LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Gabriel Ride Control has updated its GasSLX and FleetLine Commercial shocks, providing greater corrosion resistance and a better seal to reduce misting.

The enhancements were shown for the first time during Heavy-Duty Aftermarket Week and are already being built into current product.

The updated products feature an anti-corrosion coating and a misting-reduction seal, which the company says will reduce maintenance downtime and extend service life.

“Our engineering team has been working hard to solve the most common problems in heavy-duty vehicle ride control technology that customers simply believed to be inevitable in all shock absorbers,” said Duncan Greathead, vice-president of sales and marketing at Gabriel. “With the introduction of our updated FleetLine and GasSLX products, we have proven that it is possible to reduce corrosion and misting significantly in shock absorbers, and therefore to keep customers’ fleets on the road more consistently.”

In an interview with Trucknews.com, director of marketing Jon Gore noted that many fleets aren’t changing their shocks as often as they should. Gabriel recommends replacing a truck’s shocks whenever the truck is fitted with a new set of tires. This ensures the ride height remains at intended levels and can go a long way towards extending tire life and promoting even wear, Gore explained.

“Our recommendation is shock replacement should happen at the same time tires are being replaced to ensure the vehicle ride height is being retained and it’s not affecting new tires,” Gore said. “Why put a brand new tire on a truck with a worn shock? It’s almost akin to putting a new tire on and not balancing it.”

At about US$70 per shock, Gore said new shocks act as a good insurance policy to protect the investment a fleet has made in its increasingly expensive tires.