Blown 5150 shocks...now what??

[pismorat]

My Bilstein 5150 shocks finally let go in the front of my truck. The were 12" travel with 255/70 valving and worked well. Problem is these are not rebuildable and I want to get something rebuildable for a fair price that will still give me the good mono-tube performance in the dunes and rock crawling. What is everyone else out there running? I only plan on upgrading the front 2 shocks first, then when the rear 5150's give out or I have the funds, match them to the new. The truck has 4" BDS springs up front with a zero-rate, and a heavy BBC sitting over the Dana 60.

 

[howdiy]

Just get the 7100's if you are happy with the bilsteins

 

[buefchris]

I went with Fox. They are based in San Diego parts are no problem. King is another way to go. F.O.A. is in Vegas. How much are you willing to spend is the only hold-up.

 

[miniwally]

King 2.0 minimum, probably 2.5" smoothies. You could step up and use a coilover body shock with no spring on it so if you wanted to link the suspension later you would have the threaded body already.

I think King has better support for the average Joe than Fox, I would be hesitant to go to one of the lower end cheap shocks like FOA.

 

[big pappa b]

I've heard many bad things of FOA while I was researching shocks as well. If you don't go Bilstein. King or Fox would be my choice

 

[Jester1]

Aren't the 5150's lifetime warrenty? Trade for a new one and sell them to help fund your new needs and desires.

 

[jms]

Aren't the 5150's lifetime warrenty? ...

Not for offroad use. It's in the fine print...

 

[pismorat]

Yeah, no lifetime on the 5150's, and since they're a crimped-body shock, no rebuilding. Ideally, someday I'd love to have the ORD 3-link front suspension, but don't know if it'd make sense to just get the hoops, shocks without coils, and lower mounts...or even if it'd work with the leaf springs still in place at this point. Bilstein has the 5165 that's a rebuildable, piggy-back style reservoir shock, but have to do some research if the lengths are correct or if it's worth the $$$.

 

[miniwally]

Yeah, no lifetime on the 5150's, and since they're a crimped-body shock, no rebuilding. Ideally, someday I'd love to have the ORD 3-link front suspension, but don't know if it'd make sense to just get the hoops, shocks without coils, and lower mounts...or even if it'd work with the leaf springs still in place at this point. Bilstein has the 5165 that's a rebuildable, piggy-back style reservoir shock, but have to do some research if the lengths are correct or if it's worth the $$$.

You can mount any shock you want with the leafs. Travel might be a bit off between coils and leafs but bump-stops and limit straps can take care of that.

I would at minimum get a rebuild-able shock, IMO they really don't loose that much value. You can sell them in a few years for 50% of what you have in them and someone is getting a good deal and you had nicer than normal shocks for a few years.