Gabriel Ultra shocks (front and rear)

[Nairda32]

New to the forum! I got a steal on a 2000 Mazda B2500 with 47k original miles. I’m currently stressing over preventative maintenance and I just bought 4 new Gabriel ultra shocks.

I’m curious as to anyone’s experience or knowledge on the shocks and whether they will make any noticeable difference. I’ve done some resistance tests on the current shocks, just by pushing on them, and they seem to be ready for replacement.
Btw I just replaced the sway bar end links. And that made a difference.
Thank you for your input!

 

[Josh B]

Hello Nairda, Welcome to TRS

I priced shocks at an Auto Zone recently and the fella mentioned Gabriels being on close-out @$15 each, still lifetime warranty( to which he also added an implication that if these did prove to be faulty I'd most likely get an upgrade). What did I have to lose?
(not sure if these were Ultra's or not)

Checked the prices all around and the only one I found anything near a price match was the rear sway damper on Amazon, got a KGB or whatever that brand is at better price than the others.

I live on bumpy country roads and do substantial highway so quite a mix, and I have no complaints at all.

The ride is Far smoother and the steering is Much better

 

[Dirtman]

You know those "lifetime" warranties are against defects and not wear... that warranty is essentially nothing.

 

[Josh B]

You know those "lifetime" warranties are against defects and not wear... that warranty is essentially nothing.

No warranty isn't worth much Sir Dirtman, probly why they haven't used the term guaranteed since puberty.
IF any luck is with you, AND you return it the day some intelligent person is manning the desk, you might still get lucky

Hek, for $15 each, if they last a year or two I could have no complaints

 

[Dirtman]

I worked at advanced auto for 5 years. We sold brake pads with a lifetime warranty. And inside the box was a 90 page legal form you threw out. People came back with worn stuff trying to claim that warranty, trust me the counter guy doesn't care. If you got new parts under that scam warranty, someone was fired.

 

[Josh B]

Just give em your phone number and they'll keep it on record! Then, if you can remember 4 numbers back, or even have one that Never changes, they'll Not find it in their database. "Nope, we ain't got no record of it here!"

 

[Josh B]

Autozone actually prints their store receipts using "disappearing" ink! It don't matter how well you keep it either, in a year or so, that receipt will be totally blank

 

[sgtsandman]

Autozone actually prints their store receipts using "disappearing" ink! It don't matter how well you keep it either, in a year or so, that receipt will be totally blank

This is part of the reasion why I scan my receipts into my computer. Plus it takes a lot less room.

 

[8thTon]

Last set of pads I put on the Ranger were free from AutoZone since they were lifetime warranty. I just took the old ones back - they were not completely shot but I was doing other work and didn't want to put them back on. The pads are not very thick to begin with.

 

[Dirtman]

Things must have changed. I remeber sitting down and watching the orientation videos when I was fist hired. They were hilarious. Imagine a 60 minute movie saying never trust a customer. Plus any return required a manager and they took that seriously because returns were black marks on your record so when I became a manager we would either scatter or just say no. If someone honored that lifetime BS they were screwed.

 

[Oxxon]

Hello and welcome to TRS!!