Recommended Shocks

[scummins]

Hi everybody, it has been a while since my lasts post. i am looking at getting new shocks for my truck but i am having a hard time determining what equipment will fit my truck. i believe from what i have found is that i have a leveling kit in the front and stock supsension in the back. My question is to any of you that also have a leveling kit in the front. what shocks do you run? any info would be greatly appreciated.

[hex0rz]

Well, bilsteins seem to always be a good choice.

[MnTom]

My truck had Bilsteins on it when I got it way back in 2001 so I have no idea how old they are, but I can tell you the truck does not bounce like wore out shocks would let it!

[Ilikeoldfords]

I have always liked the Monroe gas magnums personally. Thats what my dad always ran on his big rigs and got good life out of them.

[scummins]

i deffinitely like the price of the gas magnums but my concern is that it will be over extended with the leveling kit installed.

[Ilikeoldfords]

That is the nice thing about monroe. I can look up by application and even dimension. Let me see if I can find one that would be a little longer than what the stock shock is.... I will get the part number to you in a bit.

[scummins]

That is the nice thing about monroe. I can look up by application and even dimension. Let me see if I can find one that would be a little longer than what the stock shock is.... I will get the part number to you in a bit.

Thanks for the tip! i called and had them look up a longer shock for me, unfourtunatly they dont have any that fit the bill. Thanks again though!

Edited April 29, 2014 by scummins

[Ilikeoldfords]

Well the shocks that are supposed to be the OE shock from monroe shows up as a 34778. I found another part number of 34782 that will mount the exact same, has the same compressed length, but has 2 more full inches of extended travel. That would probably be enough to compensate for the leveling kit.

[scummins]

Well the shocks that are supposed to be the OE shock from monroe shows up as a 34778. I found another part number of 34782 that will mount the exact same, has the same compressed length, but has 2 more full inches of extended travel. That would probably be enough to compensate for the leveling kit.

 

Great thanks for doing that research for me i agree that should work!

[Mopar1973Man]

Running Ranchos on my truck and they get the hell beat out of them. They are about 5 years old now and getting close to 100k worth of miles. Many, many miles of Idaho dirt highways (forestry roads).

[Wild and Free]

Back when Sears still offered lifetime warranty on shocks and struts I ran the rancho 5000's on several pickups over about a 15 year period and they all gave up the ghost at about 30-35K miles like clock work and always in the winter time. Go in warranty them out and go again, They quit offering the lifetime warranty about 3 years ago now so I quit running the Ranchos from sears at that point when I sold my 02.

 

I have adjustable height front Bilsteins on my 2010 1500 hemi and regular Bilsteins rears and they are the first set of them I have tried and like them so far but they have only been on for a few months so long term is still to be determined.

 

On my 05 I have the KYB shocks in medium stiffness ride grade and they have been awesome and have been on for way longer than any shock I have ever ran, I think these have about 50-60K on them and still ride good.

 

Every vehicle I have owned from new or near new the factory OEM shocks usually last about 60K miles on average.

 

If it is just a leveling kit standard shocks are generally rated for up to 1.5-2 inches over stock height.

[mulcher812]

I run the Rancho 5000 all the way around and they have been great. They currently have about 40k on they still feel great on and off the road.

[scummins]

thanks for all the suggestiongs guys! i ended up getting rancho rs5000's all the way around. i got a good deal at rockauto along with a mail in rebate through rancho. i put them in over the weekend and i am very pleased.

[Ilikeoldfords]

thanks for all the suggestiongs guys! i ended up getting rancho rs5000's all the way around. i got a good deal at rockauto along with a mail in rebate through rancho. i put them in over the weekend and i am very pleased.

Sorry to revive this old thread. scummins, did you happen to have part numbers for the ranchos you got? I am going to start looking for some shocks on the old truck. I have a 2.5in leveling kit on my truck and want to make sure I get the right shocks.

[diesel4life]

Bilstein 5100 part number BIL-24-185776. Designed for trucks with leveling kits. Excellent shocks.