2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission make my mind up for me please

[Sheepherderspecial]

i have been searching the archives till my eyes hurt. i need new shocks on the front the ranchos are just about shot with 70,000 on them. i have never adjusted the knob since i put them on so i see no need for it. i am having a tuff time deciding between the bilstein be5-2549 (yellow/blue) and the 5100 series be5-6681(silver/black) i never go four wheeling. and the trucks main job is to go to and from work and pull the gooseneck with the pulling tractor.



i am thinking the 5100 might be too stiff for day to day. but i have no real basis for this. Any and all help/ ideas/ thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Eric

 

[JPittinger]

I have the 5100s on my '97 CC 4x4. Same use as you and they're not too stiff for me...

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Don't get the yellow & blue ones. They don't last. I put a new set on the '96 at 355k, now at 405,000 miles the second set is shot. I have done a little hard off-roading but 95% of the miles were on pavement.

If you get the blue & yellow be sure to get them from some place that will take warranty returns no questions asked. Otherwise you'll have to wait for them to be sent to Bilstein for analysis, and then have the warranty denied, unless they are totally blown and/or leaking.

Vaughn

 

[holmanrd]

quote: "Don't get the yellow & blue ones"



I second that opinion. I blew both of the fronts on the same outing. On one of them it even bulged the top of the tube where the shaft slides. I then went with the 5100's (silver). 6 mnths and 7k miles later, still working fine.



good luck, Robert

 

[NoSeeUm]

Don't the Rancho's have a lifetime warranty?



Jim

 

[FLynes]

Have you considered the Rancho RSXs (17000 series)? I put them on mine and love them. They're variable rate shocks, and there's no knob like on the 9000s to mess with.

 

[Sheepherderspecial]

Finally went for it and ordered the 5100 shocks. got them installed over the weekend. made a big improvement in ride quality. one thing i did notice the metal sleeves in the bilstiens are . 050 longer than the rancho. which means i had to pry the mounts open just slightly. and that the rancho's sleeve never was tight in the mount. and it also explains why the slight klunk i had been unable to find went away. also be careful not to undo the strap on the new shock until you get them installed. all my 140lb butt could do to get them compressed enough to get the strap back on.



Thanks for the help.

Eric

 

[T-Bone]

Eric,



Just to verify... your truck is stock height, right? I have the same truck and am looking to do shocks.



Thanks,

T-Bone

 

[Sheepherderspecial]

yep stock height. shocks fit just fine. now i have found that my michelins have flat spots on them. guess time for some new rubber. any ideas?

 

[JFulford]

Sheepherderspecial part numbers?

I've been considering the "blue and yellow". Everything I can find on the 5100 series says that they are for "lifted" suspensions. Do you have part numbers for the ones you are using? I'd rather have the 5100s if they are available for a stock height truck. I've got an '02 shortbed quadcab.

Thanks

jeff

 

[AFoulk]

My truck is in need of shocks soon and I bought it with a leveling kit in the front end. Will I need shocks that are a little longer than stock for the front? It still has the factory shocks on it.

 

[Sheepherderspecial]

be5-6681tdr for the front

b35-6682tdr for the back



these are the numbers off the invoice from off road warehouse. just drop the tdr part if you are looking somewhere else.

 

[swmnkdinthervr]

be5-6681tdr for the front
b35-6682tdr for the back

these are the numbers off the invoice from off road warehouse. just drop the tdr part if you are looking somewhere else.

Searching websites for shocks using that number (be5-6681) brings up shock for use in trucks with 2"-4" lift and on 2 sites it says for: '03-'05... ???? Hows that gonna work on a stock '95-'02 truck? The folks at Geno's Garage have told me that using the 5100 on a stock truck will subject the shock to bottoming and that while these shocks are a better look they are internally identical to the BE5-2549... opinions?

 

[JFulford]

Shocks?

Sheepherderspecial

Thanks for the part numbers. These are the ones I think I had found for my '02 but, as swmnkdinthervr mentioned, Bilstein says for use on trucks with "2-4 inch suspension lifts.

Just a little worried about installation/mounting and function.

How are they working on your truck?

jeff

 

[bmoeller]

I have the blue/yellow ones. Have maybe 20k on them. So far, so good. Haven't had the problem with the rubber bushings failing like some others did.

Do drive in the fields some, but keep my speed down in rough ones or crossing little ditches.

 

[Sheepherderspecial]

the shocks fit just fine. if i remember right i looked on the bilstein website and they say the shock are for 0 to 2" lift. but anyway they fit just fine and i have had no problems in the month they have been on. i believe several others are running them on stock height trucks also.

 

[fest3er]

FWIW, I'm partial to KYB. 130K miles ago, I installed a new set of KYB Gas-Ajust (monotube) shocks all 'round on general principle, because there were 75K miles on the existing set. I just checked my R/F shock (because the top nut came off real easily). It seems to behave just like the previous one (yes, I kept them, just in case): a little looser than they were when brandy new. These KYBs are not a stiff sport suspension shock, but they do give a nice ride. And I have never worn one out on any of the vehicles I've had: '98 2500, '87 Formula 350, '84 200SX.

Be aware though, that KYB may still make a 'twin tube' shock; these aren't nearly as good and don't last but 30K miles or so. The 'Gas-Ajust" monotube shock is the one to get.