Pro Ryder VST?

[Hank]

Sorry to dig this up again but I thought I'd give an update.

After about a year and a half and 10k miles both front shocks are shot. The whole front end bounces like the shocks are not installed.

Granted I drive down a graded dirt each day and have been on a few runs but there has not been any serious thrashing on them. I'm mainly a trail rider.

I'm chocking it up to a waste of money. I'm sure they would be ok for all street use but if you are going to see any dirt, spend the extra couple of bucks and get a decent shock.

I just e-mailed Gabriel about warranty replacement.

I'm giving a set of Rancho's a shot tonight.

hg


(Just heard back: Lifetime warranty, bring shocks and receipt back to pep boys.) Guess I'll put'em back on again. Maybe $20.00 for shocks for life is not too bad of a deal....

 

[Hank]

Here is an update to my update:

These things blow....

Broke all 4 again this weekend on a light trail ride/day in the forest/swamp. Went home floating and shaking. The rears were about two weeks old fronts were almost 2 months.

Who cares about the warranty if you have to change them every 4-6 weeks.

I'm going to exchange them one more time and swap them out with ProComps or KYB's before the next run.


Anyone want to buy a new set including the warranty receipt? e-mail me directly.

 

[Alec]

I've had my Gabriels for about 2 years and still love 'em. They've been on many runs and have over 20k miles on them. I'll probably replace them within the next year cause they are getting a little mushy, but IMO 3 years for $60 is worth it for shocks.

For those interested, do a search for Gabriel VST and see all the threads on them. Gerald really loves 'em!

 

[Hank]

Alec,

You are preaching to the choir, I love the ride and I am at a loss.. They are just falling apart on me..

All four are shot, slush, dead after one day in the woods on fire roads and trails.. Front and rear bounce up and down freely... They were fine before the run..

I just don't get it..

 

[Alec]

Hmmm, maybe they're being destroyed due to the lift. I know Gerald got his custom lengthened.

 

[Hank]

You may be on to something.... The 2" claims you only need the stock shocks. But who knows in the real world... Do you know if gerald crossed them to something else??

Thanks
hg

 

[Alec]

Ya, I think mine are wearing prematurely due to my kinda (early fall) 2" lift. Gerald modded his by just getting some tubing welded into the main body to lengthen them.

 

[GJarrett]

Hank, you can click on "Gerald's Truck" in my sig line and go toward the bottom of the second post (my article) and there is a section on shocks for torsion lift and what I did to my Gabriels.

I'm at a loss too. I have spend the better part of a year beating the heck out of mine and they still work. I only have them on the front; I have OMEs on the back. My front Gabriels are lengthened. I trashed several Edelbrocks just like you described doing to your VSTs, but like I said my VSTs are still doing fine. If you have a lift I wonder if they cannot handle being overextended out of their intended range???

If you can't weld and extend like I described in my "Gerald's Truck" article then maybe you'd be better off with OMEs but they are expensive.

 

[Hank]

I saw some 2" shock extenders and was thinking about giving them a try. Even had the ones for the rears "T". Only a couple of bucks..

Will let you know.
Although 4wheel parts has the pro comps on sale right now...

hg

 

[Alec]

Definately let us know how the extenders turn out. Do they have some for my 96 also?

 

[Hank]

They were not model specific, Saw at pep boys. Had the shaft type and the type for the T (two bolt mount) will check and advise this weekend.


hg

 

[JDraper]

Hmmm, I've got the VST's on my X with 2" suspension lift, and I've had 'em off road many times, and they still work fine. Hank, do you disconnect your sway bars offroading?? I haven't yet, and I'm wondering if that's what might be killing yours.

 

[GJarrett]

Could lend credence to the theory that they do fine, but cannot handle continual or excessive full extension?

 

[Hank]

No, I do not disconnect the sway bars. Was a light trail ride with some mud puddle splashing. Nothing fancy.

Now you can bounce the front and rear up and down. Could not before the run.

Last time I swapped them at Pep Boys they were at a loss also. They claim they never get them back. I was up front and honest with them about the trail riding and they were fine with it...

I just don't get it. Now looking at going with some longer Pro-Comps.

The only thing I could think of is that they just dont like the washboard roads/trails. Also remember I have to go down a 2 mile washboard road each day to get to our office. (long strange story) so you can argue I am off-roading every day.. First set lasted a year though, not a month like the second set...


After I get'em anyone interested in buying a new set of 4 (in box) and a free waranty receipt??

 

[Hank]

Found the rear shock extenders at pep boys. 12.99.

The ride is a bit better now that I have more than 1/2" of travel left.

Will see how/if this set handles after our next run. If they blow again I'm going to go with something else.

I have to anyway as I am going up higher. Just put in the Skyjacker 2" and it is too low. I see a 5.5 in my future.

 

[Hank]

Hey guys guess what!!!'


A new record.... The replacement fronts failed after two weeks!! The front end floats up an down about three inches... You can get seasick just getting in the truck..

My guess is these things just cant handle going down a dirt road each day.

I spoke to the manager at pep boys and they will credit the cost against another shock. I'm going with KYB's this time.

Will let you know when I get em.

hg

 

[JDraper]

I'm amazed you had so much trouble with the Gabriels!!! I beat the stuffing out of mine at Paragon a couple of times, plus the frequent backwoods trails around here, and they still work as good as the day I put 'em in. I've had 'em fully extended numerous times and submerged 'em in mud and water several times with no apparent damage. I did go out and get shock extenders for the rear since I'm making some disconnects in the shop at work.

Lemme know what you thing of the KYB's compared to the Gabriels' (when the Gabriels' worked ) I'm beginning to wonder if I might want to do something different in the shock department too. There is a section of twisty, bumpy road around here that the back of my X just hops around on all the time. I don't know if it's the shocks or the fact the road sucks. I know my Firebird soaks up the bumps easily.

 

[jjue]

Yep, I know that I wrote a favorable comment earlier on the Gabriels, but after having the Bilsteins since this past summer, I feel as if I either worked the Gabriels or the vehicle and road quality combination just ruined them for me.

 

[Texan01]

I've got a set on my 95 and either the stock shocks are calibrated softer or Gabriel made these way stiff. my 2wd 4door rides way stiffer than my dad's 87 Dakota 4x4 with about the same shocks.

For the price they can't be beat, I've got 20,000 miles on them and they ain't wore out yet.

 

[Hank]

Just an update, shocks still broke. Called manager at Pep Boys and confirmed he remembered his offer.

Going in tomorrow to order a set of KYB's and they will credit the original purchase price against the KYB's.

Will keep you posted.

hg