Shock absorbers get no respect I tell ya!
From the moment the wheels on the coach start turning, any shock is beginning its slow oil viscosity degradation.
Piston diameter, valving, ring wear, piston wear, body wear all mean little to perceived ride quality in comparison to oils' loss of viscosity. To have consistent damping over the lifetime of any coach requires regular oil change and nitrogen re-charge of your shocks.
But to make a shock that is rebuildable cost far more than most will pay, so as a consumer we are forced to replace shocks at regular intervals.
My f53 is displaying ride quality issues at only 10,000 miles, and I have been shopping for replacements that allow for oil and charge changes. The only suitably affordable offerings are the "King" shocks at $2400.00 for a set of 4.
Not sure that is in the budget, if I really think it through its the only sustainable solution because they are rebuildable when the damping fades from unavoidable oil degradation. Let's say a good set of shocks cost $700 a set, and need replacing every thirty thousand miles, that is $2100 for 100,000 miles of safe use of my f53 chassis. So, if I use the real possibility that after using a set of "King" shocks for 100,000 miles they could have some value to another f53 owner, making the original cost of $2400 reduced to $1200(assuming a fair sale price of a rebuilt "King" set at $1200), buying the rebuildable shocks more of a cost saving measure than at first thought.
Anyone else aware of any other rebuildable f53 shocks?
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