98 w/ 3" blocks cant find shocks

[98rngrfx4]

Hello i have a 98 4.0 xlt fx4

I bought the truck sum time ago, the guy said he put overload shocks on the bak.

Well i looked under and theres 3" blocks bak there with gabriel ultra shocks.
The shocks are loose from the bottom bracket.

Besides the bolts that wont tighten, is it normal for me to be able to push the shock up half inch. It extends bak down. I think im riding on just leafsprings

I almost think that the shock is either dead or the shock is for stock suspension and overextended.

Wuts the deal there?
And where can i buy shocks for the 3" blocks without buying all that extra?

 

[XionicWaste]

If your shock pushes back down then they should be fine. The rubber bushing may be bad on the bottom of the shock or when it was installed it was supposed to have a steel insert and there is slop between the bushing and bolt. If you jump on the back of your truck and it bounces a few times then shocks are needed. If it settles fast then they are fine. Check out Monroe for shocks. See their online catalog for zillions of shocks which you can view by overall length and compressed length. Youll need to pull your shock to measure. Hope this helps!

 

[98rngrfx4]

Thx for the reply. The rear end on truk is just too stiff. When i go over speedbumps the rear end will come off the ground if im not careful. When i jump on the back it comes right back up. Ive loaded shingles and pulled 16ft trailers full of roof tearoffs that sink our 2000 gmc 1500s. My truck barely drops.

Is it possible to ride on just leafsprings?

Its only one side that has loose bolts and it has a half to 3/4 " play. Allowing the shock to move up VERY easily.
Is that enough to make my rearend have no recoil on bumps?
Or are the gabriel ultra shocks really overload shocks?