Jacksonk5
Registered Member
1979 k5 lifted 4inches. any sugestions on the best shocks for the money. some idiot left stock shocks on mine there extended all the way. ha
CK5
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Kind of shocks to run
- Thread starter Jacksonk5
- Start date
hard to go wrong with Bilstein...
73redblaze
1/2 ton status
i have ran 2 sets of Procomp ES9000. 15" travel, smooth ride, great price.
... but possible, nevertheless.
Makes me think of the "to run shocks or not to run shocks" thread, if it rides like a dump truck due to stiff springs already, I'd just pick up something cheap to keep it from bouncing... but if you have a softer suspension you might notice more of a difference with higher quality shocks such as Bilstein. Either way just make sure the shock length and travel are where you need them.
andyblack
Registered Loser
Do you have any idea what brand of springs you have? Somewhere on here there's a list of the different spring manufaturers and their spring rates. You could use that info and look up which ones would be the best for your spring rates on the shock companies' websites. Maybe. If your front springs are soft, Bilstien is good from what I hear. I use Trailmaster SSV twin tubes with my Tuff Country EZ Ride 4" springs because they were on sale. If your front springs are stiff, you could try not running any front shocks. You'll definately need some in the rear though, or you'll bounce up and down five or six times for every bump you hit.
andyblack
Registered Loser
Here's the spring rate table I was talking about:
http://coloradok5.com/springratetable.shtml
It's under the technical articles section on the home page.
http://coloradok5.com/springratetable.shtml
It's under the technical articles section on the home page.
You're kidding, right?
Pro Comp 936000 ES9000
Monotube FTW. I have Bilstein 5150's for my Blazer...they're not even that spendy IMO.
Rene
Rene
andyblack
Registered Loser
No. I've done it and lots of other guys on here have too. Earlier this week there was a thread in the garage about a "shock debate that everyone can enjoy." Several users commented that they didn't run front shocks. I know it sounds dumb, but if your springs don't move, what's the need in a shock (unless the front is getting out of control on the road).
That shock "debate" as you call it was fairly useless.
But is it really a good idea to recommend running no front shocks to someone who is a newbie (ahem, an unknown entity) on this board? That user could have many years of driving and 'wheeling experience but just no web presence, or it could be your average 16 year old armed with nothing but testosterone and a truck...
andyblack
Registered Loser
... "Get the most expensive shocks you can afford."
That doesn't help anybody either. Are you suggesting that "the most expensive shocks you can afford" are in fact the most appropriate shocks for the application at hand?
andyblack
Registered Loser
No dude. I've already told the guy what I ran and gave him some info and a link to help him figure out what he needs. I think that with shocks, the more you spend, the better you get. Now whether your suspension can benefit from the good shocks is dependent on how flexible it is, just like I said earlier.
What shocks would you suggest?
I've had good luck with ProComp MX6 adjustable shocks.
That was the first generation MX6, though (probably the universal/Superduty version); I'm not sure they make a the new version for a K5.
I've briefly had cheap Autozone Gabriel shocks on the truck - they lasted one trail ride and were shot after that.
I currently have Bilstein 5125 (255/70 valving) on the truck, and I'm not happy with them. Not enough damping, particularly not on the rebound side. That's with soft springs (TC HDs, 3"), a D60 and 35s, and ORD bumper/9.5k winch/2 batteries as extra weight in the front.
I've tried to obtain shocks (Monotubes, 2.2) from Doetsch, but I found that company too difficult to work with; I particularly didn't like their disclaimer statement that they want you to sign.
I'm currently leaning to either go back to ProComp MX6, or get a different Bilstein where I can have the valving changed.
And I don't agree that crawlers don't need shocks. As long as everything is nice and slow, and the dynamics of weight transfer are slow, I'm sure this can work. The moment a truck loses traction and gets to bounce, it'll be another story.
andyblack
Registered Loser
I've noticed that most Bilstien shocks for half ton fullsize trucks and Blazers seem to list 255/70 as the spring rates. Is this some generic thing, or is that based on the vehicle's weight?
JMS, when you say the rebound was off, do you mean the Bistiens had too much or too little rebound dampening?
JMS, when you say the rebound was off, do you mean the Bistiens had too much or too little rebound dampening?
andyblack
Registered Loser
Nevermind. I just reread your post.
