I'm trying to put my suspension together, and wanted to know your opinions on several shocks I'm considering. Please give me feedback with your (or someone else's) experience. I don't mind knowing if your friend likes his.

Ive got the RS500 on my DD 88YJ. Had some before (stock) and now with 2 1/2 R/E lift... Major improvement over stock ride (they were 12 yrs old) good for street and moderate trails...

Bilstien just came out with a new shock, the 5150 series, just like the 5100 but with a remote resevoir. Those are the ones Im eyeballing now, for when I redo my suspension. Its either those or the 7100 series shocks. I run Rancho 9k's now, but I hate them. They don't last long for me.
Scott

Hey 1bad, I like the idea of the 5150s, but don't know much more than what I found in 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility magazine. They would be cool. At least on the front, but I bet they double the price with an almost unperceivable difference in performance for DD and moderate wheelin'. Anyone have any other info?

For a DD the DT3000's are nice, and inexpensive, but the finish does not hold up well in New England winters....mine have been on since January and are alreach chipped to hell and all rusty...Granted I've beaten on them pretty badly, but the other three sets we've installed since November look the same...crappy!


RJ

I had Rancho 9000s and I am now running DT-3000s. I ran my 9000s at setting 2, and the 3000s are about the same. The price, large selection of lengths, and availability of the DTs is what brought me to them.

Originally posted by lomodyj
Ive got the RS500 on my DD 88YJ. Had some before (stock) and now with 2 1/2 R/E lift... Major improvement over stock ride (they were 12 yrs old) good for street and moderate trails...


I bought some rs5000 for my tj and they suck. they are alot softer than the stock ones. They ride like shit

Originally posted by cj7
Hey 1bad, I like the idea of the 5150s, but don't know much more than what I found in 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility magazine. They would be cool. At least on the front, but I bet they double the price with an almost unperceivable difference in performance for DD and moderate wheelin'. Anyone have any other info?

From what I understand, the new 5150's are supposed to cool a lot better than their standard 5100 series. Each shock is 99 bucks, which isn't that bad considering rancho 9k's run almost 70 in some places. When I get a set, I'll tell ya how I like em.
Try thier website for more info: www.bilstein.com

Scott

I would go for the billstien 5100 or 5150's. A friend of mine just threw the 5100's on his buggy and they are great. I have the rancho 5000's on my jeep and I want to switch to the Billstiens

I voted for the DT 3000s cuz they're cheap and work well. They ride nice, flex good, they're CHEAP. But Bilstein makes a GREAT shock absorber too. Can't go wrong w/ either of those.













Now. In light of all that... I run Rancho RSXs on my TJ. I like them alot, too. They're plush across the board. I would have gotten DTs but I got 1 free and free shipping w/ the Ranchos when I bought 'em.

currently running DT3000's and love them...but my next set will be Bilstein 5100's, no question. The DT's are a tad undervalved and don't control wheelhops as well as I'd like on steep uphill stuff.

Thanks for the input. Seems like lots of you are running the DT's, but wish for 5100s. Thanks again.

lumpy you :smokin:???

RS5's softer than stock? that is one of the stiffest shocks I've ever seen. I can agree they ride rough, thats b/c their STIFF not soft. :rolleyes:

:flipoff2:

What's the difference between the valving on the Bilstein 5150 Shocks.

There are two shock types availabe.
170/60 valving
255/60 valving

Are these racing shocks? or would they be good for slow crawling in the rocks??

depends on what you are running. I have 255/70 and it seems to be a pretty good balance for my rig. (good on the street as well as the trail)

Originally posted by RCKRATZ
depends on what you are running. I have 255/70 and it seems to be a pretty good balance for my rig. (good on the street as well as the trail)

97 TJ:
RE 5.5/35" GY/AntiRock sway bar front/D44 f/r with 5.13 gears/locked both ends.

Why did you chose the 255/70 over the 170/60?

Well I could have chose any valving, I have the 7100's, but I talked to various people about them, about what rig they would be on, how I would use them, etc. and this is what they said would work, and it has. I would just make some phone calls to Bilstein dealers and pick their brains. I would imagine that 170/60 would be too soft, but what do I know :D

Hummm.
Guess I'll make some phone calls.

Anyone else have input for this????

Rancho's 9000/X because they are adjustable on the fly. Seems everyone is going after the Bilsteins for the bling bling factor :flipoff2:

Originally posted by CJBoxer
Rancho's 9000/X because they are adjustable on the fly. Seems everyone is going after the Bilsteins for the bling bling factor :flipoff2:
Anyone who says that hasn't run (or ridden in) a rig with both. I have Crappo9000's rightn now, and want Bilstiens so bad it HURTS.

If I have to buy another shock, it sure as hell better have rebound damping worth a DAMN, because the Ranchos do not and it's frustrating as anything. :rolleyes:

Something you don't have listed is the DT 8000 series. I recently switched to the 8000s from 3000s and couldn't be happier. They are a firmer shock and with bigger tires and soft springs they really help to keep wheelhop under control.

i went to the bilstein 5100's and they DO make a difference. they made a big difference in performance over my rs9000's.

Originally posted by CJBoxer
Rancho's 9000/X because they are adjustable on the fly. Seems everyone is going after the Bilsteins for the bling bling factor :flipoff2:

Yup that's why I spent 3 times more on my Bilstein's

bling bling :flipoff2:

Seriously though, unless you have ridden in a rig with a set of properly setup Bilstein's you have no idea what you are missing. I used to think that the Rancho 5000's were a decent shock until I got the 7100's. I will NEVER go back to rancho's.

Originally posted by RCKRATZ
depends on what you are running. I have 255/70 and it seems to be a pretty good balance for my rig. (good on the street as well as the trail)


So.....I just got off the phone with a Bilstein employee. He states "the 5150 with 170/60" valving would be preferable for rockcrawling (of the two 5150 options available). His reason was, they would be softer, obviously, and would help articulation a bit bettter at the slow crawling speeds. Letting the tires drop into holes/ruts and such, much sooner than the stiffer 255/70.

The 255/70's are more for Pre-Runner type vehicles that generally see higher speeds (His words) on dirt roads, mud runners, and beach cruisers

could be that with your rig that will be the right way to go. Obviously I have a hell out alot more unsprung weight to try to control between the 14 bolt and the 38's/Hummer rims.

I have absolutely no problem stuffing or drooping my suspension to it's max

that makes sense.
Have you ever weighed you Jeep?

I want to make the right shock choice, esspecially when $400.00 is on the line.

I'm supposed to call back to Bilstein tomorrow and talk with they're "Jeep set-up" expert tech.

search around on the board here. Do a search for "shock valving" I just did some reading and it seems like the majority of the people here that are running them went with 255-275/65-75.


http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=113021&highlight=shock+valving (http://)

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=109091&highlight=shock+valving (http://)

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73396&highlight=shock+valving (http://)

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26719&highlight=shock+valving (http://)