I need to replace the shocks on my 02. My diliema is Bilsteins or Rancho RSX. The only reason the Rancho's appeal to me is the current 4 for the price of 3 deal going on right now.


I was looking at the RSX rather than the RS9000X, the adjustability does not seem like something I will need.


My driving habits are very little offroading, mostly highway miles (to&from work). I will be buying a 5th wheel soon (max 10K).


Input?

Put Bilsteins on my truck at 500 miles; towing 10,000 lbs every weekend and my daily driver during the week; love the Bilsteins all the way around; my suggestion is getting them from kennedy diesel and I think they are $260 delivered!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

My understanding (and I may be wrong) is Bilsteins are specifically designed for each vehicle, while the Rancho's are more general and are designed to fit multiple vehicles. I love the Bilsteins I just installed.

Go with the Bilsteins - work great.





2004 GMC 2500HD Ext. Cab, Long Box ,Duramax (LB7)/Allison; GMC bed liner;Air Lift Super Duty air bags; Michelin LT265/75-R16 LTX M/S ;Luverne Running boards; Bilstein shocks; Delvac 1300; Isspro gauges.

I have had both. I like them both very well. I do like the adjustability of the Rancho 9000Xs. I heard the early 9000s had problems with their adjusters, but the later ones seem to have fixed that. Kennedy had some what I guess were earlier 9000s, and he thinks they are junk. I do not know if he has any experience with the 9000Xs.


With the front 9000s set on 6 and the rear on 4, the ride is identical to what I had with the Bilsteins.

i have bilsteins on my dmax and love them. no more washboard bouncing of the rear end. while they improved the unloaded driving, they improved the towing driving 10 fold. i'd buy them again in a heartbeat.

Thanks for the input, just ordered the Bilsteins from Kennedy.

You will like them! The ride will stiffen up and feel more like the way a truck should feel.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

Bilsteins!














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

Just got a message from Kennedy, back ordered until early to mid May.


Damn! This is my first upgrade and now I have to wait.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

I just ordered the Rancho RS9000X's for mine.

had rancho's for 2 months......damn good shock......cant go wrong with them.

GOT EM! Received shipment of Bilsteins on Friday, installed Saturday.


All I have to say is DAMN THIS IS NICE!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Thumbs Up.gif


Thanks to all that posted on the install thread, piece of cake install, took about 1 1/2hrs. (I am pokey with limited tools).

I was so happy with my Bilsteins that I got a set for my son's truck too. No wating for backorde4rs at all when I got mine at ProAm Auto. Good bunch of guys.


http://www.proamauto.com


Phone: 1.800.847.5712

I just had Eric install the Rancho 9000x's on mine. Better than factory for sure. Ended the bump shudder especially on dirt roads. Back end is set perfect. Still a little " boaty " in the front end so I need to play with the adjustment a little.

Not to intrude on your post Rookie, but how long should i expect the stockers to hold on for??? I just got the truck and its got 24,400 miles on it...My driving habits are similar to Rookie, some offroading for thee farm, but thats mainly havin to slop through mud, than roughness itself....Maybe be better off just replacin w/stockers when the time comes? or our the aftermarkets fairly closely priced??? Thanks guys-Adam

Got my Bilsteins at:


http://pickuptruck.performancecenter.com/products/?searchtype=56789d&sortorder=AAAAA&productcategory =Vehicle+Specific+Shocks&category=Suspension+%26+C hassis&maincategory=Shocks+%26+Struts&sf1=GMC&sf2= 2002&sf3=SIERRA+2500+HEAVYDUTY&sf4=4wd (http://pickuptruck.performancecenter.com/products/?searchtype=56789d&sortorder=AAAAA&productcategory =Vehicle+Specific+Shocks&category=Suspension+%26+C hassis&maincategory=Shocks+%26+Struts&sf1=GMC&sf2= 2002&sf3=SIERRA+2500+HEAVYDUTY&sf4=4wd)


They really did improve the ride.

Polar Bear,


Chances are your stock shocks are gone now. They have just been slowly deteriorating and so it hasn't been an obvious change. However, you will notice a big difference with new shocks.


To All,


Another plug for RS9000Xs. Remember, I have had both the Bilsteins and the 9000s. The advantage of the 9000s is the adjustability. This last week, I went from General 285s to BFG 295s. The BFGs have a much stiffer sidewall and the ride was a bit stiff. If I had Bilsteins, I would have been stuck. However, with the 9000s, I just set the shocks one setting softer and the ride is now what is was with the other tires.

I now have my Rancho's set at 5 in the rear and 7 in the front. Just the way I like it. Adjustable shocks are great ! I am very happy with the Rancho's. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif My factory shocks were wasted at 15k.

Got my Bilsteins at:


http://pickuptruck.performancecenter.com/products/?searchtype=56789d&sortorder=AAAAA&productcategory=Vehicle+Specific+Shocks&category=Suspension+%26+Chassis&maincategory=Shocks+%26+Struts&sf1=GMC&sf2=2002&sf3=SIERRA+2500+HEAVYDUTY&sf4=4wd (http://pickuptruck.performancecenter.com/products/?searchtype=56789d&sortorder=AAAAA&productcategory=Vehicle+Specific+Shocks&category=Suspension+%26+Chassis&maincategory=Shocks+%26+Struts&sf1=GMC&sf2=2002&sf3=SIERRA+2500+HEAVYDUTY&sf4=4wd)


They really did improve the ride.

Thanks for the link, DEMAXALLIS. Shipping is a little high, but their special price on the shocks right now still makes it a great deal. I just ordered a set of 4 for $224.49 total!

Really? shoxs would be bad by 24K. The ride seems great to me, but i just got the truck nad got bout 400 miles on it....plus im coming from a 94 2wd ranger...so almost anything was an upgrade....Shoxs are something covered under warranty, unless it blows out or ssomthing right??

I think shocks are covered under warranty for the first 36K, but all you will get is another set of junk factory shocks that will only last 12K or so. Mine were gone in 11K, as many other guys have lasted about that long as well. With good shocks, the truck feels very solid. Cornering is stable, the front end doesn't "wander", and you don't get bounced around much because the shocks dampen out those oscillations.


When I put on my lift kit, I gave my father-in-law my Bilsteins. (After all, he did help me with the install.) Anyway, my Bilsteins had about 12,000 miles on them and his shocks were almost new--about two months old and maybe 3000 miles on them. I drove his truck on a gravel road before we changed shocks and it felt a bit squirrelly. After putting on the year old, 12,000 mile Bilsteins, the difference in stability was very noticeable. No longer did the front end feel like it was "wandering."

Bilsteins for me....Like everybody has said: The best mod for these trucks...

I have had both and while I thought the Bilstiens were much better than factory I love the Rancho. Am I the only one that thought the Bilstiens were too soft??


I have my Rancho fronts at 7 and my rears at 5 just like BlueMaxxxx and at times feel the front is too bouncy. I have tried the front at 8 and 9 but the ride became too stiff for my taste. Overall for everyday driving I do think the 7 and 5 settings seem to be the best combo.


I am unsure of Bilstien's warranty but I do know Rancho has a lifetime warranty http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif.


Hope it helps.......................

Bilstiens are lifetime as well

I like a bit of a stiff ride so the adjustable settings are great for me. A soft ride is nice until you hit a dip on the highway. I hate that soft boating feel going down the road. Its very cool to be able to crank them up for towing. I went for a ride yesteday and I found myself trying to hit all the pot holes ( thats not hard in Mi ) just to amuse myself with the smooooth ride. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

Polar Bear,


Chances are your stock shocks are gone now. They have just been slowly deteriorating and so it hasn't been an obvious change. However, you will notice a big difference with new shocks.


To All,


Another plug for RS9000Xs. Remember, I have had both the Bilsteins and the 9000s. The advantage of the 9000s is the adjustability. This last week, I went from General 285s to BFG 295s. The BFGs have a much stiffer sidewall and the ride was a bit stiff. If I had Bilsteins, I would have been stuck. However, with the 9000s, I just set the shocks one setting softer and the ride is now what is was with the other tires.





http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif