Z-71 shock replacement

Jimmy W · July 5, 2017

The Bilstein 4600's aren't. As for the 5100's being mounted upside down, not once has anyone said to me "hey your shocks are upside down". Bilstein even says they'll work either way.

Im sure they will not flag you to stop on hwy to tell you that but I do promise many do laugh when they see it?

Jimmy W · July 5, 2017

The stock ranchos were mounted the samd way. Really who cares if the dust boot is on top as long as the shock works as designed.

mine wasn't and only ones that care is the ones that know better.If you like them upside down more power to you!

Silverado Steve · July 5, 2017

Funny, I've never had one person say a thing....because my Bilsteins have the shock boot on the top??? must be a Louisiana thing. Bigger things to worry about in life than which way your shock boot is mounted as long as they work right? ...i guess i really don't care and if someone pointed it out in a Walmart parking lot, I'd politely reply "who cares".

mine wasn't and only ones that care is the ones that know better.If you like them upside down more power to you!

Orlando8 · July 5, 2017

Do the stock Rancho shocks just wear out fast or are you having issues with them from the beginning? I have about 3500 miles on my truck and I dont notice any problems with them. It rides like a truck, a heck of alot better than my F-150 did

Silverado Steve · July 5, 2017

Do the stock Rancho shocks just wear out fast or are you having issues with them from the beginning? I have about 3500 miles on my truck and I dont notice any problems with them. It rides like a truck, a heck of alot better than my F-150 did

For me, mine weren't necessarily wore out, they just bounced to much and on occassion on the rebound, it would almost throw my truck out of control. I prefer a slightly stiffer controlled ride that the Bilsteins provide vetsus the floaty old Buick ride the stock Rancho's offer

Orlando8 · July 5, 2017

So far mine have none of those issues, maybe they changed them on newer trucks?

Dnt · July 6, 2017

Do the stock Rancho shocks just wear out fast or are you having issues with them from the beginning? I have about 3500 miles on my truck and I dont notice any problems with them. It rides like a truck, a heck of alot better than my F-150 did

I am trying to remember exactly but it seems like at around 45,000 miles I HAD to replace the stock rear Ranchos on my 2014. I found a few pics here. i bought Gabriel Ultras at around 20 bones each and it took about 5 minutes each side to change them. Shocks are apparently a wear item just like tires/belts/hoses etc. I saw no need to spend big bucks on shocks the Bilstein products looked good but the Gabriel Ultras did an awesome job for me and were dirt cheap. I traded at around 60,000 miles so cannot attest to how long the Gabriel shocks last LOL.

Silverado Steve · July 6, 2017

Well i had about 50K on mine when i swapped out the Ranchos. When the truck was new, the shocks felt fine. I think all the potholes and road ruts did their thing to the Ranchos and they just degraded in ride quality.

So far mine have none of those issues, maybe they changed them on newer trucks?

Orlando8 · July 6, 2017

OK, That makes sense

FreeAmerican · July 6, 2017

Do the stock Rancho shocks just wear out fast or are you having issues with them from the beginning? I have about 3500 miles on my truck and I dont notice any problems with them. It rides like a truck, a heck of alot better than my F-150 did

On my 15 GMC I was getting odd "feedback" while towing my camper. 3 of the 4 Racho's were bad. 2 leaking oil and the third had no damping.

I put on 5100's but chose not to level. Only reason I got the 5100 was I got them on sale.

My Chevy 2500 HD has 800 miles on it and I am not waiting for the Ranchos to fail. 4600 are going on this weekend Internally the 4600 and 5100 are the same, as you said the 5100 is more suited for lifted or leveling AND have the zinc coated body which do look cool.

Even when the Ranchos were new, I was not a fan. You will find better steering response, less wheel hop over rough roads, in other words, a great improvement. And the Bilsteins have a life time guarantee

PS the rears have the same eyelet top and bottom. If you put them in with the boot on the bottom, someone played a good one on you..

cpttimerestraint · July 6, 2017

Ajusa.com had a good deal on them when I bight my rears. Got the front Bilstiens from amazon warehouse

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DougIrby · July 6, 2017

Has anyone changed their shocks on a 2014-2017 Max Tow Package (NHT) Silverado? The Max Tow Package shocks are different from the shocks on other trucks. I don't think Bilstein makes shocks that they recommend for the NHT Silverado.

I would like to reduce the bounce I get in my truck when towing my travel trailer and go over an undulating area of highway (due to the ground shifting underneath the asphalt).

I went to Tire Rack and they have some shocks for the NHT Silverado trucks. Anyone notice that? Anyone bought those? I forget the brand but they cost over $100 per shock.

michigan2500hd · July 6, 2017

Has anyone changed their shocks on a 2014-2017 Max Tow Package (NHT) Silverado? The Max Tow Package shocks are different from the shocks on other trucks. I don't think Bilstein makes shocks that they recommend for the NHT Silverado.

I would like to reduce the bounce I get in my truck when towing my travel trailer and go over an undulating area of highway (due to the ground shifting underneath the asphalt).

I went to Tire Rack and they have some shocks for the NHT Silverado trucks. Anyone notice that? Anyone bought those? I forget the brand but they cost over $100 per shock.

I have a NHT 6.2 double cab. I replaced the fronts with Bilstein 5100 shocks set on the highest lift setting ( just under 2" of lift).

I left the rears alone for now although the stockers have quite a bit of bounce I'm a little concerned that if I swap out the rears the ride may firm up too much..idk.

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DougIrby · July 6, 2017

I have a NHT 6.2 double cab. I replaced the fronts with Bilstein 5100 shocks set on the highest lift setting ( just under 2" of lift).

I left the rears alone for now although the stockers have quite a bit of bounce I'm a little concerned that if I swap out the rears the ride may firm up too much..idk.

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I ordered some Bilstein stocks for the front of my 2015 Silverado 5.3L Double Cab with Max Tow Pkg, then called Bilstein and asked about installing them on my truck. They told me to send the shocks back because, while they would fit, they were not calibrated for the NHT trucks. This was about a year ago. Therefore, I still have OEM shocks on my truck.

michigan2500hd · July 6, 2017

I ordered some Bilstein stocks for the front of my 2015 Silverado 5.3L Double Cab with Max Tow Pkg, then called Bilstein and asked about installing them on my truck. They told me to send the shocks back because, while they would fit, they were not calibrated for the NHT trucks. This was about a year ago. Therefore, I still have OEM shocks on my truck.

I could see the rear shocks possibly being a issue IF you were maxed out above and beyond what a standard load half ton could do. Maybe.. Maybe not.

The front load should be closer to the same though. All I know is that the Bilsteins have been fine on the front. You feel a little more of the road through the steering wheel but the large bumps and potholes are muted better then the stockers. It doesn't bounce as bad and corners better with the Bilsteins.

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