2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Shocks - KYB Gas-a-Just versus Bilstein Yellow/Blue

[JDPavek]

I have 135k miles on my 1998. 5 2500 2WD and will be buying either the KYB Gas-a-Just or Bilstein Yellow/Blue shocks. I am hoping to get some comments from members to help me make up my mind. I have some local roads with deep potholes and the urban pedestrian bumps here and there. But, I don't want too stiff a ride as I am on I-5 for most of my miles. Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

--jd

 

[fest3er]

I have 135k miles on my 1998. 5 2500 2WD and will be buying either the KYB Gas-a-Just or Bilstein Yellow/Blue shocks. I am hoping to get some comments from members to help me make up my mind. I have some local roads with deep potholes and the urban pedestrian bumps here and there. But, I don't want too stiff a ride as I am on I-5 for most of my miles. Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

--jd

I've used KYB Gas-a-just shocks on my '98 since about 16k miles (got the truck new in 10/97. I replaced the first set of KYBs 'on principle' at about 90k. The second set is still on at 280k. I took a rear shock off a while back and compared it to one of the previous KYBs (which I still have); I could tell it was just a *hair* looser than the previous.



There was a rough left-turn lane on US12 in No. Ill. that was washboard-ish. With the OEM shocks, every time I stopped there, the ABS would kick in and I'd lose 50% of braking; this was when the truck was brandy-new. After I installed the KYB shocks, that stopped. And I had *far* more control on other poorly maintained roads.

They control well without being annoying or stiff. If you'd wanted a performance shock, I'd suggest the MonoMax. But for everyday driving with good predictable vehicle control, the Gas-a-just is very adequate. And they don't cost much more than run-of-the-mill shocks that wear out in 20k miles.



In fact, my trust of Gas-a-just goes back a few years. I used them on my '84 200SX in the mid-80s; the difference between OEM and KYB was much like the difference between zero and infinity. I used them on my '87 FireTurkey (Formula 350); the KYBs made the suspension behave the way it was designed to. A couple of my brothers have been impressed and very pleased after I talked them into installing Gas-a-just shocks on their cars.



As long as I have a choice, KYB monotube-construction shocks are the *only* shocks I'll use.

 

[CNorthrup]

Bilstien's all the way!

 

[HHhuntitall]

Regardless of which you choose, either of those will be lightyears ahead of factory shocks. I've used a wide spectrum of shocks from various manufacturers, and KYB and Bilstien are some of the best "off-the-shelf" shocks, especially for our Dodges.