Shocks for stock suspension

[DThibault]

I am finally finishing up my project truck and need a set of shock absorbers, both front and rear. It is a 93 W350 with stock suspension and I don't really do any off roading other than some of the neglected country roads in town. I do tow and occasionally load quite heavy. I don't want to go the real high end stuff but not junk either. Suggestions?

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

For the first time I decided to try Billsteins and I am thoroughly impressed. If you don't want to feel every bump in on the road they are probably not for you. My feeling about them is that I know my tires are well planted on the road especially in the "Northwet" where it rains 7 to 8 months in a year. They will cost you more but not all that much more. I purchased mine from Shock Warehouse - they had free shipping. You can also get them from Genos Garage - no free shipping. I replaced my rear shocks first, my fronts were relatively new. I liked the ride so much I went with a set of fronts and gave my old but still good to my neighbor to use on his 91. 5.

Bob

 

[DVolk]

Ill agree with Bob Bilsteins are really nice , i drove a truck with a set . but since im a poor dude i'm running Ranch

RS5000 there fairly cheap and in the back i have a set of Monroe gas magnums i had a difffrent set on it but the weld broke on the upper sheet metal but it ride alright in a truck with shot front springs

 

[DThibault]

I have Bilsteins on my 01 but I don't see a listing for the front of a first gen 4WD. They do have them for the rear. Do you guys know something otherwise?

 

[jclark5810]

A lot of guys just run the 5100 series on the front. It's more of a "universal" application, but honestly in a first gen you won't notice TOO much. I think The 5100's front and rear will be just fine. I ran them on the 04. 5 and it's a very good ride for the price point. I put skyjacker on the 93' and because it was lifted and I didn't feel like I was running shocks at all... probably just how the trucks ride.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Jclark, you need reservoir shocks. You've got so much travel on that truck, I don't see how a cheap aftermarket shock could keep up... ... .



I often run the Rancho 9000 adjustable valved shocks. They're cheap, but I also need the 2-3" lift capability after adding aftermarket spring packs, usually a steel bed, and a feeder or bale spear. If you're going to bash on it off-road, the reservoir shocks, like King's, or Fox are the way to go... ... but since you said you're not going to do that, here's a current sale going on at 4 Wheel Parts..... http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kit...l=3646&Year=1993&Make=DODGE&Model=W350+PICKUP



They've also got the higher grade Bilstien's, which is the way I'd go, were it me... . http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kit...pt=101006&t_pl=101369&t_pn=S/DShockingBIL5100

 

[jclark5810]

Yeah I ordered them and the ones I got supposedly had the most travel, I must have gotten the wrong ones. Oh well, that truck is gone now. I'm going to put Bilstien's on the 02' when the time comes.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Yeah I ordered them and the ones I got supposedly had the most travel, I must have gotten the wrong ones. Oh well, that truck is gone now. I'm going to put Bilstien's on the 02' when the time comes.

AWWW!! I hate to hear that. That was a sweet lookin' ride...

 

[ENafziger]

I've come to like Bilstein too. Unless you're going with an reservoir shock, Bilstein is the only way to go IMO. If you're going with a reservoir shock, they're still a great choice, but maybe not a hands-down answer.

--Eric

 

[DMcLeod]

DT, how are your stock front springs holding up? Many 1st gens on stock suspension are sagging some by now. An idea for you is to get a fresh pair of front springs, maybe a 2" leveling set, then you could run the Bilstein 5100's all around. Also, watch for "shocktober" specials this fall to save a few bucks.

 

[DThibault]

DMcLeod, my front springs are a little sagged out. Where would you look for a set of leveling springs. I like that idea.

 

[HHhuntitall]

OH, man, if I can interject here... ... . the front springs on any of my 1st gens have sagged pretty bad. The 4x4s are really rough, as when they sag, they easily hit the front bumpstops, which is basically like landing on concrete from a HALO jump. Lifting the front end a little and getting off the bumpstops would help you tremendously!! As for springs, I usually have a company in Ft. Worth build me some to my specs, but there are aftermarket sets out there that work great. I've heard good things about several of the vendors here on TDR, so hopefully some of the guys, such as Bschwarzli and ENafziger will chime in on where they got their's..... Combinde a new set of springs with just some Bilstien 5100 or 7100s, and you've got a pretty decent ride combo... . IMO.

 

[ENafziger]

I think the best bang for the buck performance shock on the ligher weight 1st gens is a Bilstein 7100 remote reservoir shock. Unless you're getting alot of air jumping, they'll handle everything you can throw at them, and they're still in the somewhat affordable range at ~ $200/each. You can specify valving on compression and rebound to tailor to our trucks. The 9100s are nice, and I have some on my '06. However, unless you're really pounding your truck hard baja style, they're going to be at least double the price of the 7100s, and you likely won't see alot of difference daily driving.

The big thing to remember, is that a great quality shock isn't going to give a great ride with sub-par springs. In order for a quality shock to absorb and control the suspension movement, you have to have a spring setup that actually allows movement. That is somewhat hard to do with the short length rear leaves that come on our trucks.

If you want to have some real fun and get creative, check out my thread on a suspension build I did. If you want a better ride without a lot of welding/fabricating, I'd look at Alcan, or maybe Atlas springs. Deaver would usually be my first choice, but I don't think they have a spring for 1st gens, without building something up custom.

--Eric

 

[DMcLeod]

Consider the skyjacker D200CS front springs. Search the archives on this forum for info. I've got a set sitting here waiting to be put on, but have other things to take care of first. I don't have first hand experience with them, but they were my choice after I researched the subject, and I considered Atlas, Alcan, Deaver, and the others. Pay attention to the spring eye diameter and new bushing availability. I haven't worked through this yet, but there is a change in bushing/bolt/eye size. Also, I meant to say blistein 5100, not 9100 in my earlier post (I edited my post). Genos sells them. At least for myself, I think this combo will freshen up the suspension while not breaking the bank. I'm not building a race/baja truck or anything.

 

[DMcLeod]

By the way, DThibault, you say you are finishing up your project truck... ..... where's the pictures????

 

[DThibault]

They are coming, I am without much help on the farm this summer and don't seem to have much time for projects. Cooler weather will slow things down but then I spend a little time in the woods with my bow. Then gun, then muzzleloader but I know I will finish it up before the end of the year. I need my shop space back for my powerwagon project next. Does it ever end? Hope not anytime soon!

 

[HHhuntitall]

On a whim, and since I didn't want to work on anything else, I had some KYB shocks I'd bought from an older gentleman who had sold his old Dodge and wanted to get rid of all the parts... . I know, it's not the same as your W350, but you can tell a lot about 'em just using them. The project truck was a new to me D250, which had the front springs collapsed... . I installed a set of trimmed Supercoil SSC-21s, and the KYB shocks. Those springs usually make the truck a lot stiffer on corners and rough roads... . But with the KYBs, it really rides nice!!! I was shocked at how well it rides!! IT does have an old RoughCountry front bumper, and they're not light..... But still, the ride is shockingly nice... . KYB gets my vote this week.

 

[AEdelheit]

On a whim, and since I didn't want to work on anything else, I had some KYB shocks I'd bought from an older gentleman who had sold his old Dodge and wanted to get rid of all the parts... . I know, it's not the same as your W350, but you can tell a lot about 'em just using them. The project truck was a new to me D250, which had the front springs collapsed... . I installed a set of trimmed Supercoil SSC-21s, and the KYB shocks. Those springs usually make the truck a lot stiffer on corners and rough roads... . But with the KYBs, it really rides nice!!! I was shocked at how well it rides!! IT does have an old RoughCountry front bumper, and they're not light..... But still, the ride is shockingly nice... . KYB gets my vote this week.

Hmm, so the KYB's must have a lot of rebound valving, a shock can't make a stiff spring softer just help stop the harsh rebound that happens. I don't think people understand the RS9000 don't adjust the valving in anyway, that's basically impossible to do without going into the shock, they just ad compression resistance but don't change rebound which is a critical component.

 

[AEdelheit]

On a whim, and since I didn't want to work on anything else, I had some KYB shocks I'd bought from an older gentleman who had sold his old Dodge and wanted to get rid of all the parts... . I know, it's not the same as your W350, but you can tell a lot about 'em just using them. The project truck was a new to me D250, which had the front springs collapsed... . I installed a set of trimmed Supercoil SSC-21s, and the KYB shocks. Those springs usually make the truck a lot stiffer on corners and rough roads... . But with the KYBs, it really rides nice!!! I was shocked at how well it rides!! IT does have an old RoughCountry front bumper, and they're not light..... But still, the ride is shockingly nice... . KYB gets my vote this week.

Hmm, so the KYB's must have a lot of rebound valving, a shock can't make a stiff spring softer just help stop the harsh rebound that happens. I don't think people understand the RS9000 don't adjust the valving in anyway, that's basically impossible to do without going into the shock, they just ad compression resistance but don't change rebound which is a critical component.

 

[RSchwarzli]

I installed the 5100 back in 2010. I have since put 30K miles on them. LOVE this shock. Handling is good. Unloaded is good. Hard to say if it is a harsh shock as my leafs are stiff but I like it!

More info here:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ngs-and-shocks-installed-pics!&highlight=5100