Okay.
The blanket statement on Bilsteins is quite prudent advice. Bilstein makes excellent shocks, period. (Disclaimer: Yes, I'm from Germany, and that's where the company is from
).
Agreed that it doesn't answer the original question, but then again, you know, this is CK5 after all. The usual answer to anything on here is to get a 14-bolt, and a Dana 60, and Detroits
. Or even better, weld the axles, get 42's, and shut up.
Other companies like Doetsch make excellent monotube shocks as well. For example, check with mrk5, he has had excellent results with his setup.
There's function, and there's cheap. With shocks, they don't usually go together.
Cheap = e.g. Gabriel shocks. I don't know whether they make these any longer, but they had shocks in appropriate long travel lengths, and they were like $17 each at Autozone. Personally, I tried those when I needed excuse-me shocks after I installed my lift. According to Timmay (Colby, you should remember him
, you've been around long enough...), they were the absolute shiznit at that time.
On my truck, these Gabriel shocks lasted exactly one (1!) trail ride and then cavitated. Yes, they came with a lifetime warranty, but I decided that I don't want a bad quality shock, no matter how long the warranty is. They were on my truck for like a month. Your results may vary.
I have no idea why Summit lists shock data on the Procomp MX-6 the way they do. That said, I happen to have the first-gen MX6 adjustable monotube on my truck since '03, and they served me very well for about four years. After that, they seem to either not work so well, maybe fade, or were no longer matched to the sprung/unsprung weight combo as I have added bumper and winch to the front end (I always had the 2nd battery).
You're probably better off to look up the manufacturer's website, match your needs with shock specs, and then look where you can get the best price for that particular manufacturer's part number.
My next set is going to be Bilsteins 51XX, specifics to be decided once I determine axle articulation (i.e. compressed extended distance between shock mounts) in my current setup.
You state you don't care about ride quality. I'd reconsider that statement, with 'wheeling capability in mind. Shocks have an important function if you ride trails. If you just gun it through a mudpit, well...
