New Shocks

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:15 pm

I was looking into getting new shocks and was wondering what you guys recommend. I noticed most of you guys have pro comp, rancho, and bilstein. What series in all threes manufactures are good for a stock truck.

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:37 am

Ok i been looking around and im leaning toward the procomp 9000's, or bilsteins. Can someone tell me what the difference is between procomps 9000 and the rancho rsx and the rs9000 is, and which they think is better. Or is Bilstein better then all 3 of those shocks. Thanks alot for the help guys.

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:58 am

OK sorry to ramble on, but i was snooping around some more and came across shocks from superlift and edlebrock, anyone have some info on these as well.

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 3:15 am

I cant really tell you whats better but I have the rancho 5000s and they stiffened the truck up now it rides more like a truck and less like a car.When you pick the shock that you want make sure you check on EBAY chances are you will find them cheaper.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 3:37 am

bilsteins are way better than rancho and procomp. superlift i think are repackaged procomp shocks like the eldebrock and summit shocks. i am not sure who they are repackaging.

but look at the price. you get what you pay for. pro comp 9000 are 30 bucks for a reason. they are stiff as hell.

BTW, i had procomp 9000's on the front of my s-10 and i loved it. on the rear i had some used bilestiens that were a bit softer.

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:15 am

Im not really concerned with how stiff, i just dont want them to blow on me. Ive been looking at the Bilsteins to, and ive noticed that on ebay, some of them have this stupid plastic shield on the bottom, which looks like dirt and stuff would get in there, and on the website and performanceproducts.com, they have the convaluted style, whats the difference, anyone know?

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 5:33 am

OEM supplied Bilstein shocks use the shield. Aftermarket come with the convoluted boots.
I can only speculate that it was a spec demanded by the vehicle manufacturer.
Look into the design aspects and you will find the Bilstein a longer lifespan shock. There are several reasons for this two of which are the lack of springs used for valving (springs weaken over time) and the monotube design allowing for better cooling.
If you plan to keep the truck long term Bilsteins are a good investment. If not any shocks are a vast improvement over the stock shocks.

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 5:52 am

How about rancho rsx as opposed to bilstein?

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 5:59 am

This is probably a stupid question, what about fabtech, i was looking at the dirt logic 2.25, or do they offer shocks for our truck

smokinjoe · Post by **smokinjoe** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 7:54 am

personal opinion, i have upgraded to bilsteins and have no complaint, im not sure what you're looking for in shock but for all practical use the bilsteins are about 1 trillion times better than stock, i drive mine to work and back on a daily basis and have done a little adventuring on the side and the ride is greatly improved

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:15 am

I have the Rancho RSX's on my truck and they work great! I run Bilsteins on my SS and they are also very good. IMO the RSX and the Bilsteins are about the same in quality. Don't get Edelbrock they suck. If you have the money go with the Bilsteins or at least the RSX or RS9000's from Rancho. If money is a concern I would go with the Rancho 5000's.

Steve

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:43 am

I have the rancho 5000s and love them I wanted a stiffer ride and I got lucky and found a guy on Ebay who bought the wrong stocks for his truck and I got all 4 for $85 shipped

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:53 am

If you want a good deal Summit Racing has the Rancho RSX and RS9000X shocks at a really low price for March & April. If you buy 3 you will get the 4th. for free. That is a savings of $50-$90.

This would make them cheaper than the Bilsteins, and you would be getting a shock that is just as good if not better! I wish they had this deal when I bought mine.

Steve

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:37 pm

rsx's are 17000s right

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 7:25 pm

OffroadinZR5 wrote:rsx's are 17000s right

I am using 17000 on the front and 17001 on the rear. Summit part #'s RAN-RSX17000 & RAN-RSX17001. BTW the buy 3 get 1 free deal is a promo from Rancho which means anybody who sells these shocks will have the same deal. Summit has good prices, but it is worth looking around.

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:26 pm

Thanks for all the info, I just got off the phone with summit and i ordered the rsx's. Hopefully theyll be here by the weekend so i can put them on.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 8:11 am

OffroadinZR5 wrote:I just got off the phone with summit and i ordered the rsx's.

They did give you the buy 3 get 1 free deal right?

OffroadinZR5 wrote:Hopefully theyll be here by the weekend so i can put them on.

I put the rear shocks on in like 10 miuntes, but the front ones were a little more fun.

Do you also have the 2" BL with your 31" Goodyears?

Steve

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 3:16 pm

Yeah i got 1 free. I havent gotten my body lift, i went around town yesterday to get quotes on install and one guy wanted 550, the other guy wanted 630. I talked to my friend at work and he told me to just bring it over, so im hoping to have it BLed by the end of this month

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 3:19 pm

Offroadin you have 31s on that truck with no BL? also install the lift yourself.

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 4:50 pm

Yeah, they fit, if i hit really huge bumps they rub but other then that they work pretty good

Yellow Hammer · Post by **Yellow Hammer** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 5:45 pm

Definitely do the BL yourself. It takes a lot of time but worth saving the $$$. Make sure you have at least one other set of hands and eyes.

OffroadinZR5 · Post by **OffroadinZR5** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:31 am

Shocks came today, got a question, do they go body up or body down?

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:44 am

Can only speak for bilstiens and they are up on the rear and body down on the front..

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:47 am

f9k9 wrote:Can only speak for bilstiens and they are up on the rear and body down on the front..

For aftermarket Bilsteins. The OEM Bilstein shocks are body down on all four.

Yellow Hammer · Post by **Yellow Hammer** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 11:36 am

The Bilsteins that I put on are the same as f9k9, body down on front and body up on rear. There should only be one way to install by looking at the mounting brackets of the shocks.

top_sgt · Post by **top_sgt** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 11:37 am

on my procomps....body up on the rears, body down on the fronts.
i think rancho says body up on the fronts.

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:11 pm

I have ranchos and there body up on all 4 thats the only way they could be installed

EDIT.......... I checked today and mine are body up rear and body down fronts

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 10:00 am

OffroadinZR5 wrote:Shocks came today, got a question, do they go body up or body down?

Well, since I also have Rancho RSX's, I can tell you they are body down on front and rear. If you look closely at the body of the shock you will see that they are stamped with directional arrows and say This End Up.

Steve