New Shocks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
Ditto on the ride quality. If you want a comfy ride they arent for you but they will give you much more ride control.
I wasn't overly impressed with shock warehouse. They told me my 5100's were in stock in their florida facility when i ordered them. While after 2 weeks of waiting i called and they told me they would look into it and would call me back, No call and three days later i called again and was informed they had to come out of the california facility and were back ordered. Three weeks later i got my shocks, All the calls i placed i talked to the same two people on several occasions giving me the impression they were a small facility unable to handle extensive orders. I also asked about the FTE discount with the comment that they new nothing about it. I know a lot of people have had good luck with them and there is always a small percentage of errors which i guess i got.
I wasn't overly impressed with shock warehouse. They told me my 5100's were in stock in their florida facility when i ordered them. While after 2 weeks of waiting i called and they told me they would look into it and would call me back, No call and three days later i called again and was informed they had to come out of the california facility and were back ordered. Three weeks later i got my shocks, All the calls i placed i talked to the same two people on several occasions giving me the impression they were a small facility unable to handle extensive orders. I also asked about the FTE discount with the comment that they new nothing about it. I know a lot of people have had good luck with them and there is always a small percentage of errors which i guess i got.
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 584
Likes: 6
Ok, so I am getting ready to place an order the Bilstein HD's for my truck. Any last words of wisdom or advice about an alternate shock? I have heard great things about them, so I'm not worried. Are there any special tools I need to replace them in my garage, or do common hand tools suffice?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,400
Likes: 319
From: Whittier, CA
No special tools. You'll need some metric and some SAE. Installing shocks on these trucks is about as basic as it gets.
I only have one tip - when you get the new shocks, look at the end of the spear on the front shocks. Mine had a hex socket there, and it fit an allen wrench. A metric size IIRC. Using that to hold the spear while you turn the nut is helpful. Some people said their shocks didn't have the hex socket, so you will just have to look.
Second tip, kind of, is - don't cut the band around the shocks until you have one end loosely installed and are ready to put the bottom bolt in. Cut the band, the shock will slowly extend, and if you are quick you can align the hole and stick the bolt through it before it gets too long. No big deal if you miss it, just push the body up to compress the shock again.
Third tip (okay, I know I said only one) - spray some PB Blaster on the bottom bolt of the front shock the night before. That one has a tendency to be tight.
I only have one tip - when you get the new shocks, look at the end of the spear on the front shocks. Mine had a hex socket there, and it fit an allen wrench. A metric size IIRC. Using that to hold the spear while you turn the nut is helpful. Some people said their shocks didn't have the hex socket, so you will just have to look.
Second tip, kind of, is - don't cut the band around the shocks until you have one end loosely installed and are ready to put the bottom bolt in. Cut the band, the shock will slowly extend, and if you are quick you can align the hole and stick the bolt through it before it gets too long. No big deal if you miss it, just push the body up to compress the shock again.
Third tip (okay, I know I said only one) - spray some PB Blaster on the bottom bolt of the front shock the night before. That one has a tendency to be tight.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 90
From: SE. MA
I guess I will chime in here...many on this site are bias to bilsteins(which are great shocks) But I personaly love edelbrock perfromer IAS shocks !! I have had them on multiple vehicles and think they improve the ride quality tremendously! Ya I know I drive a 1 ton truck and it still rides like a 1 ton , but with a much better feeling, , Just my $.02
anything is better than stock
anything is better than stock
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,543
Likes: 0
Ok, so I am getting ready to place an order the Bilstein HD's for my truck. Any last words of wisdom or advice about an alternate shock? I have heard great things about them, so I'm not worried. Are there any special tools I need to replace them in my garage, or do common hand tools suffice?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 584
Likes: 6
Thanks for all the input guys! I got them installed this weekend....the top of the front shocks was a bit of a pain but the rest was a breeze!
The new shocks fixed some of the steering "issues" I have been having, so now I am wanting to replace the steering stabilizer on it. Any suggestions on those? I notice Bilstein doesn't make stabilizers.
Thanks again for the help!
The new shocks fixed some of the steering "issues" I have been having, so now I am wanting to replace the steering stabilizer on it. Any suggestions on those? I notice Bilstein doesn't make stabilizers.
Thanks again for the help!
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the input guys! I got them installed this weekend....the top of the front shocks was a bit of a pain but the rest was a breeze!
The new shocks fixed some of the steering "issues" I have been having, so now I am wanting to replace the steering stabilizer on it. Any suggestions on those? I notice Bilstein doesn't make stabilizers.
Thanks again for the help!
The new shocks fixed some of the steering "issues" I have been having, so now I am wanting to replace the steering stabilizer on it. Any suggestions on those? I notice Bilstein doesn't make stabilizers.
Thanks again for the help!
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 584
Likes: 6
Hey nut1605, how much did you tighten the nut on the front shocks. I am headed out to the garage to do my fronts as well (already did the rear) but don't know have any idea how far down to tighten the nut on the rubber bushings. One of the other guys told me until the rubber bushing begins to expand out to the edge of the metal ring. Does this sound right? Also, did you put the rubber bushings on with the raised rim on the bottom bushing pointing up and the raised rim on the top bushing pointing down (basically the raised rims of each are touching the frame plate)? Thanks
Yes, I put the bushings on as you described here, bottom pointing up, top pointing down.
Hope this helps!
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,400
Likes: 319
From: Whittier, CA
The lips on the rubber bushings go toward each other, and should fit into the hole in the shock tower. The lips keep the bushings centered in the hole.
Freshman User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Hampton
If you're upgrading your steering stablizer spend a few exta bucks and go with a dual steering stablizer. The stock s.s. sucks anyway. As Furian said, Bilstien makes a dual. And you can match up you shocks.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
This is what I did, and what I have always done on spear mount shocks. It's no where near 30 ft/lbs. They are lock nuts BTW, so they don't have to feel tight to retain position.
The lips on the rubber bushings go toward each other, and should fit into the hole in the shock tower. The lips keep the bushings centered in the hole.
The lips on the rubber bushings go toward each other, and should fit into the hole in the shock tower. The lips keep the bushings centered in the hole.
Thanks for yalls input. Things went smooth for the most part. Great forum.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,543
Likes: 0
Finally got the fronts installed. I just tightened them down until the bushings bulged out almost even w/ the metal ring like previously mentioned. Definitely second the advice from the prior poster about cutting off the exposed threaded rod on the old shock, which is exactly what I didn't do. Wasted thirty minutes to an hour spinning quarter turns until the dang things were off.
Thanks for yalls input. Things went smooth for the most part. Great forum.
Thanks for yalls input. Things went smooth for the most part. Great forum.