Shock absorbers

[Chevy1925]

My biggest question is whose last the longest? Fabtech's lasted a year, Rancho 5k lasted 4 months on the fronts on my 6" lifted heavy ass truck.

fabtechs are junk, both white body and their "rebuildable" ones.

Fox or bilsteins IMHO. i dont care much for the ranchos, mainly cause i dont like the valving in them no matter the setting even on the 9000s but im picky. they seem to do well for many others.

in your cold climate, you may need to look into some shock fluid that is a little thinner than the 5wt foxes use. ride will be a little rough and make some noise till the shock oil heats up some. id also put some kind of boot around the shock shaft. knicks in the shaft from rock when you are driving off road are the leading cause to shock shaft seal failure. then you loose all your oil and nitrogen and kill the internals of the shock.

serviceable shocks should also have the nitrogen level checked in them once a year with the shock at full extension.

 

[LBZ]

I run boots. Always have. Too many gravel roads round here and this truck is far from a pavement princess.

The Fabtech's came with the lift I wouldn't have bought them separately because ya they don't last.

Thought about rebuildable fox 2.0 or whatever they are but I don't have the patience to play around to get the right valving. Going to try the bilstein next I think.

 

[Chevy1925]

I run boots. Always have. Too many gravel roads round here and this truck is far from a pavement princess.

The Fabtech's came with the lift I wouldn't have bought them separately because ya they don't last.

Thought about rebuildable fox 2.0 or whatever they are but I don't have the patience to play around to get the right valving. Going to try the bilstein next I think.

you can buy some pretty well valved fox ones for the truck that will be better than the bilsteins. you also can play with nitrogen level and make it ride softer with a little less nitrogen.

 

[BoiseRob]

So the Bilstein 5100 series work on a stock ride height truck? The catalog says 0"-1.5" lift on the fronts with 0"-1" on the rears. There's nothing worse than a shock that's too long...

 

[Chevy1925]

So the Bilstein 5100 series work on a stock ride height truck? The catalog says 0"-1.5" lift on the fronts with 0"-1" on the rears. There's nothing worse than a shock that's too long...

from what ive seen, they still stop the LCA or will smash their bushings before the UCA hits its bump stop at full droop. too long or too short is not good if the shock becomes the limiter.

 

[TXGREEK]

So the Bilstein 5100 series work on a stock ride height truck? The catalog says 0"-1.5" lift on the fronts with 0"-1" on the rears. There's nothing worse than a shock that's too long...

You'll really notice a positive improvement switching out to Bilstein shocks. I had them put on my 16 3/4 ton crew z71 and yes, much nicer ride. I'd call 4wheelparts and at the least get shock information as they can answer any concerns you may have. Good luck

 

[BoiseRob]

You'll really notice a positive improvement switching out to Bilstein shocks. I had them put on my 16 3/4 ton crew z71 and yes, much nicer ride. I'd call 4wheelparts and at the least get shock information as they can answer any concerns you may have. Good luck

I currently have the Bilstein HD4600's on the truck. I installed them in the spring of 2007. The truck only has 74k on the odometer and it's strictly a tow rig now hauling our 37' TT so maybe I should stick with the HD's?

 

[TXGREEK]

I currently have the Bilstein HD4600's on the truck. I installed them in the spring of 2007. The truck only has 74k on the odometer and it's strictly a tow rig now hauling our 37' TT so maybe I should stick with the HD's?

If it ain't broke don't fix it but I put the 5100's on my truck at 6k mikes just for the purpose of smoothening the ride better for towing and normal driving, then I put airbags on just in case but noticed that all the weight was really going on the leafs


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[BoiseRob]

If it ain't broke don't fix it but I put the 5100's on my truck at 6k mikes just for the purpose of smoothening the ride better for towing and normal driving, then I put airbags on just in case but noticed that all the weight was really going on the leafs TXGREEK

I've got a set of airbags too. The front just seems "bouncy" with the 4600 series shocks. Maybe the best solution is 5100's in front and 4600's in the rear...

 

[TXGREEK]

Beats the heck out of me but I'd rather have shocks all the way around the same and airbags for heavy weight. My remotes are crap though, had to replace them twice due to not being able to connect with system. Installed in cabin dual pressure gauge manual push button. It's difficult and frustrating cause what seems ok with driver up front isn't the same for passengers in rear.


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