Bought kyb excel g/gr2 for the front and rear of my 11 f150... fronts are complete with spring. Threw the rears on tonight, started at the bottom and guided the top in as they expanded. After I came to work and talked to a buddy and he asked if I primed them first? Never done that before, now I'm reading all over the internet they need to be primed? Did I do any harm by not doing so? I've driven 4 miles on them, and another 4 in the morning when I'm off work. Should I take them off and prime them or will they do it themselves over time?
Didn't prime new shocks... now what?
- Thread starter sh40674
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Huh?
I've never done that with any set of shocks I've ever installed including Koni race shocks. I've never seen mention of it in any installation guide either.
I've never done that with any set of shocks I've ever installed including Koni race shocks. I've never seen mention of it in any installation guide either.
Ya what is he talking about?
The fact that they expanded as you installed them tells me they are ok. If you really can't sleep, take bottom bolt out and push them up all the way and let them expand to full extension. Do this maybe twice, reinstall bottom bolt and your done. I've never done this, in fact never heard of it until now.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
Never heard of that lol done many shocks and struts and everything never done it once and never heard of it. So you are not crazy.
not needed IMHO - the first time you drive more than a few miles you will most likely fully contract and expand the shock. If you don't think you have, go find a bumpy road ;-)
Forget it and sleep well. Some shock even come compressed and bound by a plastic strap that gets cut then it expands, you wont be pushing them up and down too easily. Thinking about it, how are you pushing this thing up and down with the springs already mounted?
What? I thought you were talking about paint. I’ve never heard of such. I just take the old ones off and install the new ones.
JHZR2
Staff member
Ive heard of it but never done it. Some shocks come compressed, some you need to compress to install. It’s interesting to see the instructions above. I don’t recall seeing such a notice on shocks I’ve installed (all Bilsteins).
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Wow, I've been around a LONG time in the business but I have never heard of such a thing. When did this become a thing?
I figure it must be something particular with twin tube models.
I figure it must be something particular with twin tube models.
All hope is lost. Time to sell the truck and start walking...
They are twin tube, not monotube.
This morning I took the bottom bolts out and let them fully extend, then worked them all tje way up and down twice.
At this point I'd had about 15 miles on them. When they went all the way down the first time they were uneven, catching here and there. 1st time worked up they came down little more smooth. 2nd time they worked up and when they came down they came down perfectly smooth. Then I worked them back up and tightened the bolt.
Aa far as ride quality not too much difference, though slightly better. They don't ride nearly as smooth as when rolled out of the factory but they're also not factory shocks and a cheaper line. That aside there was a slight difference as they seemed to respond better to bumps.
Where I did notice a difference is around corners they seemed a tad better responsive.
I'll say with the couple minutes it takes to work them up and down, from now on ill do it, at least with the twin tubes. I could tell as they smoothed out when working them up and down that it did make the valving act correctly.
Like I said, even though the difference was slight it was still a difference
Here's a video I found interesting
This morning I took the bottom bolts out and let them fully extend, then worked them all tje way up and down twice.
At this point I'd had about 15 miles on them. When they went all the way down the first time they were uneven, catching here and there. 1st time worked up they came down little more smooth. 2nd time they worked up and when they came down they came down perfectly smooth. Then I worked them back up and tightened the bolt.
Aa far as ride quality not too much difference, though slightly better. They don't ride nearly as smooth as when rolled out of the factory but they're also not factory shocks and a cheaper line. That aside there was a slight difference as they seemed to respond better to bumps.
Where I did notice a difference is around corners they seemed a tad better responsive.
I'll say with the couple minutes it takes to work them up and down, from now on ill do it, at least with the twin tubes. I could tell as they smoothed out when working them up and down that it did make the valving act correctly.
Like I said, even though the difference was slight it was still a difference
Here's a video I found interesting
I watched the video out of curiosity but cant figure out exactly what did that performance does that the car doesn't do in normal operation?
Say this is a quick strut with twin tube what then? There is no way in Hades that is being pushed up and down by hand so I guess it has to go through life not primed. It smells like tripe to me.
Say this is a quick strut with twin tube what then? There is no way in Hades that is being pushed up and down by hand so I guess it has to go through life not primed. It smells like tripe to me.
Could it be they are manipulated in the factory before install?
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