New Shocks...

garagerog · July 9, 2019

17 minutes ago, Donstar said:

Buying used shocks online whether they are Rancho's or Bilstein's would not be a very wise purchase.

Better yet, buy them off of Craig's List, ha.

2kwik4u · July 10, 2019

13 hours ago, typ0 said:

I have a set of those super duper Ranchos that, per the Internet, after 75k miles are just as good as new Bilstein 5100's, I'll let go for a fraction of the cost of Bilsteins. These only have 3200 miles on them. Let me know.

Certainly would've been a smaller waste of money than the $350 I spent on these Bilsteins.

Honestly I should have known better. I've tried Bilsteins 3 times now and have yet to be happy with the results. Internet forum members rave about how great they are, and honestly they've all been over rated. This just happens to be one of the worst cases of that I've fallen into. Hell even my neighbhor said he put the 5100's on his Titan and just loved the way they changed the truck. Nobodies fault but my own, just trying to make sure the counterpoint is heard as well. They aren't the silver bullet they're made out to be.

Both the Ranchos and the Bilsteins are over damped on high speed (shaft speed not vehicle speed), and under damped on low speed movements. Square edged bumps like expansion joints and large gravel should have the suspension moving quite a bit, while more gradual bumps/rises should be slowed significantly more. Right now you hit an expansion joint and get a jolt to the seat/steering wheel, then are followed with a slow "wave" of a bounce as the truck rises and falls. It's not uncontrolled, but the damping could use some serious tuning revisions in either of the shocks.

I'll most likely drive on these until they start leaking though. Not going to continue to throw money at it to test if this shock or the other shock is better or worse. These aren't the worst shock I've ever driven on. Maybe new tires will help?

spenpet · July 11, 2019

On 7/10/2019 at 7:02 AM, 2kwik4u said:

Certainly would've been a smaller waste of money than the $350 I spent on these Bilsteins.

Honestly I should have known better. I've tried Bilsteins 3 times now and have yet to be happy with the results. Internet forum members rave about how great they are, and honestly they've all been over rated. This just happens to be one of the worst cases of that I've fallen into. Hell even my neighbhor said he put the 5100's on his Titan and just loved the way they changed the truck. Nobodies fault but my own, just trying to make sure the counterpoint is heard as well. They aren't the silver bullet they're made out to be.

Both the Ranchos and the Bilsteins are over damped on high speed (shaft speed not vehicle speed), and under damped on low speed movements. Square edged bumps like expansion joints and large gravel should have the suspension moving quite a bit, while more gradual bumps/rises should be slowed significantly more. Right now you hit an expansion joint and get a jolt to the seat/steering wheel, then are followed with a slow "wave" of a bounce as the truck rises and falls. It's not uncontrolled, but the damping could use some serious tuning revisions in either of the shocks.

I'll most likely drive on these until they start leaking though. Not going to continue to throw money at it to test if this shock or the other shock is better or worse. These aren't the worst shock I've ever driven on. Maybe new tires will help?

everyone has their own tastes and preferences...but ultimately the two largest factors for people giving reviews are 1) expectations - some people have low and some people have high expectations...the performance of the part/vehicle is more about the persons expectation than actual performance. 2) buyer justification-if someone chooses to spend money, more times than not (and since I am typing this, I realize how many people might say they dont do this, so not everyone) they justify their purchase...this is usually about 'premium' products...benchmade knives for example, people who have them love them, people who don't say they probably aren't worth the money...so if you combine these two things...i think overall perception is weighted much much higher than an actual performance...but at the end of the day...Bilstien's are little less than $100 per corner...factory replacement are about the same for front and about $30 less on rears(each) so it isn't a massive premium...

anyway...off the soapbox...

2kwik4u · July 11, 2019

2 minutes ago, spenpet said:

...but at the end of the day...Bilstien's are little less than $100 per corner...factory replacement are about the same for front and about $30 less on rears(each) so it isn't a massive premium...

For stock replacements you are exactly correct. They are not a high premium over factory replacements.

They do look really nice under there compared to the Ranchos!

I should honestly have been more clear. It's not just hte performance of the Bilsteins, it was the misconception of how bad the Ranchos were, and how they are complete junk. Really, they're just fine if they're working. Mine were working fine, but I bought into the "they're junk" campaign, and at 75k miles figured surely they had failed......not so much for me.

CombsL83 · July 11, 2019

KONI has shocks out now for the K2 trucks. $71 a corner. I’ve had KONIs on 2 other vehicles and they were always good performers for me. I was looking at either Belltech or Bilstein but now I think I’ll save a few bucks.

typ0 · July 11, 2019

I've had some experience with high quality motorcycle shocks where I've paid $600 for one shock for a dirt bike. If I bought one for my street bike it would be around $1200 (one shock).They can make or break you (literally). Doesn't make me an expert but I've been around a bit.

In my opinion/experience, the factory Rancho's are severely lacking in rebound damping. Doing 70 around a sweeper and hit a dip in the road would just about launch the truck off the road. Once the springs were compressed, there was not much to slow them down when they suddenly decompressed. Sounds like an exaggeration but it was kind of scary. I hardly notice the dip now.

As far as expansion joints, if you running lo-profile tires, putting regular tires on would definitely help. I did it myself. I think the tire sidewall would and should absorb most of that impact. I have two w-body cars, one with lo-pros and one without. You can definitely tell the difference hitting bumps and potholes.

typ0 · July 11, 2019

3 minutes ago, CombsL83 said:

KONI has shocks out now for the K2 trucks. $71 a corner. I’ve had KONIs on 2 other vehicles and they were always good performers for me. I was looking at either Belltech or Bilstein but now I think I’ll save a few bucks.

Ive had Koni's on a Suburban and old motorcycles with no complaints as well. The Suburban had the Nivomat self-leveling shocks that I loved on that car and Koni had replacements. At over $300 per shock but it was worth it to me to always be level no matter what I had hooked up.

2kwik4u · July 11, 2019

10 minutes ago, typ0 said:

As far as expansion joints, if you running lo-profile tires, putting regular tires on would definitely help. I did it myself. I think the tire sidewall would and should absorb most of that impact. I have two w-body cars, one with lo-pros and one without. You can definitely tell the difference hitting bumps and potholes.

I think this is more my problem than the shocks.

I'm running 275/55/20's in a D Load Range. I'm considering adding a little sidewall and moving to a 275/60/20 and dropping back to a P rated tire. The towing I do isn't even close to the ratings on this truck (axle, hitch, or tire), and I don't need the 8-10ply sidewalls for any other reason.

Again, love the look though!

spenpet · July 11, 2019

3 hours ago, typ0 said:

I've had some experience with high quality motorcycle shocks where I've paid $600 for one shock for a dirt bike. If I bought one for my street bike it would be around $1200 (one shock).They can make or break you (literally). Doesn't make me an expert but I've been around a bit.

In my opinion/experience, the factory Rancho's are severely lacking in rebound damping. Doing 70 around a sweeper and hit a dip in the road would just about launch the truck off the road. Once the springs were compressed, there was not much to slow them down when they suddenly decompressed. Sounds like an exaggeration but it was kind of scary. I hardly notice the dip now.

As far as expansion joints, if you running lo-profile tires, putting regular tires on would definitely help. I did it myself. I think the tire sidewall would and should absorb most of that impact. I have two w-body cars, one with lo-pros and one without. You can definitely tell the difference hitting bumps and potholes.

agree here...i would attribute expansion joint issues more to tires than shocks...I prefer 18" rims for a 4wd truck...but I am sure I am in the minority on that...

Snowcamo · July 11, 2019

Ive been saying bills arent what they are said to be for some time now. Just kept getting overlooked i guess. Bumpystiens is a better name or brickstiens.

Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk

alderin1987 · July 12, 2019

On ‎7‎/‎11‎/‎2019 at 9:09 AM, typ0 said:

In my opinion/experience, the factory Rancho's are severely lacking in rebound damping. Doing 70 around a sweeper and hit a dip in the road would just about launch the truck off the road. Once the springs were compressed, there was not much to slow them down when they suddenly decompressed. Sounds like an exaggeration but it was kind of scary. I hardly notice the dip now.

This is exactly my problem as well. I also do a lot of city driving for work. I came from an F150 and honestly that thing rode 100 times better than my GMC 2500. I love my truck and will forever be a GMC buyer, but I really want the ride to be better. High speeds and little bump I can thrown across the road it seems like, and also at slow speeds every little bump almost feels as if I am in a homemade go cart. I was going to go with the Bilsteins because that is what everyone has raved about here. After reading this post, I am not comfortable spending that kind of money on something that doesn't seem to actually work. FYI I am completely new to doing anything other than stock. I have raised my keys 1.25" but I have plenty of threads left, they are not maxed out. I did this a few weeks ago and it hasn't made it any worse so I know its not that. I am still running stock tires (only because they were brand new when I bought the truck) my stock tire size is 245-75-17. My question is what should I do to make it a little better ride at least? doesn't need to drive like a caddy, but would like it to ride a bit better. Your guys' expertise is greatly appreciated. I can fix and build anything but I don't know the first thing when it comes to aftermarket parts.

Capt Bob · July 13, 2019

Don't mean to rain on your parade but new shocks will not make a 3/4 ton truck ride like anything other than a 3/4 ton truck. The best way to improve your 2500's ride is to load up the bed and tow something big/heavy. That is what they were engineered to do.

SteveCZ · July 13, 2019

I guess I’m the minority here, but after some research and for the money, I swapped in a set of 5000x Ranchos on my 2014 1500. At about 65k the ride was horrible with the original shocks. After I took them out, the first two to three inches of travel were gone. I still have the 5000x’s on and am still happy with them. Well, except for the rust on the rear shocks. I should have clear coated them, but for the price of them, I’ll probably buy another set for the rear, clear them and use them in the summer. Swap in the rusted ones for winter.

typ0 · July 13, 2019

21 hours ago, alderin1987 said:

This is exactly my problem as well. I also do a lot of city driving for work. I came from an F150 and honestly that thing rode 100 times better than my GMC 2500. I love my truck and will forever be a GMC buyer, but I really want the ride to be better. High speeds and little bump I can thrown across the road it seems like, and also at slow speeds every little bump almost feels as if I am in a homemade go cart. I was going to go with the Bilsteins because that is what everyone has raved about here. After reading this post, I am not comfortable spending that kind of money on something that doesn't seem to actually work. FYI I am completely new to doing anything other than stock. I have raised my keys 1.25" but I have plenty of threads left, they are not maxed out. I did this a few weeks ago and it hasn't made it any worse so I know its not that. I am still running stock tires (only because they were brand new when I bought the truck) my stock tire size is 245-75-17. My question is what should I do to make it a little better ride at least? doesn't need to drive like a caddy, but would like it to ride a bit better. Your guys' expertise is greatly appreciated. I can fix and build anything but I don't know the first thing when it comes to aftermarket parts.

You don't necessarily have to go with the Bilsteins. I used them because I wanted to raise the front a little bit as well.

For example I had very good luck with Koni's on my old Suburban, but neither are a 2500. I've always heard turning the torsion bar keys could make the ride worse, never tried it myself.

But as Capt Bob alluded to, your comparing a F150 to a 2500. They won't be the same.

alderin1987 · July 13, 2019

19 hours ago, Capt Bob said:

Don't mean to rain on your parade but new shocks will not make a 3/4 ton truck ride like anything other than a 3/4 ton truck. The best way to improve your 2500's ride is to load up the bed and tow something big/heavy. That is what they were engineered to do.

Maybe you didn’t read through my whole post but I don’t expect it to ride like my F150 or caddy and I have been in many 3/4 ton trucks that are empty and don’t ride like this. I went ahead and bought bilsteins for all four corners. Can’t be any worse than what it is now.