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Bilstein Shocks

rsme2005

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rsme2005 Enthusiast

rsme2005

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I have a 2006 Gmc sierra 1500 z71 and ever since i put 2 inch leveling kit on and my 285/70/17 mickey thompsons ive noticed that my ride quality is awful. Therefore i want to get some new shocks and i have been looking at the bilstein 5100 series. I am wondering can i get the HD shocks designed for the 1500 HD will taht work or is there an HD shock designed for the regular 1500 trucks? If anyone has part numbers that would be awesome thanks

dlewis1111 Senior Enthusiast

dlewis1111

Posted
Posted
I have a 2006 Gmc sierra 1500 z71 and ever since i put 2 inch leveling kit on and my 285/70/17 mickey thompsons ive noticed that my ride quality is awful. Therefore i want to get some new shocks and i have been looking at the bilstein 5100 series. I am wondering can i get the HD shocks designed for the 1500 HD will taht work or is there an HD shock designed for the regular 1500 trucks? If anyone has part numbers that would be awesome thanks

 

the 5100 series is an HD shock designed for lifted vehicles like yours. this is what I am running and I love them.

front w/ 2 inch lift

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product...oad-Racing-Unit

rear (up to 1 inch, but stock works too)

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product...oad-Racing-Unit

Matt_ Senior Enthusiast

Matt_

Posted
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Don't expect the ride quality to get much better... that's part of putting a "leveling kit" on a GMT800 truck. The bad ride quality is from the angles of the control arms (changes load path), the added preload on the torsion bars (more rebound energy), and reduced down travel (OEM ride height allows for 3" of down travel. With a 2" leveling kit you only have 1" left).

 

If your shocks are worn than you may be bottoming out the suspension more than it should since you only have 1" of down travel left... so the new shocks may help a little bit. But don't expect any miracles.

 

FWIW I went 1.5-2" on my 2005 1500 when I had it. Figured i could live with the stiffer ride and buy a real suspension lift when i graduated college. I hated the ride so much I put the suspension lift on it about 2 months later.. in the middle of a semester :cheers: I tried a few different shock options too; i was a mechanic so I got stuff at cost. Tried "soft" shocks and stiff shocks... every combination felt like i was driving a dump truck. The roads are horrible around where I live and where i was commuting for school, so that 1" of down travel was just not working out.

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