Which shocks has anyone had a good experience with? I like the truck (2004 GMC 2500HD SLT 4x2 LLY), but the suspension is underdamped (IMO). I had some Edelbrock shocks on my previous Ram1500 and liked them, but am open to suggestions. ThanksEdited by: gtguy67

You will find the bilstiens and ranchos are favorites around here.


www.kennedydiesel.com (http://www.kennedydiesel.com) sells bilstiens and is an advertiser here.

What Max power said. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

try procomp mx6 nice results

Without knocking any other brand, Bilsteins are flat wonderful.

TC

Does anyone have a GM part # for the Bilstiens??

No GM part # You'll have to buy aftermarket.

Was hoping maybe they were about the same as the z 71s .

I think both Rancho’s and Bilstein are the best - I went with rancho’s because I can choose the ride, and it has helped quite a few times to crank it up yo 9 for heavy loads and then crank it down to 1 or 2 for a softer ride and a hard tire.

Which Ranchos did you go with and how much in comparison to the Bilstiens?$ I didnt really want to spend $260 for Bilstiens right now but may have to cause these stock pogo sticks suck.

Rancho 9000X and iirc somebody was selling them buy 3 and get 1 free.I think I paid around 200 bucks for the 4.I love the shock btw.


Blake

Bilsteins...what a change for the better


Tom http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Pig.gif

I really didnt want adjustablility. Because I want be towing that much in the next year or so (school). So I just purchased a set of Rancho 5000's. They ride SO much better than stock. Its awesome. I can only imagine what a 9000 Rancho would do. But, I got my for 189.99 and for the ride they gave my truck, you cant beat it. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

Bilsteins.


I run Tokico Illumina 5 way adjustable shocks on my Toyota MR2. Seemed like such a good idea to have adjustable shocks, but truth is I set them at level one, it felt a little soft, adjusted to level two, and have never adjusted them since.


My point is, unless you think you are the kind of person who likes to adjust his shocks, don't bother with adjustables. Just get well designed shocks like Bilsteins and be happy.


2fast2

The Bilsteins are by far one of the least expensive mods you can do for your truck. Worth the money. Will save you money by not having to go to the Chirpractor plus those that ride in your truck will not complain nearly as much.

Bilsteins!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Rock On.gif


My truck rides better than the day I drove it off the lot!





Kevinhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

the bottom line is the wife loves the bilsteins!!!!!!! money well spent imo

Check out this thread....they give the Bilstein part numbers.


I love the Bilstein shocks.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

http://dieselplace.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1787&KW=bilstein+part+number


I never added the link.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif


Good luck!

Rancho 9000's for me. Way better than stock

Looks like Bilsteins for me! Thanks for the comments.

You'll be happy!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


At first I hated them....but now I would not think of about putting anything else under my truck.

Bilsteins are the stock shocks on most Z-71's and Toyota Tundra TRD trucks.

I absolutely LOVE http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Heart.gif my Bilsteins. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif

I installed a set of Bilsteins this afternoon and ,WOW!!, they really ride great! It's hard to believe how much they improve the ride.

I have had the Bilsteins and like them. I like my current RS9000s a bit better becasue of the adjustability. If the 9000s are as durable as the Bilsteins, I'll stick with them.

I bolted up my 9000's last weekend. Sweet ride! Rancho has never let me down.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Question.gif Good intel guys. I hear good things about the Bilstein's, the Rancho's as well. I read on another site where you have to ensure the shock isn't extended too far out (such as with lift kits) as to not allow it to dampen/absorb to its full capacity http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif (hope I explained that right). Anyway, is there a specific model # of Bilstein or Rancho that I should order for a 3500 dually 4x4? The stock shocks are total crap from the OEM. $43k truck, $8 shock? JJ

Well, I ended up with the Rancho's. The price was about the same and I figured the adjustability might be useful. What a change! Like JJ said 45k truck, $8 OEM shocks, pitiful. Rancho's worked great. Thanks for the help.

has anyone thought about, or actually installed Bilsteins in the front (because they rock) and adjustables (like the Rancho 9000 or ProComp MX6) in the back, to compensate for the road vibration created by an unladen rear end?


I've found that with my stock shocks, since adding 500 lbs of concrete in the bed, I have a somewhat decent ride, but I obviously don't want to live with the concrete so I was going to go with adjustable shocks for the rear so that I could take it down when not towing and torque them up when towing, or running with a load.


Ideally, Bilstein would make adjustable (resorvoir) shocks but since they don't yet, I was thinking about this combination of maybe using ProComp MX6 adjustable in the rear (or Rancho 9000) and then running Bilstein 5150 up front.


Thoughts?

Without knowing the valving profiles on the adjustables it's hard to say. Does Rancho claim they control compression damping only, or rebound as well? I run Bilstien 5100's front and rear both empty and with a 2700 pound Lance camper. The shocks do a pretty darn good job in both conditions. It is hard to ask a shock to do both extremes- I would think it to be a huge hassle to adjust the shocks with very little way to determine if they are doing what they are supposed to be doing....


Typically the resevoir allows for better cooling of the oil by transfering the oil away from the shock body. May allow more stroke for a given shock height and allow for some additional compression damping adjustments.