shock upgrade

[evenfaster]

Im in the industry (ex OEM dev guy) tuned many a prod vehicle over the years (mostly european)

My $0.02 worth ......

 

Personally Id go Bilstein everytime .. done plenty of work with Billy guys ... great product and they know their stuff

I have Bilsteins on my 993 Porsche (stock Monroes done at 20k) (I track it, so its worth the cash to do)

The wifeys Mazda 5, Monroes (rear ) failed at 11k .. (KYB's still running after 65k further )

Had plent of other experiences also ..

In short .. every experience with Teneco branded equip has been very poor .. both performance spec and longevity ..

Cheap is for a certain market ...

 

Nuff said .. Its my pers opinion - hope I dont offend ..

[Brianibew]

I have a 2014 1500 Z71 and I thought the stock Ranchos were too harsh. I replaced the front and rear shocks with the 4600 series Bilsteins and didn't like the ride, again too harsh. I swapped out the rear Bilstein shocks with some stock shocks off of a regular 4x4 2014 1500 non-z71 and left the front Bilstein shocks on. Took it for a test drive and loved it. I don't do a lot of heavy hauling or towing otherwise I think the rear Bilsteins would have been fine. The front Bilstiens are absolutely perfect and the rear, non-rancho, regular 4x4 shocks (tenneco black tube) work great for the rear for what I use the truck for. I highly recommend the front Bilstein upgrade for a comfortable and controlled ride, the rear Bilstein shocks just were not for me.

[Tattooo]

How does it ride now ?

[sailor9908]

I recently lifted my truck and upgraded to Fox Factory Series shocks, 2.5 coilovers up front and 2.0's in the back. The ride is way better than with the stock rancho's

 

 

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[HondaHawkGT]

Rancho 9000XL's all the way around. Front set at 6, rear at 4. No more bouncy ride. The adjustable damping works decent tweaking the ride for when I fill the bed up with a lot of weight. Huge improvement over any of the factory shocks.

[Badass69]

I have always found Bilsteins to ride like garbage honestly.... may as well have a chunk of 2x4 bolted from the frame to the control arm or rear end. That's my experience over the course of 3 different trucks with Bilstein 5100's now so I won't buy them anymore. The Ram half ton is okay with them but very stiff...... my 04 3/4 ton rode like crap either way so the shocks didn't improve it's ride or bounce control and now this old stock suspension 170000 mile 1500HD rides worse with new Bilsteins than it did with 80000 mile KYB's.

 

The best riding shocks I ever had wereKYB Monomaxes... and I regret replacing my 80000 mile kybs with these 5100 Bilsteins as even with 1200 lbs in the bed constantly 10000 miles later they are still stiff as a board. Conversely my 2015 Silverado I just bought rides like crap for an empty half ton and it's an non z71 LTZ... we will see if my tool box load improves it's ride at all. This is coming from someone who dailies a 2005 1500HD Sierra... so I know what a stiff ride is especially since it's the truck I have the Bilsteins on currently and will probably be taking them off and ordering more KYB's..... That 2015 half ton doesn't really ride any better than this 1500HD and I have a lot more suspension ( evident by towing with both) than this new half ton.... so there is no excuse for such a shitty ride quality beyond the shocks and struts. Bilstein shocks... Duratrac Tires and Detroit Trutracs are all things I find love for on forums and never in real life lol.

Edited October 17, 2015 by 1994Vmax

[AgDoctor]

I have had many sets of Bilstein and currently have them in my truck. They were an improvement over the factory Ranchos, plus I needed extra length so the 5100 is what I went with.

 

I have not ran many others to compare other than 1 set of Pro Comps in the past on a different pickup.

 

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[SMiller]

Factory Rancho shocks are complete junk!

 

Bilsteins are a night and day difference!!!

 

Shocks and tires should be swapped before even taking delivery of the truck.

Edited October 17, 2015 by SMiller

[TXTruk15]

Factory Rancho shocks are complete junk!

 

Bilsteins are a night and day difference!!!

 

Shocks and tires should be swapped before even taking delivery of the truck.

 

totally agree - Ranchos are not the best shocks to go with - replaced my stocks with Bistein 5100s when I leveled out the truck - even better ride than I had before....I agree with some of the other posters too, the Goodyears tires are not the best - wish I had Continentals on the truck instead!

[mikedege]

I had icons on my last truck, and I just ordered them for this truck. The ride is amazing, night and day. I will report back after the install.

 

Mike

[southern_sierra]

Think I'am going to try the fox 2.0 or 2.5 coil overs. I changed out the stock ranchos about 6,000 miles ago to the oem black shocks they don't jar quite as bad as the ranchos but still not the ride I'am looking for. I want to stop the banging of the front end on some potholes and other sharp drops. This is the only truck I have every had that does this. Going to talk with fox and see if I can send them back if their coil overs do not stop the banging out on the front. To much money to drop if they don't help the problem.

[fondupot]

Can't remember if I have posted in this thread. So il add my 2 cents anyways.

 

I switched over to Bilstein 5100s several months ago from the OEM rancho shocks and could not be any happier. The bilsteins really tighten up the truck, but not to the point of being harsh. They handle bumps and dips a lot better. Overall the truck seems better planted on the road. As best as a lead sprung rear end can get. IMHO.

 

Anyone looking to make the plunge, I say it's worth the money.

 

 

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[SMiller]

Think I'am going to try the fox 2.0 or 2.5 coil overs. I changed out the stock ranchos about 6,000 miles ago to the oem black shocks they don't jar quite as bad as the ranchos but still not the ride I'am looking for. I want to stop the banging of the front end on some potholes and other sharp drops. This is the only truck I have every had that does this. Going to talk with fox and see if I can send them back if their coil overs do not stop the banging out on the front. To much money to drop if they don't help the problem.

While those are some awesome shocks and the 2.0's are a improvement over the Bilsteins I have to ask why on a stock 1500? The Bilsteins will do a perfect job on this application, seems you are throwing a lot of money away and will never get to take advantage of the better shocks in this case.

[mikedege]

For me, having had bilsteins, and then changing over to Icons on my last truck. It was a no brainer. Same with fox or king. IMO, you get what you pay for. I don't have mine on my new truck yet, but I expect them to perform like my last truck. And it was money well spent.

 

Good luck,

Mike

[southern_sierra]

For me, having had bilsteins, and then changing over to Icons on my last truck. It was a no brainer. Same with fox or king. IMO, you get what you pay for. I don't have mine on my new truck yet, but I expect them to perform like my last truck. And it was money well spent.

 

Good luck,

Mike

Yep I have read where some were not happy with the bilsteins because they were just as stiff or stiffer than the stock ranchos. I want to try the fox have not read anything on the icons but would try them if they would do the job. Which ever I try will talk with the company before I purchase to see if they can be returned if they don't deliver the ride I'am looking for. But I'am thinking your not going to change the ride to much on these trucks its sort of you got what you got but hope its possible . The highway ride is good to me its just off road I'am tired of the jarring and banging out in the front end. This is the only truck I have ever owned that does this.