Is this normal for a Boge front shock?

chrisbruck · chrisbruck's Garage

I'm pulling out my old Boge front shock to replace with a new Bilstein insert. Is it normal to be able to compress the Boge shock and NOT have it extend back out on it's own? Felt like whatever position I pushed the shock to it would stay until forcibly compressed more or pulled out.

Just curious if this is normal for the Boge shock or a sign it's bad.

djpateman · 10-04-2013, 07:13 PM

Standard shock absorbers are used to dampen motion. They do not act as a spring. They do not move on their own.

wildcat077 · wildcat077's Garage

Your shocks are toast ... yes they are supposed to come back !

Cheers
Phil

Arne2 · Arne2's Garage

No, non-gas-charged units will not extend on their own. I don't know from personal experience whether the Boges are gas-charged or not.

chris_seven · 10-05-2013, 12:15 AM

The Boge does not have a gas precharge.

chrisbruck · chrisbruck's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arne2

No, non-gas-charged units will not extend on their own. I don't know from personal experience whether the Boges are gas-charged or not.

This is what I was thinking too.... I'm more familiar with gas charged units that extend back out when compressed.

I guess I may hang on to these old Boge inserts just in case someone else may want some to rebuild or mess around with them. I was about to trash them thinking they were shot.

88911coupe · 10-05-2013, 06:18 AM

Maybe a dumb question but what is the benefit of having a shock do "double duty" as a spring? I would think the gas charge would have to leak and degrade over time. I am looking at replacing the shocks on my '88 and have been confused about upgrading to the other options.

uwanna · 10-05-2013, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88911coupe

Maybe a dumb question but what is the benefit of having a shock do "double duty" as a spring? I would think the gas charge would have to leak and degrade over time. I am looking at replacing the shocks on my '88 and have been confused about upgrading to the other options.

The gas is not in the shock to provide a "spring" effect. The gas is there to keep the shock oil under pressure, so that under extreme use the oil doesn't foam. When the oil gets hot and foams, it greatly degrades the correct operation of the shock. The extension of the shock when compressed by hand is just a side effect. As far as leaking, I have 33yr old Bilstein original equipment shocks which I removed from my '80SC that still have full gas pressure.