Fox 2.5 HTO installed.

[Epsilon Plus]

Fox 2.5 HTO that replaced Bilstein 5100 (1.8"). Big difference at speed. Even low speed the bumps are still there, but all the jolts are gone. Cruise right over speed bumps. Not quite my buddies Ram HD on coils & King remotes, but for my sled I'm happy. Should get even better as they break in.

 

Yes, per Fox, they are installed body up, shaft down.

 

Bilstein 5100 can bite my rear. Pure stiff trash like the stock Ranchos. Should have known from the price but the Internet sure does love them for some reason.

 

@GMCnewbie turned me on to these. I think they came out this year and are marketed primarily for HD trucks and heavy Wrangler/Glads with heavy tires. 

 

I saw a Shock Surplus video where the tech said the GM twins with the very quick reacting torsion bars torture 2.0" and under shocks, even with reservoirs. Looking forward to bombing around on these a bit.

 

 

[Pryme]

Those look nice. I suppose they are a lot better than the stock ranchos eh? 

[Zenchal26]

tuck stock ride height?

[Epsilon Plus]

1 hour ago, Zenchal26 said:

tuck stock ride height?

 

No. 

 

 

ZR2 1.5" lift with 37" tires.

[OS RR]

Wonder how these would compare to the stock Non-Z71 shocks.

 

Everyone praises bilsteins (and my lizzard brain likes shiny silver) but I do see the occasional resentment towards them and it stays in the back of my mind.

[Epsilon Plus]

Likely more firm than GM black shocks. These are for big tire trucks that like to bound off of speed bumps and fire road dips.

 

No matter what the T1 HD is going to ride like crap. Especially a gas truck with less weight over the nose. 3,500+ lb payload leafs in the back and torsion bar front suspension is a recipe for feeling everything on the road good shocks or not.

[UWSkier]

Would like to try them but it's a bit more than I want to spend on an experiment.  Hoping to see some more reviews of them first.

 

Biggest issue I have with the Ranchos is the rebound damping.  They have all the rebound control of a pogo stick.

[kylant]

14 hours ago, UWSkier said:

Would like to try them but it's a bit more than I want to spend on an experiment.  Hoping to see some more reviews of them first.

 

Biggest issue I have with the Ranchos is the rebound damping.  They have all the rebound control of a pogo stick.

I have a set for sale, less than 2k miles on them. Will make a very good deal on them. 

[PBNB]

I have been looking at the Bilsteins after a bouncy road trip. I like the idea of the Fox setup but not too sure about the height options. We bought our 3500 second hand so not too sure what it has for a lift but it seems to sit level and has the Ranchos sso I am thinking that it is a stock Z71 configuration. 

 

Sounds like the Fox shock is the way to go.

 

How do they handle the rebound?

[Chuck FB]

2 hours ago, PBNB said:

I have been looking at the Bilsteins after a bouncy road trip. I like the idea of the Fox setup but not too sure about the height options. We bought our 3500 second hand so not too sure what it has for a lift but it seems to sit level and has the Ranchos sso I am thinking that it is a stock Z71 configuration. 

 

Sounds like the Fox shock is the way to go.

 

How do they handle the rebound?

I wonder if your torsion bars have been cranked up ( and possibly too much ) and perhaps nothing was done on the rear. The rear should be relatively easy to see if a spacer was installed between the axle pad and the spring pack and that it has the factory leaf springs. With the front the easiest way to tell would be to park the truck on a level cement surface ( tires the same size and pressure the same on the axle being measured ! ) and measure from the center of the hub to the underside of the fender plastic trim as that way it takes tire diameter and inflation pressure out of the equation as errors in comparing to another persons measurement. From what I found on my truck when it was brand new and realized it had not been adjusted evenly from the factory which is no surprise, but it averaged out to about 24 1/2 inches. From what I have read 25 inches is considered to be about the maximum distance to raise it to as that is still keeping the angles of the tie rods, upper ball joint, cv joint shafts all at a good operating angle for lasting and to retain the ride as well as still allowing a 3 inch droop to the suspension. Cranking it way up above that causes a stiffer ride and the suspension to top out as there isn't enough droop anymore and is very hard on the steering components but its the cheap way to raising the truck. It would be interesting to see where your truck is sitting at first before doing anything else. 

[PBNB]

5 hours ago, kylant said:

I have a set for sale, less than 2k miles on them. Will make a very good deal on them. 

Tell us more about this good deal?

[PBNB]

21 minutes ago, Chuck FB said:

I wonder if your torsion bars have been cranked up ( and possibly too much ) and perhaps nothing was done on the rear. The rear should be relatively easy to see if a spacer was installed between the axle pad and the spring pack and that it has the factory leaf springs. With the front the easiest way to tell would be to park the truck on a level cement surface ( tires the same size and pressure the same on the axle being measured ! ) and measure from the center of the hub to the underside of the fender plastic trim as that way it takes tire diameter and inflation pressure out of the equation as errors in comparing to another persons measurement. From what I found on my truck when it was brand new and realized it had not been adjusted evenly from the factory which is no surprise, but it averaged out to about 24 1/2 inches. From what I have read 25 inches is considered to be about the maximum distance to raise it to as that is still keeping the angles of the tie rods, upper ball joint, cv joint shafts all at a good operating angle for lasting and to retain the ride as well as still allowing a 3 inch droop to the suspension. Cranking it way up above that causes a stiffer ride and the suspension to top out as there isn't enough droop anymore and is very hard on the steering components but its the cheap way to raising the truck. It would be interesting to see where your truck is sitting at first before doing anything else. 

Checked out the measurements and it looks like:

 

Front averages 24 1/4" and rear 24 1/2" So I suspect that this is totally stock height. I didn't see any blocks under the leaf pack in the rear.

Edited September 6, 2025 by PBNB

[Chuck FB]

17 minutes ago, PBNB said:

Checked out the measurements and it looks like:

 

Front averages 24 1/4" and rear 24 1/2" So I suspect that this is totally stock height. I didn't see any blocks under the leaf pack in the rear.

Yes that sounds right on for stock height on both ends so no concern there. How many km on the truck as that may be somewhat of an indicator as to shock wear and I do keep hearing that the factory Rancho's don't last very long before things become bouncy on the rebound. I know that I will be faced with a decision on what shocks to go with at some point and haven't figured out what is the right choice. if the Bilstein 4600 would be an ok more economical choice for example and ride a little better than the 5100's . 

[PBNB]

The truck has just gone past 50k (30k miles). I had Ranchos on my little 4x4 a long time ago and seem to recall that they didn't last very long then.

 

I am liking what I am hearing about the Fox 2.5's but a bit on the spendy side!

[Chuck FB]

You hit the nail on the head with why some of the choices have a negative side, they are beyond stupid expensive in Canada !. Bad enough south of the border but when I look up suppliers in Canada and see what they are asking its insane, we can thank Trudeau and friends for that as that was when our dollar went from on par to flushed down the toilet.