Just installed a set of Bilsteins from Kennedy's on my truck. first off big improvement in ride and control, also left front OEM shock no dampening, other 3 seemed to be in working order. 3100 miles on truck.


Funny thing is my coworkers could not understand why I wanted to upgrade the shocks. These same people thought it was a great idea to replace the factory wheels and tires. But for the life of them could not understand my reasoning to upgrade shocks no matter how I tried to explain the benefits over factory shocks. Go figure http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

i found the shocks the hardest thing to justify spendin the $$ on and yet, the best thing I have done to the truck..

Eric,


Curious as to why you would say that, as these "Tenneco" are basically real junk. I took mine off at 1K and the rebound on them is a joke.

Sounds like he's agreeing to me.


I took my stock shocks off at ~14k miles and none of them are blown, I was actually surprised considering how the truck was riding.. They all seemed to make crunching sounds when compressing and decompressing though.. And you're right, the rebound dampening is pathetic compared to the Ranchos I replaced them with.

I thought my stockers were OK after 30,000 mi. and 3 seasons of plowing snow. I read all the threads and bought a set of Bilsteins. And WOW. I am so glad I did. I kick myself everytime I think of why I did not do it earlier. My old shocks practically unbolted themselves out of the truck when they saw the Bilsteins. They probably had enough.

Eric,


Curious as to why you would say that, as these "Tenneco" are basically real junk. I took mine off at 1K and the rebound on them is a joke.


Meaning oem are junk, you dont relize how bad they are until you get good ones in place...

So how long should one have to wait for new shocks? I ordered on May 14th and still no shocks.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif Waiting to see/feel the ride difference.

Bilsteins seem to be hard to get at times, I dont think they make enough of them or something.

I have a BUNCH of them due in first week of June or so.


I bumped my orders from 50 mixed pcs to 2 skids of 60ea as Bilstein cannot seem to keep up with orders.





FYI, Tenneco=Monroe=Rancho...

Thanks John for the response. I sure hope 4 of those that come in have my name on them.


I am not sure that I understand the "FYI" portion of your last post.

FYI=for your information

he is saying that they are all made by the same people...

I am not sure that I understand the "FYI" portion of your last post.





FYI= For Your Information


Tenneco makes the OEM shocks for our trucks. They also make Monroe and Rancho shocks.

OK, now I got it.

Yeah, but be careful. It is a mistake to condemn a whole group of something because of a bad experience with one.


Many folks had bad experiences with the first generation Rancho 9000s. However the RS9000Xs are a different story. They work as good as the Bilsteins I had, and the 9000s have the added benefit of adjustability. The adjustability was huge when I went from a softer sidewall tire to my BFGs. Since my 9000s are adjustable, I was able to soften them one step and have the same ride with the BFGs as with the other tires. When I haul with it, I like the idea of being able to firm up the rear a bit.


I know JK has add-a-leafs on the back of his truck and commented before on how much they improved the ride. Perhaps stiffening the ride via a shock adjustment would eliminate the need for add-a-leafs in unloaded daily driving....


BTW, I initially tried to get Bilsteins when I lifted my truck. However, they were not available and I did not have the flexibility in my schedule to wait. So when the put the RS9000Xs on sale, I bought a set. I have been extremely happy and probably won't go back to Bilsteins--though I have nothing negative to say about Bilsteins.


Blaine

I notice that most people changing shocks, to either Bilstein or Rancho, are driving 4X4. Is this mostly a 4X4 problem? I've got 14K on my 03 2wd 2500 HD EC SB, and although I haven't ridden/driven one with aftermarket shocks I don't have a whole lot of problem with OEM. Only thing I see is a bit of rear wheel bounce if too agressive over speed bumps and I just figured that as a product ot the stiff sperings.


But, I've gotta admit, this is my first new truck! Every previous truck was at least 10 years old when I got it!

The higher quality shocks have superior suspension dampening abilities. This in turn removes the harshness and the hop from the suspension. One of the most tuned items on a race car is the shocks due to their effect on suspension overall. Could you imagine a NASCAR vehicle using OEM shocks?

My '94GMC 2500 came with awful shocks, just worthless things. They're still in the garage, new, and it's easy to compress them by hand with literally no pressure. The first month, they came off and the Bilsteins went on.......damn good shocks that still seem fine after 210K miles. So this new Duramax will be getting Bilsteins next week and it'll be interesting to see what OEM is like now.

I've gotten two sets of four from ProAm Auto, no delay, free shipping, $258.00, total, delivered.


http://www.proamauto.com/page15b.htm


1-800-847-5712

Yeah, but be careful. It is a mistake to condemn a whole group of something because of a bad experience with one.


Many folks had bad experiences with the first generation Rancho 9000s. However the RS9000Xs are a different story. They work as good as the Bilsteins I had, and the 9000s have the added benefit of adjustability. The adjustability was huge when I went from a softer sidewall tire to my BFGs. Since my 9000s are adjustable, I was able to soften them one step and have the same ride with the BFGs as with the other tires. When I haul with it, I like the idea of being able to firm up the rear a bit.


I know JK has add-a-leafs on the back of his truck and commented before on how much they improved the ride. Perhaps stiffening the ride via a shock adjustment would eliminate the need for add-a-leafs in unloaded daily driving....


BTW, I initially tried to get Bilsteins when I lifted my truck. However, they were not available and I did not have the flexibility in my schedule to wait. So when the put the RS9000Xs on sale, I bought a set. I have been extremely happy and probably won't go back to Bilsteins--though I have nothing negative to say about Bilsteins.


Blaine





Due to the patented variable valving design the Bilsteins will AUTOMATICALLY adjust to weight and road conditions as they change throughout driving. No need to crawl under the truck and start making adjustments everytime weights or road conditions change as with the Ranchos. We all know how road conditions constantly change. On Road; Off Road; Paved Road; Shell road: Washboard Road;Ect.; Etc. The Bilstiens are always optimized automatically. I personally prefer not to take up residence under my truck or just settle for where they are adjusted at the time. My.02

Ran Bilstiens on my off road car, After a 200 or 300 mile race they had all they wanted, worked good for the first 150 or so then car started getting looser the farther I went. Don't want to start a war so won,t say what we went to.


Geno

Ran Bilstiens on my off road car, After a 200 or 300 mile race they had all they wanted, worked good for the first 150 or so then car started getting looser the farther I went. Don't want to start a war so won,t say what we went to.


Geno





A stiffer suspension I hope http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gifEdited by: a bear

Geno were they nitrogen charged with external reservoirs? They probably faded due to heat buildup in racing conditions.

Due to the patented variable valving design the Bilsteins will AUTOMATICALLY adjust to weight and road conditions as they change throughout driving. No need to crawl under the truck and start making adjustments every time weights or road conditions change as with the Ranchos. We all know how road conditions constantly change. On Road; Off Road; Paved Road; Shell road: Washboard Road;Etc.; Etc. The Bilsteins are always optimized automatically. I personally prefer not to take up residence under my truck or just settle for where they are adjusted at the time. My.02








I have had both sets of shocks. Yesterday I got to do a side-by-side comparison of Bilsteins on my father-in-law's 2WD 2500 DMax and my 4" Lifted 4x4 DMax with RS9000Xs. His truck had a harsher ride and wallowed more. We drove on smooth pavement, rough pavement, smooth gravel road, and rough gravel road. My truck rode better hands down in all conditions.


This is because while the Bilsteins do have velocity sensing valving and do make some adjustment as you drive, you cannot change their baseline. They have a one-size-fits all approach, and as always, it is a compromise--though I agree they do hit very close to the mark.


The RS9000Xs do not need to be changed for varying road conditions. You set them to match what you have and leave them. The only time I have changed them is when I went to a tire with a very stiff sidewall. I softened the shocks one setting. If I still had Bilsteins, I'd just have to put up with a harsher ride.


Now, when I put 3K of stuff in the back of the truck, I will probably stiffen the rear shocks a notch. 3K is a big change, and I don't think any shock that rides optimally unloaded is going to ride optimally with a 3K load, no matter how sensitive the valving.


After having both Bilsteins and RS90000Xs, there is no question in my mind the 9000s are a better shock because of their adjust ability. However, what I don't know is how durable these shocks will be, and that will be the final story in my mind. Edited by: afp1

Dirty old man: Put Rancho 9000 on at 5000 miles, BIG difference, do it! Yes truck is 2wd cc

After Eric installed the Rancho 9000X's on mine at 15k it's like a whole new truck. I cant believe the ride. That was just a few weeks back and they already have 5k on them http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif.