Gabriel

Gabriel: Over a Century of Ride Control Innovation

Few names in the automotive world carry as much history as Gabriel. Gabriel traces its roots to 1907, when founder Claud H. Foster invented "The Snubber," the first direct-acting automotive shock absorber ever created. What began as a single groundbreaking invention has since grown into more than a century of continuous ride control leadership, earning Gabriel a permanent place among the most trusted aftermarket and OEM suspension manufacturers in North America.

A Legacy Built on Industry Firsts

Gabriel's history is a timeline of industry milestones. The company introduced the first automotive hydraulic shock absorber, the first adjustable shock absorber, the first air-adjustable shock absorber (the legendary HiJackers®), Position Sensitive Groove Tube Technology, and Velocity Sensitive Technology for shocks and struts. Struts were added to the product lineup in the early 1980s, and Gabriel quickly grew into a worldwide competitor in the suspension market. In 2004, the brand's G-Force™ Technology earned Popular Mechanics' Editor's Choice Award for New Product Design and Innovation — a testament to Gabriel's relentless engineering ambition.

Today, Gabriel Ride Control, LLC is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, and its products cover more than 96% of North American vehicles on the road. The company continues to serve both the retail aftermarket and original equipment segments, offering solutions for everything from daily-driver sedans to heavy-duty commercial trucks.

What Sets Gabriel Apart

One hallmark of Gabriel's commitment to quality is an industry-exclusive standard: Gabriel is the only full-line ride control manufacturer to offer super-finished chromed piston rods on every shock and strut it makes — at every tier from economy to premium. This corrosion-resistant feature, combined with leak-proof piston seals and rigorous fit-and-ride testing on every new design, ensures that each Gabriel part delivers dependable, long-lasting performance.

Gabriel's product lineup spans a wide range of applications and budgets. For light vehicles, lines such as the Ultra™, MaxControl™, ProGuard™, Guardian™, and Classic® shock absorbers cover everything from vintage classics to modern SUVs. For drivers looking for a streamlined installation, Gabriel's suspension struts and the flagship ReadyMount® strut assemblies provide a fully pre-assembled, bolt-on solution that can save up to 1.5 hours of labor. The brand also offers complete suspension strut and coil spring kits and suspension strut assembly kits for comprehensive, one-stop suspension renewals. On the heavy-duty side, the FleetLine® and GasSLX® series serve commercial fleets and vocational vehicles with the same proven engineering.

Trusted by Professionals and DIYers Alike

Whether you're a seasoned technician or a first-time garage mechanic, Gabriel's extensive technical support network — including the AnswerGarage team of dedicated ride control specialists — ensures you have the guidance you need to choose and install the right part for your vehicle. With over 115 years of proven performance and an unwavering commitment to quality at every price point, Gabriel remains the original name in shock absorber technology.