Let's talk about shocks...

[titanium02]

Okay.. getting the 3/5 drop kit very soon..

Going to need shocks all around.. from what I've read, the golden standard seems to be Billstein HD's.. those are pricey..

What about Belltech Nitro-Drops / Nitro Drop 2's..

The original's are half the price of the 2's.. so what am I paying for?

If the rear rides rough on 5" of drop.. could I get the Billstein's in the rear.. and the Belltech's up front?

Opinions on Toxic Shock drop shocks? Or any of the others mentions above?


I've long ago realized that you get what you pay for.. so educate me on these.

Thanks in advance :)

[NathanJax]

I had Toxic drop shocks on my tahoe. Rode like poop. Was very "soft"

I love my Bilstein HD's all the way around. Lifetime warranty...

[BlackDenali]

Bilsteins FTW!!!!

[blueflamed03]

Bilsteins

[titanium02]

Billsteins ftw then.

God this isn't going to be cheap.. is it.


Are the prices per pair.. or per shock...

[NathanJax]

Are the prices per pair.. or per shock...

Of course it PER SHOCK...

If you have a autozone in your area, they do price matching.

Tirerack has the fronts for $63 each right now...

Front: F4-BE5-6500-H0
Rear: F4-BE5-E380-H0 or F4-BE5-6501-H0. I think they may have recently changed the model number to the E380...

[titanium02]

Oh god.. I was confused before.. now they're changing part numbers..

I don't know what I did.. but I was on the Bilstein website and I was logged in as Macon Automotive

???

I was in the checkout process (was getting the shocks for $49 a pop front and rear).. it asked for some code (and of course I didn't know it...) so I logged out and now I see that I can't buy from the Bilsten website anymore.. plus the shocks are now listed at $135.. odd.

---------- Post added at 05:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:45 PM ----------

$273 shipped all around.

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3854&selected_year=2002

[BOSS]

Dude you're all over the place! First you are gone for a while and then BAM!

I'd go BellTech Street, very nice firm ride with less roll.


B

[NathanJax]

$273 shipped all around.

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3854&selected_year=2002

Not a bad price. I shopped around for 2 days before I made my purchase. I found the lowest internet price I could, and then took it into a local store that sold them that price matched. That way if they go bad or have any problems, I deal with it local since they are lifetime warrantied.

[titanium02]

Dude you're all over the place! First you are gone for a while and then BAM!

I'd go BellTech Street, very nice firm ride with less roll.


B

Lol.. in the military bro.. gotta give up some freedom to keep freedom in check.




BellTech's are slightly less expensive.. and I like how the discription mentioned big wheels and less roll...

Do they have the lifetime warranty though?

---------- Post added at 07:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:53 PM ----------

Not a bad price. I shopped around for 2 days before I made my purchase. I found the lowest internet price I could, and then took it into a local store that sold them that price matched. That way if they go bad or have any problems, I deal with it local since they are lifetime warrantied.



Smart.

[Modded]

Not a bad price. I shopped around for 2 days before I made my purchase. I found the lowest internet price I could, and then took it into a local store that sold them that price matched. That way if they go bad or have any problems, I deal with it local since they are lifetime warrantied.

I got my 07 ones for over $4o bucks less than you.
BTW, even though they are Lifetime warranted, you would have to send the shock to Bilstein for inspection and replacement either way. SO locall y won;t make a difference as the shop will not repllace it at its expense, only Bilstein will.

---------- Post added at 07:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:56 PM ----------

I would go Belltech Street shocks out back for the rear if they are cheaper, work real good on big wheels like said.

[titanium02]

I'm so back and forth on what to get :(

McGaughy's or Belltech spindles.. .. Bilstein or Belltech shocks.. ..should I mix and match or get a kit to save some $$..

Suspension is tough lol.. i'll be glad once it's all ordered and installed!

[BOSS]

I'm so back and forth on what to get :(

McGaughy's or Belltech spindles.. .. Bilstein or Belltech shocks.. ..should I mix and match or get a kit to save some $$..

Suspension is tough lol.. i'll be glad once it's all ordered and installed!

Honestly you'll go back and forth even still. I'm on my 4th pair of shocks now. Hands down Belltech Street, just match them with the drop and you're gold.

B

[Modded]

Get McG spindles because they make the best ones, get BTH Street shocks out back and Bilstein up front, there you go!

[NathanJax]

I mixed and matched. I actually got my rear shocks off eBay for $70 for the PAIR almost 2 months ago. That's how long I've been piecing it together.

[titanium02]

Get McG spindles because they make the best ones, get BTH Street shocks out back and Bilstein up front, there you go!


:Handshake:

Kinda what I was thinking..

I'm going to get the McGaughy's 3/5 Kit. It includes the sway bar links that the Belltech kit does not. It comes with keys that I probably wont need (JK said to use stock or else the front is too low).. but I can sell those.

Billsteins on the front, Belltech Street's in the rear. Plus Belltech shock extenders.

That should cover it right?

[Mr.Martin]

Thank god for this thread beause my hoe rides like ass. When I hit a good bump it sends the people in the back seat flying into the roof.

[benztrk]

Ok, so with a 3/5 drop on factory shocks, what causes the rough ride. Is it just the factory shocks are to stiff for the shorter rear springs,......

[Modded]

:Handshake:

Kinda what I was thinking..

I'm going to get the McGaughy's 3/5 Kit. It includes the sway bar links that the Belltech kit does not. It comes with keys that I probably wont need (JK said to use stock or else the front is too low).. but I can sell those.

Billsteins on the front, Belltech Street's in the rear. Plus Belltech shock extenders.

That should cover it right?

Yep you are all good, I was going the same way with my 2/4 but tehn I got some Bilsteins for the rear for a good deal so I just got them over Belltech ones.

And for the question below, shock do make the ride stiff and bouncy, but some 5" coils are harsh in a way because they are just too stiff, they pretty much don't compress for shi*, which limits supension travel in the rear. But if oyu change shocks it will be alot better.:Handshake:

[NORCAL SS]

belltech street performance are great on lowered trucks.
things is you should get a shock made to be at the center stroke at your ride height. Ie if your ride height is 18 inches then get a shock where 18-18.5 is its ride height measurement.

ive had no probs wiht the djm 3/5 and djm front/rear shocks at all and ive sold many of those kits here. if there were issues you would have heard about it from my customers by now.

5 inch drop in rear you need the djm free travel mod

[BOSS]

: It comes with keys that I probably wont need (JK said to use stock or else the front is too low).. but I can sell those.

Billsteins on the front, Belltech Street's in the rear. Plus Belltech shock extenders.

That should cover it right?

Yup :waytogo:

Not sure why JK said that about the keys unless you are going for a different look than the 3/5 and don't want the front as low. Personally, I'd put em in so you have the option of going low. You can crank them up all the way and it will sit with the height you are looking for with the 3/5, or tweak them a little lower for the look you want. If you are looking for 2/4 or something different, you might keep your stock keys in. My aftermarket keys are as high as they can go for reference.

What's the wheel/tire size you have? Offset? I would HIGHLY suggest you spend $50.00 on a set of 2005 Z71 4x4 bumptsops as pictured below. Just find a VIN on ebay and go pick them up at a dealer.

[Eagle]

so what do the z71 bumpstops do? shorter? softer? front or rear?

I swear mine is nearly riding on the bumpstops at stock height up front.
(and with 305/45/22 tires that means it is ~1 inch taller than a z71)

Thanks for the super informative thread guys, I just looked and mine still has OEM shocks.
Definitely time to change the front ones!.

[BOSS]

so what do the z71 bumpstops do? shorter? softer? front or rear?

I swear mine is nearly riding on the bumpstops at stock height up front.
(and with 305/45/22 tires that means it is ~1 inch taller than a z71)

Thanks for the super informative thread guys, I just looked and mine still has OEM shocks.
Definitely time to change the front ones!.

You are probably riding on the bumpstops, they are longer stock for your truck. The Z71 4x4 bumpstop is a tad shorter I believe, and they have a lip that reinforces them. So they look like an upside-down muffin. That thick lip helps with the bottoming out support when you lower your front. You will always ride on them in the front, not an issue at all. You want to ride on them to be honest. I swear by these - took me hunting about 4 hours at a junkyard to find the right one...I didn't even know I was under a Z71 until I got em out and looked later. I had a bad bottoming out issue that almost had me cutting my fenders until I found those.

B