Monroe Shock Absorbers

From humble beginnings with the invention of the ‘Brisk Blast’ tyre pump in 1919, through to the development of the first original equipment passenger vehicle shock absorbers, Monroe has continued to lead the way in ride control component innovation and design.

MONROE HISTORY

Monroe’s shock absorber developments have enhanced the road safety of millions of road users worldwide.

Monroe remains unstoppable when it comes to ensuring improved road safety through new ride control technology and there is a Monroe shock absorber product to suit almost every vehicle on our roads.

In the beginning

In 1916, cars still rode on unforgiving and uncomfortable carriage springs. After all, early drivers had bigger things to worry about than the quality of their ride, like keeping their cars rolling over the rocks and ruts that often passed for roads. Flat tyres were frequent and service stations were not. Drivers had no choice but to patch and reinflate their own tyres along the roadside.

For a young entrepreneur named August F. Meyer, this was an opportunity too great to pass up. It seemed logical to Meyer that, with all those flat tyres, there should be quite a market for tyre pumps. Meyer established the Brisk Blast Manufacturing Company in Monroe, Michigan. Under Meyer’s leadership, Brisk Blast soon became a leading producer of tyre pumps.

In 1918 a local Dodge dealer named Charles S. McIntyre became Meyers’s partner and vice president. The company continued to grow and diversify and Brisk Blast became the Monroe Auto Equipment Company.

The Monroe spirit of innovation was already hard at work when the company perfected the first self-oiled, single-barrelled tyre pump. Sales climbed from 5,000 per week to over two million a year.A vision becomes a revolution

By the mid 1920s, Monroe was busy applying the technology of the single-barrelled tyre pump to a purpose no one else had yet envisioned: providing a better ride for drivers.

In 1926, the first Monroe shock eliminator was introduced. Within 25 years, the Monroe-Matic, the first double action shock absorber, was the best known shock absorber in the world, used by most American car makers through the 1950s.

The company went international in 1964 and in 1974, to better serve the expanding world market. Monroe purchased Unamuno, S.A., a leader in the Spanish shock absorber market, and MAP Auto Pecas S.A. in Brazil.

Monroe became renowned as the world leader in both original equipment and aftermarket ride control, making shock absorbers for specialty vehicles from golf carts to high-speed railroad cars.

In 1977, Monroe became part of Tenneco Inc. Tenneco’s many diversified and multinational resources allowed for new opportunities on a global scale.

In 1980, Monroe began manufacturing its first struts and soon, thereafter, Monroe produced its first gas charged shock.

Monroe’s global expansion continued in 1985 with the acquisition of W.H. Wylie & Co., a manufacturer of tools, metal pressings, precision machine components, household items and motor vehicle parts. The company was renamed Monroe Australia Pty Ltd.

In 1989, the company gained increased visibility in Europe when Monroe acquired the suspension division of Armstrong Equipment PLC of the United Kingdom. The move enhanced Monroe’s presence in the UK and improved customer service throughout Europe.

Groundbreaking products such as Sensa-Trac and Reflex first came to market during the 1990s, cementing Monroe’s position as the global leader in ride control.The first great product breakthrough of the new century in the ride control sector was Monroe’s popular Quick-Strut in 2003.

We can’t say for sure what the future of the automobile holds, but you can be sure Monroe will be there with the innovations that continue to provide motorists across the globe with safety and control.

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT

Global OE Leadership. Today & Tomorrow.

With a network of 14 advanced engineering centres on five continents, Tenneco is at the leading edge of technology for the original equipment market.

Tenneco meets the needs of customers - including Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, Daimler, BMW, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Nissan and Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) - expertly tuning the ride of any vehicle to the most exacting specifications.

Here’s a look at our cutting-edge technology for our ride control products including:

  • Shock absorbers and struts
  • Suspension systems/modules
  • CES - Computerized Electronic Suspension
  • Kinetic passive stability systems
  • Coil and leaf springs
  • Cab shock absorbers
  • Seat shock absorbers
  • Heavy duty truck & train shocks
  • Top mounts
  • Corner and full axle modules

Featured Innovations

Our award-winning Acceleration Sensitive Damping (ASD) shock absorber delivers both a soft, comfortable ride and firm vehicle handling. The technology is a mechanical valve system that instantaneously changes damping force to adjust vehicle ride to bumps and changes in the road surface.

As a next generation shock absorber, frequency dependent damping is environmentally friendly - it uses no oil. The shock absorber can be mounted in any position and has a more consistent damping performance over a wide range of temperatures.

Our Micro-Amplitude Damping (MAD) technology is a position sensitive hydraulic circuit designed to eliminate the energy transfer caused by tire imbalances. This circuit is engineered to directly react to the displacement of the shock absorber.

Advanced Electronic Technologies

Tenneco’s Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CES) provides next generation capabilities in vehicle handling and ride comfort. CES is a semi-active suspension system that continuously adjusts damping levels according to road and driving conditions. At the heart of CES is an advanced valve system, developed with Ohlins Racing. The valves are integrated with an electronic controller and chassis sensors and work together to deliver the most advanced damping characteristics.

Tenneco’s Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CES) was first commercialized on the 2003 Volvo S60R and V70R performance vehicles, offering sport car handling with luxury sedan comfort.

Kinetic suspension systems use technology that improves vehicle stability, handling and ride comfort and helps reduce the risk of vehicle-roll-over.

The Kinetic suspension technology can be adapted to the CVS market. This cost-effective passive system enhances vehicle stability by reducing vehicle roll while maintaining a comfortable ride.

Integrated Kinetica H2 CES system

This technology combines the passive Kinetica H2 system with CES damper valves to provide continuously controlled damping and high roll stiffness with reduced articulation stiffness.

Designed for sports cars and high-end SUVs, this intelligent system allows for both comfort and handling, as well as offers all the advantages of a semi-active suspension.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our Vision

Pioneering global ideas for cleaner, quieter and safer transportation.

Our Mission

Monroe’s mission is to delight our customers as the number one technology driven global manufacturer and marketer of value - differentiated ride control, emission control and elastomer products and systems. We will strengthen our leading position through shared- value culture of employee involvement, where an intense focus on continued improvement delivers shareholder value in everything we do.

TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN SAFETY

Technology driven safety are three words that most aptly describe the Monroe commitment to product research and development. Many Monroe shock absorber products incorporate world first and patented technologies.

Whatever the future holds for our automotive mobility, you can rest assured that Monroe will be there with more shock absorber technical innovations to provide you with precise control, ride comfort and enhanced safety.

RODUCTS GT SPORT

GT Sport, Monroe’s proven Reflex advanced suspension technology meets King Springs race bred market leading performance to provide lowered performance shock absorbers with outstanding street appeal.

Monroe’s reliability and King Springs’ durability combine to offer improved vehicle aesthetics and optimum on-road performance in the perfect solution for affordable height and ride customisation in aftermarket vehicles.

Designed with control and quality in mind, GT Sport achieves the desirable look of a lowered vehicle profile while providing optimum performance and control.

Product features

  • Sports performance tuned
  • Incorporates proven Monroe Reflex technology
  • Increased compression travel
  • Specially designed compression bumper rubbers
  • Complimentary strut and spring combination for maximum performance
  • Exclusive twin disc design
  • Teflon banded piston
  • Multi-lip piston rod seal
  • Superior hardchrome piston rod finish
  • Nitrogen gas pressurised
  • 3 year/60,000km warranty
  • Product benefits
  • Provides highly desirable lowered look
  • Tuned to provide sports performance
  • Superior damping control with minimal suspension hardness
  • Dramatically reduces body roll
  • Improved front to rear vehicle balance
  • Improved suspension reaction time and precise damping control
  • Click here to view the application listing

GT-GAS WITH EXCLUSIVE REFLEX TECHNOLOGY

Monroe GT-Gas with exclusive Reflex Technology delivers excellent vehicle stability and handling without compromising driver and passenger comfort.

  • Product features
  • Exclusive twin disc design
  • Teflon banded piston
  • Multi-lip piston rod seal
  • Superior hardchrome piston rod finish
  • Nitrogen gas pressurised
  • 3 year/60,000 kilometre warranty

Product benefits

  • Firmer and safer handling with no compromise on comfort
  • Low friction, long service life
  • Improved retention of fluid and gas
  • Increased seal durability
  • Optimum fade-free performance under all conditions

GT-Gas with exclusive Reflex Technology

The ride characteristics experienced with any suspension set up usually means an inescapable compromise between comfort and handling. In general, good handling requires firm damping from the shock absorber, while maintaining a comfortable ride requires a shock absorber with softer damping characteristics. The design of Monroe GT-Gas with Reflex technology has a refined valving system which maintains excellent vehicle stability and handling whilst delivering a high level of comfort for all vehicle occupants. This has been achieved by the introduction of Twin Disc Technology a valving refinement that is present in both compression and rebound.

On compression at low piston speed, the revolutionary disc valve set design partially opens to provide limited oil flow. The result is a firm and stable manoeuvre when taking corners at low speed, or changing highway lanes.

With increased piston speed due to bumps, potholes, sharp cornering or emergency braking at high vehicle speed; an intermediate disc is activated. This provides an immediate increase in oil flow resulting in increased vehicle stability and safer road handling.

On rebound, the new twin disc design features a unique scalloped intermediate backing plate. This allows the valve disc to flex as the piston speed increases, metering the oil flow as demanded by the driving conditions.

The outcome is a cushioning of harsh road conditions with superior safety and control.

GAS-MAGNUM TDT

Designed to master the entire spectrum of Australian four wheel drive on and off road driving, Monroe Gas Magnum TDT 4WD shock absorbers combine Tenneco’s exclusive Twin Disc Technology with the legendary durability of one of Monroe’s most popular 4WD replacement shock absorbers, the Monroe Gas Magnum.

Whether it is on or off road and if towing heavy loads over long distances, your 4WD’s steering, ride comfort and control are not compromised with this tough Australian made and designed 4WD shock absorber.

Product features

  • Nitrogen Gas Charged
  • 1-3/8″ (35mm) bore
  • Multi stage, high displacement valving
  • Superior chrome rod
  • Multi lip seal
  • Non ride height dependent
  • Three year/60,000 km warranty

Gas-Magnum TDT

On crowded city roads, Monroe’s Gas-Magnum TDT smooths out the constant acceleration and braking and eliminates the sway associated with a high centre of gravity while producing a fast response when needed. Monroe’s Gas Magnum TDT provides your vehicle with superior stability under all driving situations, situations which can change rapidly - putting your safety at risk.

Melbourne to St Petersberg on Monroe TDT’s

Toureg wanted to drive one of their 4WDs from Melbourne, Australia to St Petersberg, Russia. They wanted to do it world record time. So they wanted the shock absorbers that would handle every smooth highway, dirt road and bone-jarring excuse for a track across the 23,000 km journey. They fitted Monroe TDTs. For the record, the TDT’s nailed it.

MONROE OE SPECTRUM SHOCK ABSORBERS

The Monroe® OE Spectrum® shock absorbers feature the latest global original equipment valving technologies.

Developed through years of research and on-vehicle testing, Monroe OESpectrum units provide an unprecedented level of handling precision and control while filtering out the ride harshness This unique blend of control and comfort is made possible through Tenneco’s “Twin Technology Active Control System”, an exclusive internal damping control technology first developed for leading global vehicle manufacturers.

Tenneco’s Twin Technology consists of its latest Impact Control Valve (ICV), which delivers exceptional control under virtually all driving conditions, and a patented Low Speed Tunability (LST) piston design that isolates impact-related noise, vibration and harshness.

Product features

  • Full Displacement Valving – tuned specifically for each application
  • Fluon banded piston – for better control and increased durability
  • Multi-lip piston rod seal
  • Nitrogen Gas Charged
  • Multi-lip seal – state of the art durability

GAS-MAGNUM

Super duty gas charged shock absorbers. Engineered for 4×4 and light commercial vehicles for on and off-road use.

      • Product features
      • Nitrogen gas charged
      • 13/8 (35mm) bore
      • Superior chrome rod
      • Multi stage, high displacement valving
      • Multi lip seal - state of the art durability
      • 2 year/40,000 kilometre warranty

GAS RISER

A versatile gas pressurised heavy-duty unit that enables ride height adjustment. Ideal for vehicles that operate under a variety of load and towing conditions.

Product features

      • 150 psi rating
      • Teflon banded piston
      • Gas pressurised
      • Two year/40,000 km warranty

STEERING DAMPER

Absorbs steering shock and vibration caused by road irregularities such as cracks, corrugations, holes, rocks and wheel tracks. Ideal for use on 4×4 and commercial vehicles.

Product features

  • 50/50 damping control
  • Superior hard chrome plated piston rod
  • Multi stage valving
  • Boot assembly sold separately
  • One year/20,000 km warranty