If you need shocks or struts, don’t miss out on Monroe’s “What Shocks You?” promotion.  From September 1 through October 31, 2011, this promotion offers mail-in rebates of up to $125 for qualifying purchases of Monroe and Rancho ride control products. Qualifying purchases of four Monroe Quick-Strut assemblies or Rancho quickLIFT Loaded units for the same vehicle will earn you a $125 mail-in rebate, while several combinations of leading Monroe and Rancho products including Sensa-Trac, Reflex, OESpectrum, Gas-Magnum and Max-Air shocks and struts, as well as Rancho RS9000XL and RS5000 shocks will earn you a rebate of $25, $50 or $75. Don’t miss out!  Have your shocks and struts checked today, to take advantage of this promoti...

In the early 1900’s cars still rode on carriage springs.  Ride quality wasn’t nearly as important an issue back then as just keeping the car rolling over the rocky, rutted surfaces that often passed as roads.  Early suspensions consisted of the front wheels being attached to the axle using steering spindles and kingpins.  This permitted the wheels to pivot while the axle remained stationary.  In addition, the up and down oscillation of the leaf spring was damped by a device called a shock absorber.  These first shock absorbers were nothing more than two arms connected by a bolt with a friction disk between them.  Resistance was adjusted by tightening or loosening the bolt.  Needless to say, the shocks did not last very long and performan...