Edlebrock IAS or Bilstein HD Shocks...

[Patriot Diesel]

Time for some new shocks. The RS9000's look terrible and the adjustment knob on 3 out of 4 is locked solid...



This time around I either want the Edlebrock IAS's or the Bilstein Heavy Dutys.



Has anyone had both? If so how do they compare?



I'd also like to hear feedback from anyone who has had or does have either of them.



Thanks!

 

[MarkH]

I have (had) the IAS's on my 97 2500. They were _much_ stiffer than stock. To me they seemed to make the ride much harsher. I doubt that I would buy them again, and would go with the Bilstein's or see if Koni makes a shock for your truck.

 

[24V-DSL]

I had the very first IAS on my 97 Dakota 4x. They were "unremarkable", and I took them off. Tried Pro comp but they were way too stiff/harsh so I put the IAS back on, but like I said, I couldn't tell the difference from stock.



I've got almost 97K on my Bilsteins and they have been the best shock I've ever owned. Still ride like new. I don't tow or go offroad.

 

[DanDee]

If you want to save a few bucks, you might check with KYB & see what they have for the third gens... . their gas-a-just series are a high pressure gas mono-tube performance design like Bilsteins, only 1/3 the price!

(Or at least they used to be, bought a set last year & they had jumped to $50 each at the local auto parts... . for years and years they were always $25. 99!)



Lifetime warranty & they have really helped the handling on every thing I've put them on. I've had the same set on my W200 for about 18 years... and as far as I can tell, they still work like new!



I have KYB's on every vehicle I have replaced the shocks on since the late 70's. (Except for the time I shelled out big bucks for a set of street Koni's for my Trans Am... . what a disappointment, ended up having to run them at their stiffest setting just to get them to handle as well as the stock HP shocks I replaced! Of course the race Koni's are legends... but don't expect as much from their street series!)



KYB's gas shocks will stiffen your ride a little on most vehicles, but then again I'm sure that the Bilsteins will too! (So if you want a soft ride... get Monroematics!!!)



Bilsteins are still probably the finest shocks & an excellent choice if you have the money (last I checked years ago they ran about $100 each!) but ask around about KYB...



Oh yea, I love Edlebrock products... but there have been a few problems reported with their shocks... might run an Internet search to see if that has been worked out!



DanDee

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

IAS ..... I had a set on my chev for 13 minutes put it that way. Bolted them up and went for a ride. The "smaart valving" cannot make the distinction between sharp bumps and potholes at speed. That in turn allmost sent me into a guard rail. Went home tore them off went down to the shop and told the guy to get theese things out of my sight. Got a set of bilsteins and went for he same ride and the trck was like new. Now on the ram I have the bilstein HD 5200 series and those are a dream!!!!!!!!! I gotta give the awesome credit for tha stainless steel looking ody the use. After two harsh winters in the salt belt they look mint!!!!!

 

[Rineholio]

Doesn't Bilstein offer two versions for our trucks? One for heavier gross vehicle weights and one for lighter? Anybody have experience with that? The only reason Bilsteins aren't on my truck now is that I couldn't decide which to order.

 

[Patriot Diesel]

Yeah... I was definately leaning towards the Bilsteins... now if memory serves me right we get a discount on them from somewhere that has been mentioned before...



I'll have to look for the thread... it is one I started a few months ago...

 

[JPittman]

Bilstein does have two versions of shocks. I purchased the HD since I have a 3500 over 8,000 lbs. Front is BE5-2549, rear is BE5-2550. $57. 99 each plus freight with TDR discount. Call Off Road Warehouse 800-341-7757. The discount saves about $3. 00 per shock.

 

[MMiller]

I too have the ranchos. They are great with the exception of two things. I am slowly loosing the ability to adjust them. The other is having to lay under the truck to adjust them every time I hook to the trailer. Empty the ride is too harsh on higher levels. Loaded way too bouncy on setting 1. Its not any fun to lay in the snow, or on the ground for that matter every time I hook up.



Will the bilsteins have the same characteristic's as the ranchos, but with out the adjusting? I go from one extreme to the other. Totally empty to 25,000 to 28,000 gross. Can anybody answer this?



Thanks guys



Michael

 

[Dieselnutz]

I don't know about about the ias but the BILSTEIN'S are the best shock I have ever had on a truck. I have had mixed results with Rancho's but they were too short for my Dodge. I tried 2 sets that were suppose to be fit. I think I paid $280 for the set of Bilstein's. I did it at 14k. It made a huge improvement.

 

[y-knot]

I have run the Rancho's in the past on other makes as well as on my Dodge, I have never had any luck . The one's I installed on my 3500 rode nice and helped, but only lasted less then 10,000 miles before they sprung a leak. They are however warranted for life, but I choose to go with the Bilstien instead. They do offer two models for the OEM replacements, I would go with the lighter one. Bilstiens will ride rougher by nature, I chose the heavy ones first time, learn from my mistake and go with the softer ones. Shocks have nothing to do with your trucks ability to carry weight, they just help smooth out the road and help control wheel movement. Bilstien make a great product, I have bought them several times.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I had the Edelbrock shocks on my '01, they worked great unless you hit big undulating bumps which would then put them into full "soft" mode and the truck porpoised badly. Not good.



Vaughn

 

[MMiller]

I understand shocks have nothing to do with load carrying capacity. However there is a big difference in the way a shock needs to be valved when the truck is empty(specially rear) and when its loaded heavy. Like I said, my ranchos work great(IMO) but they need to be adjusted. With my kelderman air ride empty, the shock needs to be set on 1 or the ride is brutal(stiff). When loaded the shock needs to be set on 4 or else the truck will bounce forever when loaded.



I was hoping there was a shock capable of compensating. Oh, my truck is lifted enough that shock OEM shocks are too short. I have used shocks that come with lift kits, and others of the sort and the ride is terrible. I know its a truck, but my first gen don't ride too bad now, I want to ditch the adjustable part, and I don't think after next winter I will be able to adjust them anyways.



Thanks

Michael

 

[Dane]

I've had both on my current truck. I liked the Bilsteins much better. Better ride, more controlled feel over bumps.

 

[nfox]

Shocks

I am currently using Monroe reflex on my truck and was wondering if anybody has tried the sensa trac's on there truck? How much do the bilstiens cost$

 

[Jim McCarty]

I've had 'em all. Bilstein is the only shock for me now.

 

[DanDee]

Nfox,



I couldn't get KYB's for the front struts of my van last year, so I put on Monroe Sensa-trac's..... what a mistake!



Worked OK for about a month, then the right front started sounding like something was bottoming out every time it went over any kind of bump... Ride in the passengers seat and you can feel it thru the floor.



So now to warranty the one shock, I have to again rent a strut tool and then a front end alignment.

(So it's still clunking away, only it seems quieter now or else I'm getting used to it!)



If you can afford the Bilsteins, they will be a world class above anything that Monroe makes!



DanDee

 

[dpuckett]

I've had Monroes on two 1st Gen D350s (2wd, for you not in the know about the original Ram CTDs), and could not tell any difference between the new Monroes and the old worn out rusted pieces of junk I removed. Needless to say, no more Monroes for me.



Daniel

 

[Rineholio]

I concur that Monroe shocks suck. Bilsteins have given me the best life and overall performance.

 

[MDale]

hey DeeDee, try to tighten the strut nut up to see if that helps, sounds like the bearing plates are bad.