Shock Question for all you suspension experts

Ch2500HD · December 20, 2006

I'm looking into changing out my factory shock absorbers for Bilsteins. The torsion bars on my truck have been adjusted to fit 285/75/16 tires on the factory wheel. I didn't adjust them so I don't know how much they were raised. I have narrowed my choice of shocks down to two sets:

#1. OE Replacements: Front F4-BE5-6081 HO

Rear F4-BE5-6082 HO

#2. Lifted Replacements: Front BE5-6140-T5 (2" longer)

Rear BE5-6682-H5 (stock length)

I'd like to know if it would be ok to get the longer front shocks since my truck has had the tb's adjusted or should I stick with the OE replacements. I'm looking for improved ride quality, since compared to other HD's I've ridden in mine rides like a brick. Cognito Motorsports sells a shock mount that will add 2" to the stock shock length and they claim it smoothes out the ride by not allowing the truck to reach full compression and hitting the bumpstop. Opinions and especially knowledge welcomed!

LtE-36 · December 20, 2006

I'm looking into changing out my factory shock absorbers for Bilsteins. The torsion bars on my truck have been adjusted to fit 285/75/16 tires on the factory wheel. I didn't adjust them so I don't know how much they were raised. I have narrowed my choice of shocks down to two sets:

#1. OE Replacements: Front F4-BE5-6081 HO

Rear F4-BE5-6082 HO

#2. Lifted Replacements: Front BE5-6140-T5 (2" longer)

Rear BE5-6682-H5 (stock length)

I'd like to know if it would be ok to get the longer front shocks since my truck has had the tb's adjusted or should I stick with the OE replacements. I'm looking for improved ride quality, since compared to other HD's I've ridden in mine rides like a brick. Cognito Motorsports sells a shock mount that will add 2" to the stock shock length and they claim it smoothes out the ride by not allowing the truck to reach full compression and hitting the bumpstop. Opinions and especially knowledge welcomed!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have the Cognito extensions on my HD, with the torsion bar crank, it helped some , but the HD ride is gonna be stiff regardless due to the heavy suspension design, I also upgraded to some Monroe High end shocks, dont remember what model. My truck rode stiff with the 245's and no crank, but when you get rid of the stock shocks, you will notice it they are garbage.

Good luck!!!!

DSengineer · December 20, 2006

I have about 6 turns on my torsion bars. The ride with stock shocks was absolute crap. I replaced with the OE Bilstien replacements and added about 7-8 steel washers between the shock and top mount. It now rides like a dream and all the harshness is gone.

BTW the stock shocks are garbage as soon as they roll off the lot. For now on Bilsteins will be the first mod I make to any new truck. $260 for all 4 from Kennedy Diesel.

Ch2500HD · December 21, 2006

Thanks for the help guys. I know the HD isn't going to ride like a Cadillac, but my truck rides noticably harsher than others. So what your saying is that I should go with the OE Bilsteins and add the Cognito shock extension on the front.

soccermom · December 21, 2006

I have the longer bilsteins (bought at offroad unlimited) on my truck and they made a huge difference in ride quality over the OEM shocks. IMO a longer shock makes more sense than an adaptor but to each his own. Either way, bilsteins will make a huge difference in ride quality for short money.

Mattt · December 22, 2006

I'm looking into changing out my factory shock absorbers for Bilsteins. The torsion bars on my truck have been adjusted to fit 285/75/16 tires on the factory wheel. I didn't adjust them so I don't know how much they were raised. I have narrowed my choice of shocks down to two sets:

#1. OE Replacements: Front F4-BE5-6081 HO

Rear F4-BE5-6082 HO

#2. Lifted Replacements: Front BE5-6140-T5 (2" longer)

Rear BE5-6682-H5 (stock length)

I'd like to know if it would be ok to get the longer front shocks since my truck has had the tb's adjusted or should I stick with the OE replacements. I'm looking for improved ride quality, since compared to other HD's I've ridden in mine rides like a brick. Cognito Motorsports sells a shock mount that will add 2" to the stock shock length and they claim it smoothes out the ride by not allowing the truck to reach full compression and hitting the bumpstop. Opinions and especially knowledge welcomed!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I went with the 6140 front on my truck, and I'm happy with them. The truck rides better than stock, but still isnt smooth as a 1/2T truck. I chalk that up to it being a 3/4T truck. Ive never seen that 6682 shock mentioned for the rear. What is its original application?

I dont see the point in running the 6081 front if you are going to crank the front. The reason I say that is because the stock shock maxes out before the upper control arm stop comes into play. So, it goes to reason that the 6081 will be too short to use all available travel just like the factory stock shock. To see this, jack the front of your truck up, and see if you upper control arm is on the stop, or if the shock is holding your suspension at max droop. On my 01 it was the shock doing the limiting.

You could get the shock extenders from Cognito, but IMHO it's better to kill 2 birds with one stone with the 6140, a longer shock, & a better quality shock.

The roughness in your current ride has to do with the fact that when you crank the front up, you are running the front shock at full extension with no droop travel. Shocks work better with up and down travel, not just up travel. Small dips and bumps can be absorbed by increased down travel of a longer shock.

One thing you will notice with the 6140 is your will hear the upper control arms hitting the bump stop under full droop. Its a metal on metal contact so you'll know it when you hear it. The Cognito arms addressed this issue by adding a urethane bumper to the arm so its no longer metal to metal.