Named for its first product – Gabriel horns for horse-driven carriages – in 1907 Gabriel’s “Snubber” was granted the first U.S. patent for an automotive direct-acting shock absorber.
Established in 1900 by Cleveland entrepreneur Claude Foster, the firm, which is now based in Brentwood, Tenn., has a global presence with manufacturing and distribution centers in Oklahoma and Mexico.
Jeff Gammons is the marketing and communications manager, and here he offers an analysis of the ride control category.
What shocks and struts trends do you see happening within the next year or two?
We are seeing an increased demand for shocks and struts. This is driven by two key factors: Delayed purchase of new vehicles as consumers are keeping their vehicles longer due to the economy and leasing is not a prevalent as it was three-four years ago. And there were record new car sales from 2005 to 2007, and those vehicles are now beginning to reach the age where heavier maintenance begins in their lifespan.
We are also seeing a change in the mix of shocks and struts. The original SUVs were truck-based and more often utilized shocks on all four corners. Now the majority of SUV and (or Crossovers) are car-based and use a strut instead of a shock.
The other trend we are seeing is the increasing demand for our ReadyMounts. This is a complete strut assembly and from an installer standpoint speeds up the repair cycle allowing shops to move more vehicles through the bay. That is because the technician now replaces the whole assemblies, which is time-saving in and of itself with no need to disable, inspect components and reassemble with a new strut. Additionally, if there are component issues found during the inspection process, there is no need to wait for additional parts or try sourcing the individual components.
Are there technological improvements being made in the engineering and construction?
Gabriel has a heritage of being a leading supplier of quality aftermarket ride control products that meet the requirements of the professional technician and end-consumer; and exceeding industry standards for long-lasting performance.
Damper life is often determined by the robustness of the sealing system. A key element of the sealing system is proper piston rod finish. Once a piston rod corrodes it rapidly wears the seal causing the shock to leak. The Gabriel piston rod surface is coated with best-in-class chrome for the utmost in corrosion resistance and super-finished to ensure proper seal lubrication. Every product Gabriel manufactures incorporates a chrome plated piston rod – many competitors cannot claim this and utilize raw steel rods on most of their shocks across their good-better-best lineup.
Chroming the piston rod increases product shelf life. Moisture in the storage environment will cause unprotected steel surfaces to corrode over time. It also prevents “lot rot” which results when a vehicle is parked for an extended period of time; especially in humid climates. An un-chromed rod must be cycled over the entire operating range (stroke) in order to keep it lubricated and prevent corrosion. Chroming the piston rod provides a more consistent wear surface with the optimum amount of lubrication at the contact surface to produce longer product life. The end result: Increased customer satisfaction.
Are there different designs being created for hybrids, EVs, etc.?
No, not at this time. We offer shocks and struts for hybrid vehicles found in today’s marketplace, but both OE and aftermarket shocks and struts found on those vehicles are really no different than what is found on other vehicles.
Are you seeing heightened sales because of the economy and people keeping their cars longer?
Yes, our data shows that ride control replacements are growing for some of the reasons discussed above.
Are you seeing more shops offering this type of DIFM service?
Most repair facilities have always offered shock and strut installation. With the growing number of vehicles utilizing struts in the front of the vehicle it has become more difficult for consumers to change ride control. To change struts requires special tooling to compress the coil spring. Although available for rent or loan at many retailers, this is a dangerous operation to perform if you are not an experienced mechanic. Additionally, the strut is often buried under other systems such as intakes, battery trays, fuse boxes, etc. on many of the crossovers, SUVs and minivans, making this a challenging job for today’s consumer driving more to choose DIFM. Also, many of today’s consumers are a bit intimidated by modern vehicles due to the increase in electronics and tighter working spaces.
Are you seeing more people attempting DIY repairs in an effort to save money? Is this even a task that DIYers should be trying to do?
Retail sales data indicates that more people are attempting to save money by taking on easier DIY jobs. Our ReadyMount strut assemblies are an ideal solution for the DIY consumer that might have otherwise not felt comfortable replacing a strut. The ReadyMount strut assembly has all the components required to replace a strut in one unit so that no special tooling to compress the coil spring is required. Additionally, there is no need to inspect and source the individual components as they are all included to do the job properly. In many instances, the Gabriel ReadyMount strut assembly may help turn a DIFM job in to a DIY job.
What tips do you have on how a shop can increase its sales of shocks and struts?
Recommend ride control inspection and recommend replacement as needed. Explain the role ride control plays on the wear and longevity of other parts as well as safety/braking/handling issues. Ideally, when a customer gets a new set of tires, they should consider a new set of shocks and/or struts. With today’s larger tire packages, the cost of a new set of tires is at near-record highs. Everyone knows to get a tire alignment with the new set of tires so they do not wear prematurely. A bad set of shocks can also cause premature tire wear. Technicians should carefully inspect tire wear and the condition of the vehicle’s ride control components.
For more information, visit www.gabriel.com.
Named for its first product – Gabriel horns for horse-driven carriages – in 1907 Gabriel’s “Snubber” was granted the first U.S. patent for an automotive direct-acting shock absorber.
Established in 1900 by Cleveland entrepreneur Claude Foster, the firm, which is now based in Brentwood, Tenn., has a global presence with manufacturing and distribution centers in Oklahoma and Mexico.
Jeff Gammons is the marketing and communications manager, and here he offers an analysis of the ride control category.
What shocks and struts trends do you see happening within the next year or two?
We are seeing an increased demand for shocks and struts. This is driven by two key factors: Delayed purchase of new vehicles as consumers are keeping their vehicles longer due to the economy and leasing is not a prevalent as it was three-four years ago. And there were record new car sales from 2005 to 2007, and those vehicles are now beginning to reach the age where heavier maintenance begins in their lifespan.
We are also seeing a change in the mix of shocks and struts. The original SUVs were truck-based and more often utilized shocks on all four corners. Now the majority of SUV and (or Crossovers) are car-based and use a strut instead of a shock.
The other trend we are seeing is the increasing demand for our ReadyMounts. This is a complete strut assembly and from an installer standpoint speeds up the repair cycle allowing shops to move more vehicles through the bay. That is because the technician now replaces the whole assemblies, which is time-saving in and of itself with no need to disable, inspect components and reassemble with a new strut. Additionally, if there are component issues found during the inspection process, there is no need to wait for additional parts or try sourcing the individual components.
Are there technological improvements being made in the engineering and construction?
Gabriel has a heritage of being a leading supplier of quality aftermarket ride control products that meet the requirements of the professional technician and end-consumer; and exceeding industry standards for long-lasting performance.
Damper life is often determined by the robustness of the sealing system. A key element of the sealing system is proper piston rod finish. Once a piston rod corrodes it rapidly wears the seal causing the shock to leak. The Gabriel piston rod surface is coated with best-in-class chrome for the utmost in corrosion resistance and super-finished to ensure proper seal lubrication. Every product Gabriel manufactures incorporates a chrome plated piston rod – many competitors cannot claim this and utilize raw steel rods on most of their shocks across their good-better-best lineup.
Chroming the piston rod increases product shelf life. Moisture in the storage environment will cause unprotected steel surfaces to corrode over time. It also prevents “lot rot” which results when a vehicle is parked for an extended period of time; especially in humid climates. An un-chromed rod must be cycled over the entire operating range (stroke) in order to keep it lubricated and prevent corrosion. Chroming the piston rod provides a more consistent wear surface with the optimum amount of lubrication at the contact surface to produce longer product life. The end result: Increased customer satisfaction.
Are there different designs being created for hybrids, EVs, etc.?
No, not at this time. We offer shocks and struts for hybrid vehicles found in today’s marketplace, but both OE and aftermarket shocks and struts found on those vehicles are really no different than what is found on other vehicles.
Are you seeing heightened sales because of the economy and people keeping their cars longer?
Yes, our data shows that ride control replacements are growing for some of the reasons discussed above.
Are you seeing more shops offering this type of DIFM service?
Most repair facilities have always offered shock and strut installation. With the growing number of vehicles utilizing struts in the front of the vehicle it has become more difficult for consumers to change ride control. To change struts requires special tooling to compress the coil spring. Although available for rent or loan at many retailers, this is a dangerous operation to perform if you are not an experienced mechanic. Additionally, the strut is often buried under other systems such as intakes, battery trays, fuse boxes, etc. on many of the crossovers, SUVs and minivans, making this a challenging job for today’s consumer driving more to choose DIFM. Also, many of today’s consumers are a bit intimidated by modern vehicles due to the increase in electronics and tighter working spaces.
Are you seeing more people attempting DIY repairs in an effort to save money? Is this even a task that DIYers should be trying to do?
Retail sales data indicates that more people are attempting to save money by taking on easier DIY jobs. Our ReadyMount strut assemblies are an ideal solution for the DIY consumer that might have otherwise not felt comfortable replacing a strut. The ReadyMount strut assembly has all the components required to replace a strut in one unit so that no special tooling to compress the coil spring is required. Additionally, there is no need to inspect and source the individual components as they are all included to do the job properly. In many instances, the Gabriel ReadyMount strut assembly may help turn a DIFM job in to a DIY job.
What tips do you have on how a shop can increase its sales of shocks and struts?
Recommend ride control inspection and recommend replacement as needed. Explain the role ride control plays on the wear and longevity of other parts as well as safety/braking/handling issues. Ideally, when a customer gets a new set of tires, they should consider a new set of shocks and/or struts. With today’s larger tire packages, the cost of a new set of tires is at near-record highs. Everyone knows to get a tire alignment with the new set of tires so they do not wear prematurely. A bad set of shocks can also cause premature tire wear. Technicians should carefully inspect tire wear and the condition of the vehicle’s ride control components.
For more information, visit www.gabriel.com.
About the Author
James Guyette
James E. Guyette is a long-time contributing editor to Aftermarket Business World, ABRN and Motor Age magazines.