Shocks: dead or not?

[OldFaurt]

Shock simple evaluation:
Oil content:
Put one end on the floor in the orientation they would be used in and collapse them,
Q: Do they try to open to full length when you don't exert pressure on them and make little noise other than buzzing (valves)?
A: Good!

Gas Charge:
Q: Do they make hissing or cracks and pops during self opening up?
A: Gas loss, still functional but will go soft under hard use, gas is weak and oil will foam up.

Q: Do you have to pull them to full length?
A: No gas left, oil will foam up easily and will cause handling issues

Gas charge ONLY controls foaming of the oil during hard use
Oil content remaining becomes very critical with steering dampers / stabilizers
as air gap is more pronounced in use as it creates a much easier compressible pocket of air
that compresses quickly before it creates resistance to faster motion and under hard use, The oil foams.
Of course check for dings on piston shaft, oil around seal...
Don't use worn out shocks, THEY SUCK and could KILL YOU!!