Bilstein or Edlebrock Shocks?

01GMC4.8 · August 18, 2003

Hi everybody!

I am interested in replacing the stock shocks on my 2001 x-cab 4x4 Sierra, and I am interested Bilstein and the Edlebrock IAS shocks.

What is everybody's opinion or recommendation for these shocks. How do these shocks compare? I have never had the Edlebrock IAS shocks, so I do not any reference for them.

Please let me know, what you opinion are.

Thanks!

Bish · August 18, 2003

My opinion...any offroad or dirt road, Bilstein HD all the way. If you are pavement only, you may like the Edlebrock IAS better. I have heard of some with problems on the Edlebrocks after minimal mileage.

I run the Bilstein HDs.

dukbludvl · August 18, 2003

I've never had the Edelbrock's but I've got the Bilstein HDs on my Yukon and I love them. Had to replace the leaking POS stock shocks after 30K miles. A slightly stiffer ride -- but I like that. VERY smooth on the highway in my opinion. I don't really do any offroading, though.

txchevy4ever · August 18, 2003

I've never had the Edelbrock's but I've got the Bilstein HDs on my Yukon and I love them. Had to replace the leaking POS stock shocks after 30K miles. A slightly stiffer ride -- but I like that. VERY smooth on the highway in my opinion. I don't really do any offroading, though.

I've got about 50,000 on my 2000 Tahoe LT 4x4 and was thinking about replacing the shocks with the Bilstein HD's... did you do the replacements yourself or have it done? I notice that on Bilstein's web page it says that "In order to maintain standard ride height and load characteristics, Bilstein spring part #199021 should be utilized. This will not replace electronic dampers."

and the part numbers for the shocks are Front: BE5-6500-H0 and Rear: BE5-6501-H0.

Did you use that spring part? Thanks!

MattDewalt · August 18, 2003

I have 13,756 on my Edelbrock's and they ride just as nice as the day I put them on. I ride alot of pot hole covered dirt roads and they absorb the bumps really nice. I just hit a deer this morning and ran over it with both right tires at about 45 MPH. Now that, I could feel!

dukbludvl · August 18, 2003

I did all 4 shocks and did the install myself. At first, I didn't realize I would need the springs, so I just did the shocks and it did lower the back end. I didn't like the ride or the way it looked, so I installed the springs myself and it's back to normal. Mine is a 2wd with the premium smooth ride suspension that came with the self-contained, self-leveling, fat, black shocks (fatter than normal width in the rear). Feel free to ask me any other questions you might have.

I got mine through Off Road Warehouse.

txchevy4ever · August 18, 2003

I did all 4 shocks and did the install myself. At first, I didn't realize I would need the springs, so I just did the shocks and it did lower the back end. I didn't like the ride or the way it looked, so I installed the springs myself and it's back to normal. Mine is a 2wd with the premium smooth ride suspension that came with the self-contained, self-leveling, fat, black shocks (fatter than normal width in the rear). Feel free to ask me any other questions you might have.

I got mine through Off Road Warehouse.

Hey I appreciate that... my 4x4 has the Premium ride suspension as well, but I spend a pretty fair amound of time off road... When the time comes to do mine, I may hit you up for advice... thanks!

obyone · August 18, 2003

I've had both on my truck. One of the Edlebrocks started to leak after 4k miles. Their customer service is awesome. They replaced all four when I called them to report that one was leaking. Can't beat that for customer service.

I have the Bilstein HD now cause the ride with the Edlebrocks were a little too stiff for me but worked great on the highway. The Bilstein HD is a little softer and provides me with a smoother ride.

vortec4800 · August 19, 2003

I would have to go Bilstein HD all the way. Aren't many companies that make better shocks than Bilstein, and while I'm sure the Edlebrocks are nice, they're just not Bilsteins

Bish · August 19, 2003

I've never had the Edelbrock's but I've got the Bilstein HDs on my Yukon and I love them. Had to replace the leaking POS stock shocks after 30K miles. A slightly stiffer ride -- but I like that. VERY smooth on the highway in my opinion. I don't really do any offroading, though.

I've got about 50,000 on my 2000 Tahoe LT 4x4 and was thinking about replacing the shocks with the Bilstein HD's... did you do the replacements yourself or have it done? I notice that on Bilstein's web page it says that "In order to maintain standard ride height and load characteristics, Bilstein spring part #199021 should be utilized. This will not replace electronic dampers."

and the part numbers for the shocks are Front: BE5-6500-H0 and Rear: BE5-6501-H0.

Did you use that spring part? Thanks!

If you don't get the spring, the back will sit level with the front. An my Tahoe, the back was always higher than the front and I did not like the way it looked. Once the HD's were put on, it is nice and level. I did change the step height on my hitch to raise it about 2 inches. Been driving for about 60K on the Bilsteins with monthly heavy towing with good results.

Anyone tried the spring?

txchevy4ever · August 19, 2003

I've never had the Edelbrock's but I've got the Bilstein HDs on my Yukon and I love them. Had to replace the leaking POS stock shocks after 30K miles. A slightly stiffer ride -- but I like that. VERY smooth on the highway in my opinion. I don't really do any offroading, though.

I've got about 50,000 on my 2000 Tahoe LT 4x4 and was thinking about replacing the shocks with the Bilstein HD's... did you do the replacements yourself or have it done? I notice that on Bilstein's web page it says that "In order to maintain standard ride height and load characteristics, Bilstein spring part #199021 should be utilized. This will not replace electronic dampers."

and the part numbers for the shocks are Front: BE5-6500-H0 and Rear: BE5-6501-H0.

Did you use that spring part? Thanks!

If you don't get the spring, the back will sit level with the front. An my Tahoe, the back was always higher than the front and I did not like the way it looked. Once the HD's were put on, it is nice and level. I did change the step height on my hitch to raise it about 2 inches. Been driving for about 60K on the Bilsteins with monthly heavy towing with good results.

Anyone tried the spring?

Yes, mine sits higher in the back than the front... the question is if you don't use the springs do you get GREATER clearance or less? I need all the clearance I can get but I'm not willing to do a lift because I'm afraid it would screw up the ride quality too much.... I'm offroad so much though, it's a shame there's not more clearance on my Tahoe...

AZ-Z71 · August 19, 2003

I'm not sure which ones but supposedly, Autozone has the Bilsteins for like $50 each with the lifetime warranty. From what I was told they are the same ones that came on the Z71 truck

01GMC4.8 · August 20, 2003

Thanks everyone!

I am am going to order the Bilstein shocks thru Autozone, the same price as in the catalogs, and no shipping charges.

Again, thanks!

txchevy4ever · August 20, 2003

Thanks everyone!

I am am going to order the Bilstein shocks thru Autozone, the same price as in the catalogs, and no shipping charges.

Again, thanks!

Super! Are you getting the springs as well? Let me know how it goes!

dukbludvl · August 20, 2003

FYI -- I did the springs on mine. If you look at the part numbers for the springs on Bilstein's site, the Tahoe and Yukon XL are the same P/N, and the regular Yukon and Burb are the same. I'm not sure why, but that doesn't seem to make sense. Anyway, at first, ORW sent me the Tahoe ones, and they actually made my Yukon sag in the back (so the back was lower than the front). I returned thema nd they sent me the Yukon ones and they worked great. If I recall, they have the same number of coils as the stock springs, but they must be spring loaded or whatever because they raised the truck up to factory height with the Bilstein shocks. I'm very impressed with Bilstein's shocks. And, with the springs on there now, I can take speed bumps at 30-40 MPH and hardly feel a thing it seems. No bouncing up and down.

I'd buy Bilstein's for my next truck, too. I'm sure the factory shocks will leak eventually anyway. Those things seemed to be of very poor quality to me. Leaking after 10K miles.