1948 Front Tube Shocks..
 

A quick question concerning the front shocks on my car...Should it take the same force to retract and extend them..I ask because mine are hard to extend but push back together with hardly any effort at all....My car has Monroes ,,paint good, no leaking of oil,, so don't think they are real old....Not being a cheap-skate but I didn't want to open up a brand new shock and it be the same,just new paint....Inquiring minds...Thanks ahead of time Guys..

Re: 1948 Front Tube Shocks..
 

That depends on the "rating" of the shock. A shock with a 50/50 rating (which most normal "street" shocks are) is going to have the same degree of force required in either direction. We used to buy 90/10 shocks back in my old drag racing days. A 90/10 allowed the front end of the car to lift with minimal resistance (under acceleration) as weight transfer shifted toward the rear. The "90" part of the rating came into play with the nose of the car starting it's eventual travel downward....the increased resistance helped to extend the time that the nose remained elevated to help maintain the weight transfer toward the rear.

OR.........your shock(s) could be history. DD