I have functional KYB GR2 in front and air shocks in back that work fine but hoping that putting in Bilsteins will give it a better ride. There are two versions, the 4600 is the standard and the 5100 is for lifted trucks. I have a 3-4 inch body lift so should I get the 5100 or just use the standard 4600? The cost difference between the sets is like $30 so that doesn't matter.

 

If you have no suspension lift then you want the standard shocks. If the others are for lifted vehicles then they will be longer to make of the difference of the lift. They will bottom out when your under full load which could cause them to bust

 

Depends on what you call better. My truck try's to catch air off of pine needles with bilstien 5100's in the rear. They have their perks, but IMO regular old shocks where a smoother ride then these over rated, over priced, improperly valved, gas charged, pogo sticks.

 

So it sounds like the 5100 are a bit stiff but what about regular bilsteins do you guys like those? I really don't see any other option most of the other shocks are crappy.

 

If your asking this kind of question then no offense but your definitely not picky enough to notice or need a specific shock. Get a KYB or a rancho or an Old man emu or stock or something light valved like stock. The bily's are harsh and rough, designed for beating the piss out of your rig and your kidneys. All in all their awesome quality shocks but valved wrong. Atleast the ones I bought are.

http://wheelersoffroad.com/product/b...-95-04-tacoma/

IMO valved for around 300 plus pounds of cargo to function properly.

 

DO NOT BUY Rancho... I bought rancho 5000 shocks for my 89 P/U and blew one on the rear within 6 months. Just for clarification, the shock blew out on the street under normal driving conditions. I switched to Bilstein 4600's and LOVE them. They feel "smooth" enough on the road, but still do awesome on the trails. Just make sure you order the right shock size for your lift.

 

I have a body lift so I'm pretty sure my suspension geometry is unchanged. My truck is more street than dirt, I don't like KYB and Bilsteins are good on cars. I thought the oem shocks were no longer made but it looks like I can get complete f/r set for $100, so if that is correct I might go that route.

 

Should be fine.

Rancho has been around for a long time. You can't just immediately jump online and tell everybody not to buy anything made by this company just because you got a defective part from them. Or who knows you could have your suspension setup wrong and bottomed out your shocks. Either way don't be that guy who says don't buy a chevy mine had a bad door handle. Theres nothing wrong with rancho shocks. Their only considered a cheaper shock because of their performance, not their quality.

 

Id suggest plain jane kyb or monroes unless you want a much stiffer ride with the bilsteins.

 

But dont you have some kinda jacked up air bag set up or something?
Cant really compare the ride on shocks when you have an oddball system.

 

Did for a while Had F-150 springs and huge air bags. I tore all that off and went with deaver springs and an air bag kit thats for this truck.

The F-150 springs might not have been the problem with that setup but I hated it. But now even with the deavers It still seems like the 5100's are to stiff.

 

This was the F-150 setup. It could haul 4 suns and a moon lol..



This is the deavers with 5100's (D559/D560.) shocks, and air bags that I run at about 2psi when empty. It rides amazing with around 2 to 300lbs in the bed but otherwise its an extremely firm suspension. But even though it doesn't say that on their website Im thinking the shocks are valved for over landing or something were you always have gear in the back. The D559/D560 shocks are valved specifically for the deaver springs.

 

I was just gonna say...most pickups ride rough with no load.

My e350 econoline superduty extended is stiff with no load.....put a couple tons of tile in there....rides like a caddilac.

 

Ya that is true, and I am definitely being more critical then need be about how mine handles, but it just seems like its overboard on the valving.

You know how you get after you modify something, you start noticing everything, and everybody else thinks your crazy and they don't notice anything wrong. "Seems fine to me" they say. Im telling ya theres a noise. lol

 

I'll agree with the 5100's being too stiff, my brother just put some on his tacoma, and it rides super rough…. They look cool though

 

Ive had 5100 for a while and for my money on a lifted truck they are the way to go if you do any off road at all....they are made stiff as this is Bilsteins off road shock but mine rides great on street also..each vehicle will be different as setups on every vehicle is different...ie..tires, load, lift, mileage, bushings...ect...get the Bilsteins you wont be sorry...

 

I just went through this decision process. Project complete (see my build thread).

Agree with ThatGuy1295 & HighLux

There's always a trade-off. Shocks that give your unloaded truck a silken ride on the road will be too soft when loaded with gear/passengers off-road. If your application ranges between the two scenarios above, better look at shocks specifically for light trucks like 4Runners/Pickups. If you use shocks claimed to give F-150's and heavier trucks a smooth ride, I'm pretty sure you'll get a rough ride on the 4Runner, unless its loaded.

Check your actual full-droop length, and if possible full compressed. The latter may be harder to check because it's dependent on load weight.

Also see if shock mounting has good mechanism to center stem within the mounting hole and prevent metal-to-metal contact between 2 (see my thread).