The company began when a young German cyclist, Ernest Sachs , patented his first cycling innovation in 1894. Today the company has 25 different manufacturing and distribution centers in 14 different countries. They are the leading manufacturer of both OEM and aftermarket shock absorbers for European cars. Let’s look at some of their product offerings:

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Sachs Touring Shocks for Passenger Vehicles
These shocks are designed for the average driver who wants an above average ride and above average handling.  The piston rods and rod guides inside these shocks are chrome-plated and wear and tear proof, guaranteeing an air tight seal for better performance and durability.  They are coated with a water based lacquer which protects the shock against corrosion as well as being environmentally friendly.

Sachs Advantage Shocks for Passenger Vehicles
These shocks are quite unique in that they are tailored to the vehicle on which they will be used.  Both mono and twin tube gas pressurized designs are used, whichever best matches the suspension needs of the make and model of the vehicle.  The axle, suspension design, and vehicle type are all taken into consideration when selecting valving and other components for the Advantage Shock.

Sachs Shocks for Commercial Vehicles
Sachs Commercial Vehicle Shocks are made of seamless compression-proof steel.  Each shock is tailored to the axle load, suspension design, and normal operating conditions of the vehicle make and model.  Piston rods are chrome-plated and highly polished to reduce friction and are treated to resist corrosion.  Abrasion proof and age resistant rubber compounds are used in all fastening joints.  Shocks are subjected to literally thousands of hours of rigorous testing before they are released into the market.  The end result is a commercial use shock absorber that not only performs extermely well, but lasts far longer than competitive shocks.  And Sachs Shocks are available all over the world.

Shock absorbers do not operate in isolation and Sachs struts and shock mountings are subjected to the same precision design and manufacturing processes as are the shocks themselves.  They also are subjected to the same rigorous testing process.

Boge Shocks for Passenger Cars
Boge offers the Boge Automatic as a quality replacement for drivers wishing to maintain original equipment ride quality and performance handling.  For those wishing an upgrade, there’s the Boge Turbo.  Sportier in design this shock is meant for those who want better performance response from their vehicles.

The Boge Shocks for Commercial Vehicles are similar in design and construction to those offered by Sachs.

QA1 Shocks are not for everybody.  In fact, except for real hard core racing enthusiasts, few people have ever heard of them.  But they are well known in the performance racing world.  Based in Lakeville, Minnesota, they began as a high performance racing company, supplying spherical bearings and rod ends.  They were good at what they did and one success led to another as they expanded their product offerings to include shocks and struts for all kinds of racing applications — circle track, drag racing,  and off road.  In 2004 they acquired the Carrera Shock company and today they are the top manufacturer of performance racing shocks in the country.  Let’s look at some of their offerings:

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QA1 Circle Track Shocks
They make steel and aluminum shocks for both large and small body applications and steel stocks for stock mount applications.  The stock mount shocks are designed for oval track racing and have a huge advantage in that they can be revalved and rebuilt by the end user.  So not only are they economical to purchase in the first place, they don’t have to be tossed and replaced when they wear down.

They have a huge inventory, with 11 different shocks in the large body steel mount series; 3 in the steel small body series; and 7 in the aluminum large body series.  Most of these models can berevalved and rebuilt by the racers themselves, often right on the track.

QA1 Drag Racing and Street Performance Shocks
There are 13 different category series of shocks here.  Some, like the Corvette “C” Series, feature 11 different models, varying by front or rear application, length, and single or double adjustability.  The Mustang II R Series have even more models from which to choose — 15 in all.   And the Sports Compact Series offers a whopping 28 different models.

QA1 Street Rod Shocks
There are another 11 category series of Shocks for Street Rods.  Again, choices abound.  QA1 seems to have a shock for every high performance application you can think of.  The Economy Mustang II series has 15 different models from which to choose.  At the higher end, the Ultra Ride Adjustable Coil-Over Shocks have 15 different models, varying by mounting type, length, and ride height.

One of QA1’s “claim to fame” is their massive inventory.  We have barely scratched the surface here.  Check out their web site at QA1.net for more.  Take a look at their Application Guide for Circle Track Racing — which is their specialty — and you’ll see they have shocks designed for specific track conditions.  There are models for average tracks, and models for dry and slick  tracks.  They even have shocks engineered for the banking of the track itself, as well as shocks for asphalt tracks, and dirt tracks.   And don’t forget — they have a huge selections of rods, bearings, and accessories of all types.

Pro Shocks is all about racing.  They’ve been in business for over 25 years and they consider themselves the number one manufacturer of racing shocks in the world.  To back up that lofty claim they point to the large number of high performance parts distributors for whom they make private label shock absorbers.  The company was born in the heart of racing country — Lawrenceville, Georgia — back in 1983.  Today they make high performance shocks for lowered trucks, street rods, pro street cars, and kit cars.

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Their reputation is further justified by the professional and amateur racers who’ve used their products.  At their website, Proshocks.com, you’ll find impressive listings of the many races and championships won by drivers riding vehicles equipped with Pro Shocks.  You can also see the large number of racing venues all over the country where these highly regarded shocks “strut their stuff.”  So what makes them so special?

Gas Technology
The average driver may think that it is the shock absorber that controls a vehicle’s ride and handling performance.  In fact, it is the spring component of a vehicle’s suspension system that is responsible for ride quality and handling.  The shock absorber makes use of hydraulic pressure to counter the movement of the spring to control its action.  As a spring moves in response to road conditions or handling considerations like turning,  the shock resists this movement by passing hydraulic fluid through a variety of valves and openings within the shock.  Pro shocks use gas cell technology which never require any fluid adjustment from the owner.  In any shock there is an air pocket which allows the shaft inside the shock to move back and forth through the hydraulic fluid.  Gas cell shocks fill this air pocket with gas to eliminate the viscosity loss — think of oil frothing up — that would result if the chamber was filled with only the hydraulic oil and air.

There are two types of gas shocks — high pressure and low pressure.  High pressure gas shocks have a mono tube design so the outer wall of the shock is the outer wall through which the piston shaft must travel and any dent in the outside wall of the shock impacts shock performance.  Most pro shocks use a twin tube design with a second cylinder inside the shock.  The piston shaft travels through this inner cylinder, which has a gas cell  in the reservoir which attracts and melds with the air to prevent potential aeration and subsequent decline in shock performance.  This system is ideal for the performance requirements of racing vehicles and the track record of Pro Shocks in the racing world should be proof enough for any skeptic.

If you own a truck or an SUV and you are strictly a “Buy American” kind of person when it comes to your vehicle’s suspension system, Pro Comp Shocks are worth a look.   Located in San Diego, California, they have been using state of the art technology to produce high quality shocks for both professional and amateur on and off road drivers since 1992.  Their huge manufacturing center uses cutting edge CAD (Computer Aided Design) engineering, CNC manufacturing processes (Computerized Numerical Control),  and laser cutting and fitting technology.   They also have extensive research and development operations in the same center and maintain a separate 60,000 square foot distribution center, allowing them to hold a huge inventory ready for quick shipping.  A quick tour of their web site at exploereprocomp.com will give you an idea just how much they offer.

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The site has separate PDF documents for each of their shock offerings.  If you’re looking for shocks for your Chevy Silverado, click on the PDF file and you’ll get everything you need to know.  Their MX6 line of shocks is one of the few adjustable shocks for SUVs on the market.  An MX6 offers the discriminating rider six different levels of adjustment to match driving preferences.  MX6 technology is used in shocks for all major SUV and truck manufacturers, from the Dodge Ram to the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra to the Ford F150.

Pro Comp Shocks are offered in Kit form, with most kits including coils, mounting brackets, and paired shocks.  You can buy them factory direct or from a wide variety of online dealers.  In addition, there is an extensive distribution network of “brick and mortar” parts outlets where you can buy locally.

If you’re not an expert in what shock absorbers can do for you and you need a little help understanding what a quality shock can do to improve your vehicle’s performance, click the TECH button on the main page of their web site.  Go to “Tech Training” and here you’ll find one of the best descriptions of the physics involved in vehicle suspension anywhere on the Internet.  They actually start with a brief description of how Newton’s laws of physics apply to shock design and technology. Invest a little time reading and you’ll learn how a vehicle’s suspension system works and why quality shocks, springs, and struts are so important.  This section even includes six different videos which provide detailed, step by step instructions for installing their product kits.

If you’ve followed the trials and tribulations of the automobile industry in these difficult times you probably remember that in 2009 an Automotive Supply Company named Penske was ready to buy the Saturn Car line from General Motors. Unfortunately the deal fell through and Saturn has gone the way of the DeSoto, the Packard, and many other car manufacturers. But just who are these Penske guys and how did they get so big? If you’re a Nascar fan, you may have a clue: Penske Racing. The Penske Company was actually founded by Roger Penske , a retired race car driver. He bought a Chevrolet Dealership after he left the circuit but racing was his first love and he returned to the sport as the owner of TeamPenske, a company specializing in “all things racing.” Over time, this included shocks and today Penske Racing Shocks are among the most popular lines of racing shocks in the world.

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Custom Axis Racing Shocks
Custom was founded in California in 1993 and Penske bought a controlling interest in the company in 1998.   Penske completed the acquisition in 2003 and Custom was relocated to Penske Racing Shocks Headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania in 2005.   They make ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) shocks, Snowmobile Shocks, UTV (Utility Vehicle) Shocks, and Motocross shocks.  Penske Shocks are hand made and they are truly the “Rolls-Royce” of shocks.  Unfortunately, they are priced like a Rolls as well.  If you’re interested in the best, especially for racing applications, remember that Penske’s are custom made.  You don’t have to worry about the length of the cylinder being a little too long or a little too short for your space.  The Penske shop in your area will build it to your specifications.  They can match the style of your vehicle’s ride to your personal weight, driving expertise, and the terrain over which you most frequently drive your car.  Is all this worth prices of over a thousand dollars in many cases?

For professional racers the answer is generally yes.  Consider that these shocks are more adjustable than anything available on the market today.  Some ATV racers, as an example, may actually change shocks on their vehicles for different terrains.  With Penske shocks you never have to do this.  They are can be adjusted to match any terrain or race course out there.

In addition, they are completely rebuildable.  You will never have to replace a Penske shock.  And for professional racers that beat up their vehicles a lot, that’s a huge advantage.  Penske technicians claim their shocks will easily outlast the vehicle on which they are mounted.

Finally, Penske customer service is outstanding.  Calls are handled by actual technicians who know what they are talking about.  The next time you watch a Racing Event of any kind — snowmobile, Formula 500, Nascar, ATV — watch the shots of the pits and you’re sure to see Penske technicians around.  They’re the experts.

If you’re into off-road racing you know there are a lot of manufacturers out there touting their superior technology when it comes to shock and suspension engineering and design.  Some avid enthusiasts claim there is only one true “King of the Off-Road” – King Shocks.  They can claim to have won more off road championships than any other shock manufacturer.  Visit their web site at kingshocks.com and you’ll find an extensive collection of videos, picture galleries, and articles featuring King Shocks in action in a variety of races at a variety of racing venues.

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If you want to know how King got to be “king”, download their catalog from the web site and read about their storied past.  All their products are “race tested” which exposes them to real world stresses that simply can’t be matched by computer modeling.  Their shocks are completely customized – they don’t even utilize pre-cast components.  They’re machined and hand assembled in the USA, although they are now available in the Australian, European and Chinese markets.

Selecting a King Shock can be a daunting task as they have thirty different options across their product line – from custom cylinder and shaft length to bearing reducers to coil sliders and covers to reservoir hoses and compression adjusters.  They offer a Pure Racing Series of Shocks, Pre-Runner Shocks, and Air Shocks.

To make installation on more popular vehicles easier, they offer a series of Performance Kits.  These kits are available for trucks and SUVs as well as UTVs.  In the truck and SUV performance kits series you’ll find complete packages for the Toyotas, Fords, Nissans, and Chevy/GMCs.   The kits include all the mounting hardware you’ll need as well as detailed instructions.  King is known for their customer service as well as for their technological excellence, so if you get stuck, help is only a phone call away.   There are kits for the Toyota Tundra, Tacoma, Hilux, Landcruiser, and FJ Cruiser.  You can get them for Ford 150s and 250s and Nissan Titans, Fronties, and Patrols.  Finally, there are performance kits for Chevy 1500s, Tahoes, and GMC Sierras and Yukons.

As you probably know UTV racing is growing in popularity and after extensive testing with professional drivers King Performance kits for UTVs are now available to the general public.  You can find performance kits for the Arctic Cat Prowler, the Kawasaki Teryx, and the Yamaha Rhino in both 2 seat and 4 seat configurations.  For the Polaris RZR there is only a 2 seat kit.  In all kits you have a choice of OEM replacements or the improved adjustable shock design.

The year was 1989 and the place was Chino, California.  A small fabricating shop began making “built to order” performance suspension systems for Prerunners and Race Trucks.  That shop grew into today’s Fabtech, a respected industry leader in both suspension systems and accessories for off-road enthusiasts all over the world.  Everything they make is designed and manufactured in the United States, handcrafted by Fabtech employees.  You won’t find sub-contracted components in any Fabtech products.  Their Research and Development and Manufacturing facility is state of the art, using CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) lasers, lathes, and welders.

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If you’re looking for shocks for your car, you’ve come to the wrong place.  Fabtech is in the serious off-road market, with shocks and accessories for the big names in light trucks and SUVs, from Toyota and Nissan, to Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge, and even to Hummer.  They also have a full line of suspension shocks and systems for popular UTVs (Utility Terrain Vehicles) including the Kawaski Teryx, the Polaris, the Arctic, and the legendary Yamaha Rhino.

For Trucks, and SUVs, their line of Dirt Shocks and accompanying suspension systems give superior handling and performance both on and off road, in either 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive applications.  The Dirt Shock 4.0 features nitrogen charged monotube in a coil over design.  They are adjustable and can even be taken apart for further fine tuning.  They come in smaller body sizes, from 2.5 to 2.25 to 2.0.  You can add Fabtech steering stabilizer systems complete with mounting brackets to any of these and bump stops to the 2.25, 2.5, and 4.0 shocks.  Finally, they offer a 2.0 shock with reservoir, made exclusively for the Yamaha Rhino.  Dirt Shocks are available for other UTVs as well.

Fabtech performance shocks use a twin tube design and can be used with both OEM suspension systems and Fabtech’s high performance single and dual stabilizer systems.  For select vehicles they are also available in a coil over configuration.  The Fabtech web site at fabtechmotorsports.com has an exhaustive application guide where you can find what’s right for your vehicle.

Finally, Fabtech offers some versatile and practical accessories for off-road vehicles, including bumper mounted desert guards.  Mounting varies by vehicle but all of their guards can accommodate two 6” auxiliary lights, a huge plus for night time off roading.  They also offer angled and flat stop spare tire mounts, shock boots, and a whole bunch of other interesting stuff, like brake line extension kits and ball joint spacers, to name just a few.