I've got an 01 Ranger 4x4 that's nearing 100k. I think it's definitely time for some shocks. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions.

My local guy who does my tires, alignments, etc. swears by Monroe. I see several options from that company that are relatively inexpensive. I would like a relatively smooth ride--for a truck of course--and not really something that is going to knock my kidneys out. For that reason, KYB and Bilstein seem like they're not good ideas.

Any suggestions?

While at it, how about front brake pads?

On edit, didn't post in towing, because I don't consider this a tow vehicle. It's more of an around town/winter vehicle.

-John

I put Bilstein HD's on my Silverado 2500 70Kmi ago - stopped the hobby horsing, smoother over bumps, not too expensive. Highly recommended.

Alan, you have the 2500HD like I do right? I was coming home from Laguna yesterday towing nothing, just the truck, and noticed that the thing seems rather "shockless" seems to bounce for days after a hard bump. My truck has ONLY 25000 miles on it. When did you replace yours?

More assumptions..... You guys really have to quit that, truly.

First to Randy..... GM installs the most pitfuly shocks in the industry, not just on the Camaro/Firebird but on most everything. If you make it 20k miles before you start seeing tire cupping and/of general lack of damping consider yourself lucky.

Now onto John..... what makes you think that any shocks is going to be too stiff, or even too soft? Sounds to me like you are judging a book by it's cover. And even that's odd, because the Bilstein's for our cars are far from from overly stiff. And KYB's come in a lot of flavors, but yet you lump them all together. And oddly, I find the "better" KYB's to be much less desireable than the "lesser" ones.

I carry more truck shocks than I do car shocks. Koni, Bilstein, Edelbrock, Rancho, Monroe, Tokico, KYB, Gabriel, and more.

Also the cost of shocks for something like the Ranger, or even a 2500HD is so minimal when compared to the car, it doesn't pay NOT to use something good.

This is what I do, all day, most everyday of my life.

Do I need to count how many national events were won last year on stock GM shocks?

Anyways I like Bilstein, affordable and good shocks. When I finally feel like getting shocks for my truck that's what I'm going with.

I bought some Bilstein HD's from Sam for my 2500 with HD package (a 2500HD before they called them 2500HD's) and I love them. Plus Bilsteins are great long lasting shocks.

Sam,

I was working up to calling you on this. I just have a hard time believing that the shocks would be bad at 25000. But I hear ya on GM shocks....

Do you recommend anything for a "daily driven" 2500HD? I want a good "tow" shock, but I drive the thing daily.....and it is DEFINATELY not a race car...

You've got a point, Sam. I don't' have any data to back that up. Let me rephrase: What decent shocks can I get for around $200 for a set... The stock ones are worn the heck out. I would love to buy Bilsteins, but are there other options that are less expensive but nearly as good?

I probably should just give you a call.

FWIW, Monroe is offering rebates through the end of the month. Buy four struts get $90 "comeback certificate" to spend at the place where you purchased them. Can I get them to give me one to Stranoparts?

-John

Bilsteins aren't much more than $200/set. Probably around $300/set, but you'd have to call and find out, I'm just guessing based on f-body part costs. IMHO well worth the extra cost for Bilsteins over Monroe...

Mine is a 2002 2500 short cab long bed - I believe it is the last of the non-HD 2500's and is a little lighter than the HD. Mine was delivered with "heavy duty suspension $95.00" the salesman said it was better shocks, but they sucked from new. Sucked badly. No damping for big whoops, and just horrible while towing - the front end would rebound on bad bridge transitions so violently I think I was getting air. I got a load leveling hitch which made it almost tolerable towing, but still sucked unloaded. I finally got the Bilsteins at 50Kmi, and the truck felt way better than new - no more launching off whoops, it tracks better without running thru all its travel, rotates nicely with a little trail brake, and soaks up little bumps that the stock shocks did not. Ride quality is wonderful, does not feel truckish at all. Now have 127Kmi, an the Bilsteins are still fine.

I put Monroe Sensatracs on my 96 Jimmy last fall. They were around $35 a piece from Advance. At 120k miles, it had the stock Decarbons in the rear, and some cheap monroe replacements in the front from the previous owner. That said, probably any shock would have made it feel tons better than the crap that was on it. So yeah, it rides nice now, and doesn't bob-n-weave anymore. But I think I would like the ride to be a tad more firm than it is. If I had to do it over again, I would go with the Bilstein HD's. It's all a matter of personal prefrence really. If you like a softer ride, the Sensatracs are good. If you like a more firm ride, the Bilstein HD's are better.

I see.....it seems as if you returned those shocks to GM under warranty and they installed them on my truck.... ....OK....I will get some real shocks soon...as it is almost unbearable on a long drive w/o a load....

Excellent topic...though maybe getting a little off the original intent...

I used to have a Suburban (before my racing days) that I put in the Performer IAS shocks marketed by Edelbrock. I don't remember how they stacked up price wise, but I was pretty impressed at the time by their ability to ride softly yet still handle the big bumps and woops. Sam probably has more current info regarding how these stack up to a linear shock.

If budget is your thing, then go with the Monroe's. If you can stretch it out, I've always been a big fan of the IAS shocks.

I like Bilstein HD's. The IAS's were ok at first, but I found them to be pos shocks on my other truck. It wasn't very long before they were all blown. I got the Bilsteins for my Silverado from Arlyn (Sam Jr).

I replaced stock with HDs at 60K miles.

Made a huge difference while towing

BTW ... it's '01 2500HD CC/SB. They were about $200 a set delivered, as I recall.

I've put "Pro-Comp ES3000's on two of my trucks, an'84 F-150 4X4 short bed, and a '96 Dodge diesel 2500 long bed ext cab 4X4. They are not a high pressure gas shock, and ride better than the junk that was on them. Really smoothed the ride in the Dodge, but that little sb Ford was a lost cause. Plus, they were cheap. Got them from "4wheelparts.com"

Sounds like Bilsteins are the ticket for ride and longevity. They're around $270 for a set of four. Not bad, really, in the grand scheme.

I sent Arlyn (whom I have never met in person, but who has ALWAYS been super nice) an e-mail and will probably order a set from Strano.

Thanks for all the feedback, guys.

-John

I'll save here the trouble. $256 for the set of 4, plus the shipping. I'm leaving soon for a Test and Tune, but just let her know I gave you a price.

BTW, I think this is a wise choice. I've literally got them all, even the Pro-Comps and Edelbrocks. I have Bilstein's on my truck, always have and they will always be my first choice on a truck.

Sam, can I hop on at that price if I give Arlyn a call today or tomorrow?

Thanks,

What about a 96 Dodge 2500 4x4 Heavy Duty (the 8800 GVWR option, which changes the shocks)? According to my 2004 Bilstein catalog, the part numbers are (f) BE5-2549 and ® BE5-2550 for "Standard Suspension". Other shocks are specified for "Lifted Suspension", which I assume means something above and beyond the standard factory lift blocks (6" rear, stock on all 2500 4x4 of that generation AFAIK).

I'm still a week or so [maybe several, the way things are going] from ordering (assuming that 8800 GVWR shocks aren't too much more expensive than Ranger shocks ), this is just for budgeting (ie thinning out the assumptions) while I work on the other vehicles and a tractor that all need repairs at the same time

I've got the Edelbrock IAS shocks on my '01 2500HD. Huge improvement over stock. I wouldn't have minded getting the Bilsteins, but was curious to try the IAS shocks.

Truck shocks vary in price. That was for his particular truck, yours might be different (possibly less).




I'll check, but if you set aside $300, that'll pretty much cover the 4 and the shipping.... with maybe a bit left over.

I'm very happy with the HD Bilsteins I put on the Trailblazer--and it comes with Bilsteins stock. I talked with Bilstein beforehand to verify valving differences, etc, and they're a completely different animal. Here's a shot of a stock rear Bilstein vs the HD:



Moral of the story: Even when GM uses Bilsteins as OEM, they use crappy ones.

Actually the moral of the story is: Even when GM uses Bilstein's as OEM, GM specs the valving and screws it up.

Too true. Just like the valving on the C5 Z06s. The 01s had some real problems with the rear shock valving, they improved it in 02, and then finally got it straightened out with new valving front and rear in 04. So if it takes them 3 years to finally get the valving right on their top of the line sports car, imagine how little attention they pay to something like a truck (since people expect it to ride like a truck).

Thanks. It's hard to know what to expect with a big truck. Some parts, like the giant front calipers, are dirt cheap, while other stuff seems to be made from pure unobtanium (like the fuel pump that just left me stranded).

They are $67.95 each for your truck Sean..... Hell, just round down to $270 + shipping..... which will be under well $300 to the door (probably around $285-287ish).

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I placed my order for some Bilstein HDs from Strano.

-John

Just a note about my recent Bilstein shock install on my 2003 2500HD Ext. cab short bed.

Installation was simple, the worst part was getting the upper nut off of the fronts because the shaft was pretty rusty. I applied a fairly liberal coat of grease to the Bilsteins' threads to prevent a repeat of that corrosion. Other than that it just doesn't get much easier. You'll need a 21mm deep socket, everything is pretty much "super-sized" compared to car stuff.

The stock shocks appeared OK (no oil leaking, etc), but they seem to have very little compression damping and tons of rebound damping. Also, the pistons don't retract on their own very much. They are all the same so I'm not sure if they are still operating as designed or if they are worn out. Truck has 50K miles.

I flipped the nut and bolt ends of the rear upper mounts when I installed the new shocks. It was much easier to get a socket on the nut that way.

Initial, no-load impressions are good, the truck feels more in control, I wouldn't call it a drastic change, but definitely noticeable and an improvement. I think the truck sits just a little higher now, especially in the back. I'm sure it'll be a quantum leap when loaded down, though. Will find out on the trip to Topeka next week.

On a related note; damn, checked the brake pads and they are still very meaty. 50K miles doesn't seem right but it stops fine and they look good <shrug>.

Yeah, yeah, rub it in. Now I have two trucks that need shocks.

If it makes you feel better the Bilstein HD's on my Silverado are lacking in hi-speed rebound. (Man I bet nobody ever said that on a truck board) Although you'd be hard pressed to find anything better.

Would my 2004 2500HD Duramax benefit from a shock change? I have a feeling what the answer would be...........

If they're stock yes. GM factory truck shocks are no better than the ones on our f-bodies. I've tried a bunch of truck shocks and Bilsteins have been the best.

Same here. Bilsteins were a VAST improvment over the worn out (100K on them) OEM shocks in my Ranger 4x4. The ride went from really bouncy (no rebound in front) to firm and it seems to corner better. Not that I'm really pushing it that hard. Well worth the investment. I don't do any towning or anything, though.

The hardest part was getting the front OEM shocks out. The nut on top was welded on to the shaft with rust. I just twisted the top of the shock shaft off. This seems to be a feature in Rangers, as we had to cut the OEMs off of my brother's truck with a sawzall.

-John
(edit for speeeling)

New Bilstiens made a VAST improvement in ride quality on our '02 2500HD D/A with less than 1000 mi on it. I noted the bouncy-bouncy ride on the way home from the dealer. It was the first mod we did on the truck (thanks Sam) and I will do it again on any new truck I buy, _especially_ GM.

I used to do it on new Ford trucks, but that was to keep the kingpins alive more than ride improvement.

Though my truck is more for "hauling" around an autocross course than hauling stuff behind it, the Bilstein HD's were a great improvement to the ride and handling of my Tacoma Extended Cab. Bilstein HD's are good stuff!