Which shocks?

[Got Smoke?]

Ok this only applies to the 4x4 guys with stock height trucks. I'm just wondering if any of you guys have replaced your shocks with aftermarket performance shocks. I know one guy just posted the other day about installing Rancho 5000's, but I'm wondering if any of you are running anything else.



My other hobby besides my CTD is my old Chevy I'm building just to take off road. I've heard a lot of good things about Bilstein shocks, but I'm not sure if anybody has used them on a CTD or not. Just looking for some feedback.



Thanks,

Mark

 

[DarrellB]

Boy you're good

Put Bilstiens on mine in November of last year and alls I can say is; Boy what a difference. I put them all the way around and it made the truck ride a lot better. No more nose diving when I drive it a little hard into corners and really smooths out the bumps on the highway. Real easy to install to, only took an hour or two and 5 beers.



Here this may help



Fronts are; B46-2129



Rears are; B46-2130



Both were $54. 95 from Auto Zone

The shocks have the heavy duty setting on them for the diesel trucks so don't let them sell you anything different.



Darrell

 

[MPatrick]

shocks

I'm waiting for my 4 Wheel parts order to come in (Rancho 9000's)

Just a little over 3 bills, installed.

 

[jsnyder]

Yeah, what he said!

I'm with Darrell. The Bilsteins are great. I put a set of Heckethorns on 25k miles. By 50k they were shot. Called the manufacturer and they said "yeah they probably are shot, it's a heavy truck". No warranty return = no repeat customer:-{}



So, I dialed up Autozone.com and ordered me a set of Bilsteins. Shoot, even my wife noticed a difference in the ride! These things are great. Maybe a little stiff, but it's a truck right? If you want a car-like ride buy Chevy .



Install is easy. Do a search if you need to for the procedure on the fronts.



Jason

 

[LSMITH]

Rancho 9000's, and I would pay triple for them again. Best shock by far I have ever had.



Think about this: if the ride is too soft or too hard with Bilstiens or Rancho 5k or anything else you can do what about it? Nothing. If the Rancho 9K is too hard or too soft you turn the knob and set it where YOU want it. Loads and conditions change, why not have the ability to deal with it?



I am not flaming any shocks, just presenting the logic for my choice.

 

[BRobertson]

I had Rancho 9000 on my 98. 5 which was basically the same truck as my 2001 except for the sixspeed, so I was able to compare with the Bilsteins that I have now.

I far prefer the Bilsteins!!!

The Ranchos at the lower settings were mushy, and at the high settings it was as if they were not operating as a shock ( i. e. they were basically a very stiff hydraulic cylinder with no dampening)

I don't think they have a very high tech valving system compared to other shocks.

If you compare the Bilsteins and Ranchos side by side the difference in quality is obvious!!

My truck spends a lot of time on rough gravel roads and the Bilsteins help make it bearable.

Bob

 

[Bud Fox]

I recommend Bilsteins. I put them on my 98 and it was a 100% improvementOo.

 

[RustyJC]

Depends what you're using the truck to do. For towing our 5ver, the Rancho 9000's were the best investment we've made. The stock shocks were far too soft for handling this weight, and both ends of the truck would bounce continuously - guaranteed to make anyone/everyone in the truck carsick within an hour! At the same time, the front of the truck would bounce and wallow while the rear kicked when we ran unloaded.



Running the Rancho 9000's on 4 front/5 rear gives us just the shock control we need when towing. Running on 3 front/2 rear gives us an unloaded ride that's softer than stock, but with much better shock control.



If your conditions vary as widely as ours, I'd go with the adjustability of the Rancho 9000's. If not, probably any premium quality shock (Bilstein, Edelbrock, etc. ) would be an improvement over stock.



Rusty

 

[24V-DSL]

Bilstein PN differences....

I have Bilstein with these PN's.



Front BE5-2549

Rear BE5-2550



These are the application for Dodge 2500 4x4 over 8400 lbs. GVW.



According to mother Bilstein tech support ( 800. 537. 1085) the other PN's mentioned by DarrellB are for GVW up to 7500 lbs.



The tech also told me the difference between the two PN's are mostly related to length 25-27mm on the fronts and 38-40mm on the rears. The valving may also be different.



Just want people to know about Bilstein options... . no intended or implied criticism or judgement.

 

[mimprevento]

Shocks

Edelbrock IAS's have been good to me- I think they are a good design and are a great improvement over stock- I cannot vouch for durability they have only been on the truck for 11k miles

 

[jrobinson1]

What 24V-DSL said for part #'s for Bilstiens



Just put em on a week ago, No shipping special from www.offroadwarehouse.com



about $60/per shipping and tax Little better then TDR discount.



Much smoother and more control still got a wheel or tire vib I'm chasing.



james

 

[Dixie Dawg]

just put Rancho 9ks on Tuesday night, what a difference! Adjustability was the kicker for me. Ride is light years better than stock over bumps, expansion joints, etc. Far less roll in corners. All in all, a must do to the 4x4 CTD.

 

[zjones]

I also have the Edelbrock IAS shocks on all four corners

& WOULD NOT RECOMMEND them.



They are great on smooth pavement & eliminated all my body

roll around (smooth) corners but the IAS (inertia valve) just

lets go on rough roads



I live 5 miles from the nearest paved road & hate the drive EVERY MORNING over caliche roads. (i. e. pogostick Oo. ) :{



I also pull 26,000 Lb. dump trailers (roofing foreman) to the landfill and get the same pogostick Oo. ride.



Went to return them & found out I had them too long. :-{} (was very busy at the time)



now I'm looking to replace them.

 

[pwknapp]

Rancho 9k.

 

[DarrellB]

Sorry for the wrong part #s. Looked at mine and they are the ones 24V-DSL listed.



I'll try better next time. :-laf



Darrell

 

[Sheepherderspecial]

i put ranco 9000's on a month ago. man what a difference i think i paid around 68-70 bucks each. from 4wheelparts.com but they had a buy three fourth is free deal going. plus free shipping i would definetly recommend them

Eric

 

[PSL53]

Just ordered Bilsteins. Is there any special procedure for install on front or rear. I would think it will be pretty easy.

Thanks

Peter

 

[pwknapp]

Torque the pooh out of the bottom bolt on the front ones or you will be chasing that noise for a while.

 

[jsnyder]

For the front shocks it helps to jack up the frame. This gives you a little more room for snaking the front shocks down into the hole.



Jason

 

[mbrolin]

Ive installed the Rancho 5000s. These are like the 9000s set at the #3 setting. So far Im happy with them. They are stiffer than the stock made in Brazil shocks but the ride is still bearable. The part #s are RS5197 for the front and RS 5225 for the rears. This is for a 4x4 and all our trucks have the 8800GVW.