CK5
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Shock cost worth it
- Thread starter TJ1978
- Start date
Nice article. Thanks for posting
I'm a Bilstein fan since I put mine on. Being frugal (read cheap) I went with the basic 5100's in the Bilstein catalog for a squarebody with 2-4" lift. No they don't have ORD's spec for valving but out of the box they were far and away better than the crappy twin tube lift kit shocks I had on before. On Amazon you can pick them up at a good price too. I think mine were under $75 per shock. But that was two plus years ago so pricing could have gone up.
Nothing against ORD, but I was in need and couldn't swing the price at the time so I got the lesser version for a bit less. Even still I'm amazed at the ride quality even with stuff ass rough country springs up front.
Nothing against ORD, but I was in need and couldn't swing the price at the time so I got the lesser version for a bit less. Even still I'm amazed at the ride quality even with stuff ass rough country springs up front.
Yeah, its damn near $100 extra to go ORD. I really want to order from them and support their company. But I completely understand your reasoning. Which is what Im wrestling with now. Im sure I can tough it out and save the $380.
I put the fox 2.0 ifp on my dads blazer. I’m not all that impressed with them. I thought fox they would be leaps ahead of the 5100 Bilsteins but I almost think my 5125’s were better. That being said my out of the box ads 2.5” coil overs are leaps and bounds ahead.
I found such a compromise with ProComp MX6 shocks. They're a monotube design like the Bilsteins, but have an external adjustment knob so you can change the damping rate. Cheap, dirty, adjustable. And they come in many lengths, so you can pick the one that fits your need.
As an example, here's 2 of them for $100.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-pro-comp...264398825664?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10
I used these on the back of my truck. My thinking is that I could adjust the rate when the truck is loaded heavily without needing to compromise on the trail. In reality, I've been happy enough to rarely bother adjusting the knob (though it does make a noticeable difference). In the front I have Bilstein 5100s. I'm happy with both sets, and not convinced either one is of higher quality. Though the Bilsteins are more pricey.
I would stick with a monotube, having run several sets of cheap twin-tube shocks.
Just as a side note, when I got my MX6's, Pro-Comp had a specific part number for K5's with a 4" lift.
RoccoK5
1/2 ton status
Interesting, I didn't realize the Bilsteins from ORD were valved any differently.
I just removed a set of 5100s from my K5 (they are for sale, I'll throw them up on the classifieds section) -- they were a huge improvement over the cheap-o twin tubes that were on it before. Reworking my suspension and will need longer shocks and will definitely be going with the Bilsteins again.
I just removed a set of 5100s from my K5 (they are for sale, I'll throw them up on the classifieds section) -- they were a huge improvement over the cheap-o twin tubes that were on it before. Reworking my suspension and will need longer shocks and will definitely be going with the Bilsteins again.
RoccoK5
1/2 ton status
Rear p/n is 24-187084 (https://www.amazon.com/Bilstein-24-187084-5100-Shock-Absorber/dp/B007N6R3FY), fronts are 24-187077 (https://www.amazon.com/Bilstein-24-187077-5100-Shock-Absorber/dp/B007N6OTBA). I think these are around 10"/8" travel.
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