Shock absorber recommendations?

[mirageflatter]

1998 3500 extended cab 4X4, 24 valve, 5 speed, DRW. I’m looking for good quality all around shocks, both front and rear, for decent ride quality and handling while empty, as well as pulling a 30 ft slant load 4 horse gooseneck trailer. Thanks in advance for recommendations!!

 

[Cole Dean]

1998 3500 extended cab 4X4, 24 valve, 5 speed, DRW. I’m looking for good quality all around shocks, both front and rear, for decent ride quality and handling while empty, as well as pulling a 30 ft slant load 4 horse gooseneck trailer. Thanks in advance for recommendations!!

I just put Bilstiens on all four corners of my 2001 that lived a real rough life in our fleet and I am restoring. I did the 4600 I believe and the ride quality is great !

 

[mirageflatter]

I just put Bilstiens on all four corners of my 2001 that lived a real rough life in our fleet and I am restoring. I did the 4600 I believe and the ride quality is great !

Thanks Cole! I’d kind of narrowed it down to Bilstein’s in terms of reviews on quality, but I’m debating between the 4600 and 5100 series. Further advice and recommendations are welcomed.

 

[Cole Dean]

Thanks Cole! I’d kind of narrowed it down to Bilstein’s in terms of reviews on quality, but I’m debating between the 4600 and 5100 series. Further advice and recommendations are welcomed.

Looks like you’re towing, I think you’ll like the 5100s. I may wish I had gone that route. I’ve only pullled once with it. But I also put a 500 pound welder in the bed so I’m getting heavy without the trailer

 

[Chief USA]

I put a set of the Bilstein B6 4600 shocks all-round on both hers and mine. Seems like it made the most difference on her truck which is a long bed. I have a short bed and it did improve the ride but is a bit firmer.

 

[Jim W]

From what Geno's Garage states there is a slight difference between the two shocks. The main difference for the 5100 shocks is they are designed for trucks up to a 2.5" lift including stiffer valving. You can also install them on trucks with stock ride height. Which I did for my 2008 truck. Why? I really could not see putting YELLOW and BLUE colored shocks on a SILVER and BLACK truck.

As far as the ride, I really could not notice the difference between the stock factory shocks and the new Bilstein shocks. But the truck is mainly used to tow my trailer and no longer used as daily driver, since I am now retired. The truck also has Air Bags on the rear axle which are maintained at 10 PSI when I am not hauling heavy. So, this may make a slight difference also.

Check out Geno's Garage for prices they seem to be reasonable for my needs! I believe in the latest catalog the 4600 shocks were retailing between $72.95 and $76.85 depending on if the truck was 4X4 or 2X4. The rear axle price was different . For the 5100 shocks the price was $86.85 each for 4X4 only.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Thanks Cole! I’d kind of narrowed it down to Bilstein’s in terms of reviews on quality, but I’m debating between the 4600 and 5100 series. Further advice and recommendations are welcomed.

Basically same shock but 5100 allows for about a 2" lift. I highly recommend them.

 

[Terry]

I've been running the 4600's for several years, first carrying a slide in camper and then towing an 8000lb trailer, I would buy them again.

 

[12valveZach]

Very Happy with my Bilstein 5100's ( for 2.5 in level) I have a lance 915 that I offroad with a lot and a 30 ft. toy hauler..they handle it all smoothly and at a great price point.

 

[bcbender]

I have the 5100's quad setup on my 95 Bronco long travel kit, I like them they ride good, I had the FOX2.0 on my 04 Ram but would've bought the 5100's if my sister-in-law didnt work for FOX but I got a really good deal.

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

I've run stock, SkyJacker hydros, Bilsteins(blue and yellow) and Rancho 9000's. I was really dissapointed with the short life of the Bilsteins, had two fail in 5 years and about 15,000 miles and I didn't appreciate their ride over the SkyJackers they replaced. I by far like the Rancho 9000's the best on the rear. You can make them soft for empty and then adjust them stiffer for towing. Works really well on the crappy roads around here. I put cheap SkyJacker hydros back on the front and not Ranchos because they'd be hard to adjust through the coil springs.

 

[Joe Mc]

Bilsteins. Have had them on mine for well over 125k and they're still awesome.

 

[JMcCoy]

I'd get anything in a mono-tube shock like a Bilstein, Fox, King, others. They all performed exponentially better and last way longer than the cheaper twin-tube design like OEM, Rancho (5k, 7k, 9k), Monroe, etc. Mono-tube shocks also don't fade near as much on long torturous trips. Stay clear of the Procomp monos. I blew several out in just a few thousand miles and one in a couple hundred. The King 2.5s I have now are awesome! They greatly improved my trucks handling, but probably overkill. The 2.0s in Bilstein, King, or Fox will be perfect for most.

 

[LBrush]

Have used the Bilstein 4600's for a decade hauling a T/C and towing a boat or a toad. No problems at all. If I had to replace them I would put the same on again.

 

[Seabee]

One more for the bilsteins................