Even when new the ride was harsh with the stock shocks. I could push down hard on one front corner and it wouldn't move a mm. Go out and try that on yours. If it moves very much at all, the stock shocks are shot. Knowing what I know now, I woulda replaced those shocks within three days of buying my VX new and buried 'em deep underground. After performing an exorcism first, of course, so they couldn't haunt me anymore. I hated those things.
Mark