We have a 04 Sierra 4X4 and still trying to figure out the best way to level the front end...had a shop put six turns on the torsion bar. That gave us 2" after 75miles of driving it is now 1.5". We have read that adding a torsion bar key will help improve the ride, thinking about giving that a try. Also thinking about adding some aftermarket shocks...Edelbrocks. Anyone us them or have had sucess with any others.


Any info would be great!

By all means replace the stock shocks. Mine were shot by 7.5k!!





The favorite choices seem to be Rancho or Bilstein.


I have the Bilstein and they are great.

No one seems to like the Edelbrocks. As Larry suggested....Bilsteins seem to be the favorite, with Ranchos as the next best thing. I decided to go with the Bilsteins. They should be here this week for me to install http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif .

You won't regret the choice. The difference was huge on my truck. The wife thought I was nuts for replacing shocks with only 7k on them until she rode in the truck with the Bilsteins.

You won't regret the choice. The difference was huge on my truck. The wife thought I was nuts for replacing shocks with only 7k on them until she rode in the truck with the Bilsteins.


Larry, I hope mine agrees after the install....OR...I may have to find a new place to live....http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

Thanks for the info on the Bilsteins. Any running with there front end leved out with the Bilsteins, if so what kind of ride improvements did it make.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif


I just checked out my new ride and noticed that the front end is off .5 between the two front tires and top of wheel well.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif They put in six turns each side, I have read somewhere that the turns are not always equal. I guess we will have to work at it and do some fine tuning. The back is off as well buy almost a inch....only 200miles on ithttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif.


Other than that we love this truckhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

Where is the best (cheapest) place to get some Bilsteins.

Where is the best (cheapest) place to get some Bilsteins.


http://pickuptruck.performancecenter.com/ (http://pickuptruck.performancecenter.com/) or


http://www.kennedydiesel.com/


Both have comparable prices, and just got the fronts and rears back in stock......While they last...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

Bilsteins seem to be the favorite, with Ranchos as the next best thing.
Hmm... I've found the exact opposite to be true. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Wink.gif

I just checked out my new ride and noticed that the front end is off .5 between the two front tires and top of wheel well.
Welcome to the club, the one where just about every GM truck owner is a member. Seems this problem is so prevalent that it's actually acquired a nickname: The Silverado (Sierra) Slope. Great bit of design/engineering on GM's part, huh? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Thumbs Down.gif

That is true out Sierra was off .5" lower on the driver side now after some fine tuning 10" on both sideshttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif


Jim, what ranchos are you using with your front end leveled out?

Jim what area of Jersey are you from...I grew up in Butler...northwest Jersey.

Just got my truck back after the tree incident. Had them put Bilstiens on it.

Like night and day. I don't know how Bilstiens compare to the other premium shocks but they sure do blow away the factory ones.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif that is good...how would you say the ride is now...what is the most noticable differance? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif that is good...how would you say the ride is now...what is the most noticable differance? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif

Most noticable difference is how much better they absorb the small stuff. Makes running down a lightly bumpy road a smoooth experience. When I first put the larger tires on I complained about the ride. These Shocks made a huge improvement. A must for larger tires. Truck is also more nimble and precise.
Edited by: hoot

For me, the most noticeable difference was it's a hair stiffer, but at the same time you don't get a continued bounced after hitting a bump. It gets dampened right away. It used to "wallow" after hitting a decent bump, now you feel the truck move when it first hits the bump, and then it's stable right away.


This gives the feeling of nimbleness & precision Hoot mentioned.


IMO, it does ride a little rougher, but I've rationalized that the extra control and lack of wallowing is well worth it.

I've never tried Bilsteins but I have Ranchos. Has everyone switched over to the Bilsteins and how are they that different from the Ranchos 9000 shock? I'd just as soon not have a stiff ride if I can help it but my stock shocks have @30k on them and they just don't seem to work well anymore.

How do the Ranchos or Bilsteins feel when going over washboard? Particularly uphill while trying to accelerate.

I've tried accelerating over some really rough patches here in salt-road country, and the Bilsteins transmit less feedback to me, but they don't help put the power to ground much better in an unloaded CC (not sure anything would help). That's been my experience anyways...

I've found that on steep gravel roads, when you hit washboard (usually in acceleration spots on switchbacks, etc.) the truck hops all over the place and the back tires just don't track well. Mind you most trucks are the same way but I've been in a couple that were great on that stuff. I wonder if the shocks will help..

Pickuptrucks.com Has Bilsteins on sale right now for $46 ea. Plus $10 shipping for the set. They were at my front door in two days from Placing the order. So yuo know what I'am doing tomarrow morning(Sat.) http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big%20Smile.gif RD

Figures. I ordered mine 3 weeks ago from them, and paid $60. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

Hey all, I went to Pickuptrucks.com and they only list up to 2002 for the bilsteins. I have a '04 are they the same? Thanks all!!!


Great price $46!!!

Hey guys i went to www.pickuptruck.com (http://www.pickuptruck.com) to order the Bilstein's for my truck and couldn't find the one's for $46 can someone help with the correct url? Thanks

Just north of Raton on I25 there is a stretch of interstate where I would have to slow to about 50 mph, the conrete slabs were so bad. With the Bilsteins, I went over the same piece of road at 65 mph, the tires were tracking that much better.


This was while towing with an 8,500# fifth wheel with a pin weight that puts me right at the 9200 GVWR. The Bilsteins work well for heavy or light loads with no crawling under the truck to adjust them.

http://pickuptruck.performancecenter.com/products/?productID=131366 (http://pickuptruck.performancecenter.com/products/?productID=131366)


If these fit the 03 Chevy's as well I'm ordering some!!!!!!!!.


Can anyone verify the same part numbers????Edited by: Victory Red

Go to the web site and get the number and give them a call....I tryed pressing #1 but did not work, called back and pressed #0 ask for sales and give him the truck info....he said they will not be on sale long, and that there computers set the price...they are over stocked!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


I have a '04 GMC 2500HD 4X4 so I am sure they are the same on your truck as well.

For 2002-2003, the Bilstein part numbers remain the same.


3500: front-#BE5-6081-HO


rear-#BE5-6501-H1


2500HD: front-#BE5-6081-HO


rear:-#BE5-6082-HO


zip

I ordered my set yesterday!! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif $200 exactly shipped to my door. I probably won't install them until the spring though. Way too cold in my garage right now. Hopefully they are as nice as everyone purports them to behttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

VR,
It's SO easy to change them out, suck it up and do it! http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Wink.gif

Well I may be a long hair, motorcycle riding, big diesel pickup driving dude, but rolling around on the garage floor in 20 degree weather just isn't for me. Anyhow I have a garage heater on my Christmas list so maybe Santa will be good to me.

First off since this is my first post I want to thank Nic et al for a excellent forum.


I got excited when I saw Bilsteins on sale as I just hadn't got around to ordering them. Went to PUT and to my surprise, only the front shocks for our Yukon XL are on sale. I still went ahead and got them. Hope they don't send me just the back ones, and then tell me they are out of all the on sale front shocks!


Have just got bad news on my ordered truck. It came in, however, it came in with the LB7 and I specifically ordered the LLY. Since I didn't take a truck 4 months ago because I was waiting for the new head design I'm not going to take it. Anyone wants a GMC 2500HD D/A CC LB SLT Blue/Dark pewter interior (Looks Great) it is sitting there at Mountain Chevy/GMC in Spruce Pine NC.


Sorry to get off topic but thanks again everyone


David B. Robinson

I always miss the good deals...I ordered mine, and then they put em on sale http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif. Oh well, I will be glad to get them installed..

[QUOTE=Riverdude] Pickuptrucks.com Has Bilsteins on sale right now for $46 ea. Plus $10 shipping for the set.

RD

Thanks for putting the word out on this deal! I have mine ordered today for a skosh more $. Calif. sales tax strikes again and a bit more shipping cost. My P/Ns were different as they were for my 2WD ride. Bill

Well,


I just bought 2 for the front of my truck. I bought the rear 2 about a month and a half ago so I am now looking forward to having a match set. These will be here just in time for a 3k trip from Georga to Texas so I am sure they will be worth their weight in gold. I didn't get that good a deal http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gifon the fronts it looked like the rear ones were on sale though. These will out me around $240 for all 4.

Just north of Raton on I25 there is a stretch of interstate where I would have to slow to about 50 mph, the conrete slabs were so bad. With the Bilsteins, I went over the same piece of road at 65 mph, the tires were tracking that much better.


This was while towing with an 8,500# fifth wheel with a pin weight that puts me right at the 9200 GVWR. The Bilsteins work well for heavy or light loads with no crawling under the truck to adjust them.





A unique feature the Bilsteins have is internal variable valving which allows the shock to self adjust for different driving conditions. (Smooth or rough roads, And loaded or light truck) No need to make adjustments. They sense the oil flow when operating and add resistance when needed for the job at hand. They are N2 filled to stop foaming and run cooler oil temps based on the barrel/valving design to eliminate the flatness that occurs during heating/foaming of most brands. They are truely a 100K mile shock and then some with an excellant ride in all conditions.Edited by: a bear

Bilsteins, nothin else comes close......... Edited by: Blinky

I can not wait to get minehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif I was really worried about ordering something without giving it a go first. But with what everyone is saying I can not wait!!!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

How do bilsteins compare to rancho 9000 adjustable when towing 1000lb 5th wheel.Sounds like everybody has bilsteins as #1


thanks

Although the Rancho 9000,s are excellant shocks I prefer the bilsteins for the reasons stated in my last post. (Variable valving) You just don't have to go under the truck to make adjustments. They provide the optimal ride in all conditions. However, having previously owned the Rancho they are also a tough shock.

Is the sale off now or am I not seeing them on pickuptruck.com's site? I was gone for the weekend and just saw this now. I'll be po'd if I missed it. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but......


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

I just went PUT.com. The Bilsteins have gone back up to $59 ea. I Put mine on Sat. Rides Great!!!! RD

I just went PUT.com. The Bilsteins have gone back up to $59 ea. I Put mine on Sat. Rides Great!!!! RD





Sure, rub it in!

I paid $245.46 shipped. Still not bad.