indeed that brings up another aspect of the "are they necessary" issue,
a/s has been using rubber torsion for since
1962.
they've completely changed frame vendors and designs and specs several times in those 50 years...
they've changed flooring, C channels, ribs, and cladding significantly and multiple times.
they've gone from 2,000 lb units to nearly 6 tons and from narrow to wide bodies...
added tanks, used composites, tried slides and so on...
used 14 and 15 and 16 inch wheels from steel to heavy or light alloys.
and tires ranging from way old bias ply to radials, including ST and LT tires...
axles have been used with rating from under 3000 lbs to over 5,000 lbs,
with different starting angles, different brake designs, spindle sizes and so on.
in fact they've changed torsen axle designs 2-3 times and even manufacturers for the axles...
and how many changes or VERSIONS of horizontal shocks have been used with ALL of those changes ???
or how are the shocks different on triple axles or single axles across the production range ???
the o.p. doesn't need new shocks and there is no reason to remove them,
but the fact they are basically interchangeable only adds to the questions about function and necessity.
dealers, long time service techs, folks at the service center in j/c and so on...
regularly tell owners that the shocks are an 'appendix' like vestigial organ.
thanks for posting your 1st hand info tim,
that's basically and consistently the same thing noted in many of the threads on this topic.
cheers
2air'