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shock advice

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i am due for some new shocks on my 87 k10 stepside, it has 4 inch lift and does not have the quad shocks in the front. just looking for suggestions on what shocks to buy for a reasonable price. thanks
 
AJ usa is a vendor here, and has a discount for paying members.

http://www.ajusa.com/

Lots of people LOVE the Bilstein 5100's....but i think they are WAY soft for off road use.

I've got a set of the Rancho 9000's that are adjustable. Don't adjust them often....but it was the only way i could get a longer shock that was stiff enough for my on-road taste.

That being said, there is a lot to be said for going through someone local like a 4 wheel parts store. I bought my 5100's through the local 4wp, HATED them, and they helped me swap them for something that worked. If i had gone though AJUSA, it woudl have been really difficult/expensive to ship back and forth.

Good luck.
 
munepit said:
Im running the MX6s and like them. They too are adjustable.
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I debated between the Procomp MX6's, and the Rancho 9000xl's.

Didn't have a good reason i picked hte Rancho's.....not really a fan of either brand :haha:
But had to get something that fit/worked quick.
 
dhcomp said:
AJ usa is a vendor here, and has a discount for paying members.

http://www.ajusa.com/

Lots of people LOVE the Bilstein 5100's....but i think they are WAY soft for off road use.
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Well it depends on the springs you run. A lot of lift springs are too stiff, but that's hardly the fault of the shock.
 
Blue85 said:
Well it depends on the springs you run. A lot of lift springs are too stiff, but that's hardly the fault of the shock.
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I actually felt the same way at first about my 5100's up front, although in the rear they feel awesome (wait what did I just say?)

I had some stiff Pro-Comp springs up front, and the 5100's could not keep up. Swapped to Tuff Country HD springs... and then they were to stiff.

At this point I went with 7100's and custom valving. Now they are too soft for the road, but do me well on long dirt road trips :woot:which is what I was looking for with a family Suburban.

Good luck with your decision!
 
Rough country nitro 9000s are a good cheaper monotube shock. Im looking at bilstein 7100s for the front and 5150s out back.
 
thanks i have tuff country easy ride springs and ive never been in a stiffer vehicle in my entire life but the shocks are horriblr they are old and loose i cann move them with my hands im lookin at pro comp es1000s
 
I'd turn away from any shock with the name of a lift-kit maker stamped on them.
I've tried both skyjacker, superlift, pro-comp, and rancho shocks, and they all sucked more or less.
I don't think I'll never buy anything other than Bilsteins again.
 
I would be surprised if any of the lift kit maker low-end shocks are anything other than rebranded shocks from another company.

I saw it mentioned before that the Rancho 5000's (Rancho's low-end) are just that, while I am unaware of anyone who makes a similar shock to the 9000's. By similar, I mean something like a Monroe that Rancho has them build slightly differently.

For the OP, I have a hard time believing any non-adjustable shock can be exceedingly good at two things (on/off-road, or towing/non-towing, racing/non-racing, etc). Even my tires, in my very limited usage, ride far better offroad aired down, than they do at my street pressure. Which is what leads me to believe that a *good* adjustable shock might be the ticket if you spend time on and off-road, and ride quality is important under those conditions. And honestly, with Rancho's about-to-expire $100 debit card after buying 4 RS9000's, the price isn't that out there for a decent shock.
 
I have the 5150s, which are practically the same as the 5100s and I agree that you can't even compare them to "lift kit"/Gabriel/Monroe type twin-tubes. What they do is so much smarter and so much better that in comparison it is almost like an active suspension. They stiffen up for cornering, they soften for bumps, rebound is damped instantly. Why mess with an adjustable shock when you can have one that is self-adjusting all the time? A twin-tube just doesn't have the valve area.

I'm pretty curious now how good the high-end rebuildable remote reservoir shocks must be.
 
Blue85 said:
I have the 5150s, which are practically the same as the 5100s and I agree that you can't even compare them to "lift kit"/Gabriel/Monroe type twin-tubes. What they do is so much smarter and so much better that in comparison it is almost like an active suspension. They stiffen up for cornering, they soften for bumps, rebound is damped instantly. Why mess with an adjustable shock when you can have one that is self-adjusting all the time? A twin-tube just doesn't have the valve area.

I'm pretty curious now how good the high-end rebuildable remote reservoir shocks must be.
Click to expand...


I think the ones i had were 5150's in the front, and 5100 in the rear for some size reason. That being said, i disagreed....but i'm running stock springs that are very worn.

My burb with 1" add a leafs and 33's was all over the place. TONS of body roll....and for a street/tow rig, i found that unacceptable. Not saying the Rancho 9000's are great shocks, cause really, they aren't....but they allowed me to get a firmer, longer shock. Bilstein didn't' have anything firmer w/o going to custom 7100's....
 
how come aj usa only has 4600 series for my truck and it doesent ask for lift summit racing has a are wjhere you put in what lift you have does it not matter? do i need taller shocks ? i have 4 inch tuff country springs
 
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