Oem Frt Gas Shocks

[XMan9]

my 2002 has/had front gas oem shocks. i yanked 'em off and installed bilsteins (h2 suffix). did the other years have them? if you look at the body of the shock it has a small spot welded plug about the size of a b-b. this is what monroe does after they add nitrogen. they also say "made in usa" and "do not incinerate or puncture". when i took them off they expanded. very slowly, like they were the low pressure type. the new bilsteins act differently and handle better. has anybody else seen this?

[Schludwiller]

Most of the Nissan front shocks I've taken off never expanded. They just sat there like a turd.

[rrdstarr]

Xman...I think your the first person to replace your shocks? Funny how they put Gas shocks on the '02's! Wonder if they have a better ride than an '00 or '01?

[ChuckH]

Mine have the little weld too and say "do not heat or open." It takes a long, long time for them to expand once I compress them. Oh, mine are US made too. I'm quite certain they are not gas pressurized though. The sound they make when compressing is not too unlike when you get a boot stuck in mud. Sure sounds like an ordinary shock to me. Both rear ones were toast at less than 30K miles, so I know they weren't gas charged.

[xoc]

All model year Xterras have gas charged shocks.

[rrdstarr]

Mine stock shocks were crap at 22k miles when I dropped in the Bilstiens. Like Sclud said, you compressed them and they stayed that way!

[xoc]

Mine took awhile to extend. They're not nearly as charged as the Bilsteins.

[XMan9]

yes, i found out this is true. xterras have gas charged shocks. but not the kind we all know and love. these are the "low pressure" type. they have just enuf nitrogen pressure in them to keep the shock oil from aerating and getting bubbles. bad bubbles, bad. no control when you are boonie hoppin'. the kind we want is high pressure. these keep the tire pushed firmly to the terrain. oem shocks are junk, but alas, still gas charged. is nissan listening to xterra owners? well, kinda...

[FSRBIKER]

Don't expect Nissan to listen and install better shocks, it would be niuce if the Enthusiast package included things such as upgraded shocks, rear tow points and real skidplatres but don't count on it. Toyota basically killed the TRD Tacoma package this year by switching from Billsteins to Tokico shocks, the ride difference from what i have heard is night and day.