Just got my Rough Country 3" lift today. I am concerned about the shocks. Just pulled them out of the box and all four are fully compressed. Should the shocks be that way? When I did suspension on my Civic, the Tokico struts were fully extended and when the piston was compressed it would be pushed back out by the gas. Shouldn't truck shocks act in the same fashion?

 

Are they gas charged shocks? If not ... no ... compressed, extended that's where they'll stay.

 

They are the shocks that came with the kit. Rough Country Hydro 8000.

Linky: http://www.roughcountry.com/shocks_rc8000.html

I eventually plan on ugrading to Bilstein 5100s.

 

The 8000 appears to be the same as the 9000 except the latter has a 200 lb gas charge. No mention of this for the 8000. Them not expanding will be normal.

 

I'd recommend ProComp's 9000 series. They are a nice charged shock that wont break the bank. I got a pair for about $100. Even with the leveling kit the truck now rides nicer than it did from the factory.