Topic: Shock questions

[88_Pathy]

OK I have some hybrid 4in Marlins and Rancho 9012s.  I really do not like the way it rides.   They feel "stiff".  They are on the lowest setting and they just do not really perform like I would like.  Now to the questions, I like the 5125 Bilstein.... On a DD/Crawler would a 5125 be any better in ride quality and dampening.  I have a lead on some Fox 2.0 resies.  But 150 a shock is steep for me.  Is there any other recommendations.

[All_Set]

Every person I've talked to that finally made the jump to a $100+/each shock have all had the same response.   "I can't believe I waited this long to get nice shocks, Those (procomp/rancho/any cheap shock) are crap compaired to these.  They make a huge difference in the quality of the ride."

Bilsteins are nice.  The BBCS, Fox's are even nicer.   

[Joey88RUNR]

My 4runner rides better than ifs with bilsteins, Do it!

[royota85r]

My 4runner rides better than ifs with bilsteins, Do it!

I agree, I love the Bilstein's, my runner is a dream even on washboards at 50MPH plus.

[88_Pathy [OP]]

So, BBCS are nice but the lengths don't really do it for me. So are 5150s any better than the 5125s.  They look like the same shock but the 50 has a resi. Yeah I know added cooling with the resi but it's a crawler.  Is that the only difference?  And are there any other recommended shocks.

[TacoRunner]

What you need to look for in shocks is that they are Mono Tube design and that they are charged with some sort of air like Nitrogen. Nitrogen charged shocks have no moisture in them, so they wont get any corrosion inside the shock.

I had a buddy with an IFS truck and Rancho shocks. It road like a brick. I had Doectechs on my current truck back when I had leaves. It road like junk. Some one gave me Pro Comps, same story. Because none of those shocks have any rebound in them. They are just tube with a piston that has holes in it and oil passed through the tube. The oil slows the piston down which slows the suspension but doesn't dampen the ride or help control the suspension, they only slow it down.

I counldn't believe that a charged shock that I counldn't compress with my hands actually made for a softer ride. All Rancho shocks are the same, so are Pro Comps and Doectechs. They all suck. I cant believe I ever had anything but a Bilstien or Fox or something like them. It's a purchase you wont regret.

[88_Pathy [OP]]

Thanks Taco, would you recommend the spree for 2 Fox 2.0 resi for 250, or just some 5125s? That's where I'm stuck right now. Don't really know if I could feel the difference.

[TacoRunner]

I've heard of complaints with the 5150's, personally I dont think the resivoir is worth it. I'd just stay with the 5125. I think they have around 90psi in them. (thats my highly calibrated arm dyno guessing) I know that the Fox's have between the 190-220psi.

For the price you cant beat the standard Bilstein's they rock.

If you have a bigger pocket book and you plan on changing to a Linked suspension lets say sometime in the next four years, then (I saw someone else do this at the Hammers) I'd buy the coil over shocks and run them on my leaf springs. Then when you change to links, you already have the shocks.  Ya I know pricey.

[88_Pathy [OP]]

Thanks Taco, Exactly what I needed to hear.  5125s will do the trick then. 

[kneedownnate]

Most shocks aren't anywhere near 50/50, so what you get is more compression damping and minimal rebound damping.  I have the rancho rs9000 shocks on the rear of my truck and love them.  They do actually have a fair amount of rebound damping, but I like the fact that I can crank them up when hauling a load, then soften them up for daily driving.

[88_Pathy [OP]]

I am going to leave 9000s in the rear for now and see how I like them.