Shock help please!!

[udy2554]

I am overwhelmed! My wife has given me the go ahead on spending some money to get my truck running and on the road.

The Blazer has 6" Skyjacker springs all around with ORD zero rates at each corner. The dana 60 perches appear to add a little also, so in the rear, there are 1 3/4" blocks to level the truck.

I need suggestions on shocks. I have searched CK5 and all the lift companies and am having problems choosing which way to go. The truck will be a daily driver for the most part, but I will run alot of mud here at home, and some trails. I'm not a rock crawler and I don't have a huge amount of travel in the suspension.

Here are some of my measurements.

Front: static height, mount to mount: 20"
compressed:13"
extended:24"

Rear: static height: 28"
compressed:15"
extended: 34"

What would you do. I concidered adjustable shocks, IAS's, Bilstein 5100's etc. Do I just go to a manufacturer and order some for something with an 8" lift, or custom order some.

What valving, light or medium.

Do I even need something custom? Again, most of my driving is on road, so comfort is something. I would also like to eliminate the dual shocks up front, or should I?

Any and all help is appreciated. Do I need to give any more information to help decide?

Thanks for any help!!

 

[apache]

I had a K20 with the OE dual shock setu and only ran one shock. were intended for softer rate multipule shocks that see lots of high speed use like desert racing and massive heat from the constant damping. The multiple shock helped fade issues. For slow speed rock work a soft single is better,mud work probably somewhere in the middle due to speeds in the holes. I bought s set of Skyjackers for a jeep TJ I once had and threw them in the trash after the first day of use. The bushings self destructed,their made in Mexico and it rode like a buckboard. Id check some MFG sites for dimensions or talk to them for info,if they cant tell you what you need to know size wise move on, they obviously dont really know much.

 

[GNERGY]

Skyjacker #N8078 ( rear ) 34 inch extended. that is the nitrogen shock number, the hydraulic shock will ride a little easier. That is what I just put on the rear of my burb with 9 inches of rear lift.
Tarey

 

[jms]

Here's a dimensions table for Bilstein 5125s.
Hearsay has it the 255/70 valving is appropriate.

 

[badmix]

I have Bilstein 5125s err correction, ive got 5150s. and luv them. call them up and they will need to know your collapse length and extended length.

 

[udy2554]

Thanks for all your help. Bilsteins it is. 5125's are on their way from ORD, along with some other goodies.

 

[badmix]

Heh..actually I have the 5150s, with the piggy back reservoir. oh well. Theyre all good.

 

[udy2554]

I liked the 5150's too, but they were a little out of my price range! Thanks again!
Steve at ORD was a lot of help, a great guy to chat with too. As a matter of fact, I would go to them again in a second!

 

[badmix]

yea ORD is top notch, ive got a bunch of their gear and have chatted with them in lengths about some of their stuff.

 

[udy2554]

I kinda felt bad. I can babble all day long, and I think Steve is such a nice guy he wouldn't tell me to 'shut the eff up so I can go back to work'. He was very helpful when it came to the front shock selection. I ended up going with the Ford shock towers and longer travel shocks. Can't wait till they get here.