Virtually everyone who manufactures shock absorbers claims to use the best materials and have the best design. However not all of these "bests" are equal. There are very real differences in the materials, tolerances, and actual internal designs of different manufacturers. This photo shows a few of the many different piston designs. Keep in mind that quality has an effect on how long the shock will last and how even or consistent the performance will be. Design has a major effect on how the shock actually works.

Good quality and sophisticated designs tend to be more expensive to manufacture than poor quality outdated designs. Controlling both excess body motion and the tires and wheels properly requires sophisticated oil flow management. Inexpensive shocks simply cannot do both jobs correctly.

WHAT ARE GAS SHOCKS?

The oil used in shock absorbers has some air in solution. The rapid movement of the shock piston causes what is called cavitation. This results when the air in the oil comes out of solution to form foam. Foamed oil will not provide proper resistance. This affects shock performance. By pressurizing the oil, engineers can eliminate
the negative effects of cavitation. The result is better more consistent control and superior ride quality. There are two types of gas pressurized shock absorbers. Monotube-high pressure units and twin-tube low-pressure shocks. There are also a number of designs within these two categories. It is important to realize that simply adding gas pressure to a poor quality shock will not make it into a high quality unit.

DOES A WARRANTY MEAN ITS A
GOOD SHOCK?

Warranties are like ears, virtually everyone has them. They are marketing tools, and they offer no indication of the quality or design of a shock absorber. In fact some manufacturers simply raise the price of their inexpensive shocks to cover warranty costs. A warranty may get you a free replacement, but warranties rarely cover labor costs. It is better to invest in the type of quality that rarely requires replacement. TOKICO makes high quality and durable shock absorbers. If you should have any problems, simply contact your dealer or TOKICO about our limited warranty. Remember, a registration card or proof of purchase is necessary to keep warranty in force.