Shocks

[bigdaddylee82]

I'm looking for some wallet friendly long travel shocks for a pretty typical fullsize Chevy with 52s front and shackle reversal rear.

I've seen the product review on CK5 about the Doetsch mono tubes. And I always here good things about the Bilstein 5125/5150s. An email to Polyperformance recommended the BBCS monotubes as the best bang for the buck. But all of these are on the upper end if not over budget. Bilstein 5125s might be doable at around $300 for the set but that's the upper end.

Since I'm looking for wallet friendly I think I'm going to have to pick some twin tube shocks. This truck isn't a desert racer, it will see mostly technical, wooded, rocky trails, and a little bit of highway, so I don't think that reserviors, and octuple bypass are necessary.

I have Rancho 5000s on my Heep, but they are nothing special and I'm trying to find something in the 12" to 14" travel range. Rubicon Express has some decent prices on some 14" travel twin tube shocks, but I can't find any reviews of them. While searching I found some promising reviews on IH8MUD about Doetsch 8000 series shocks, and after browsing Doetsch's website I think I might like the 9000 series better for just a little more money. So long story short, what are you using on your truck? Any suggestions/recommendations on any of the above; good, bad, indifferent, or possibly a better suggestion?

Cliff Notes:
- What cheaper long travel shocks are you guys using/recommend?
- Anyone have experience with RE Twin Tubes or Doetsch 8000/9000s?

Thanks in advance fellas.

- Lee

[Grumpy_old_fart]

go to www.ebay.com

search for a seller

scratch_and_dent

buy shocks cheaper there...

[anatram]

I could be mistaken but I was searching ebay today for a lift for my tow rig, and I think Scratch and Dent is part of Rough Country or Skyjacker. They had some sweet deals today when I checked it out.

[orbot]

Ive had bilsteins 5150 with medium valve and they didnt last long on my ride.

didnt see where you at but there a couple of sites where you can find some.

race-dezert.com under classifieds and parts

dezertranger.com classifieds - parts

Theres usually someone selling long travel shocks in there and good prices, i got mine there

[Corey Young]

I have these for sale: 2-14", 2-16" $1100 + shipping. The smooth bodies can be swapped for threaded ones if you wanted to go coilovers later.

[bigdaddylee82]

Thanks for the input so far.

Originally Posted by Grumpy_old_fart

go to www.ebay.com

search for a seller

scratch_and_dent

buy shocks cheaper there...

Nothing really like what I'm looking for at the present, but I'll keep looking.

Originally Posted by orbot

Ive had bilsteins 5150 with medium valve and they didnt last long on my ride.

didnt see where you at but there a couple of sites where you can find some.

race-dezert.com under classifieds and parts

dezertranger.com classifieds - parts

Theres usually someone selling long travel shocks in there and good prices, i got mine there

Neat sites, but nothing as of the present.

Originally Posted by Corey Young

I have these for sale: 2-14", 2-16" $1100 + shipping. The smooth bodies can be swapped for threaded ones if you wanted to go coilovers later.

You're not posting those here for me. Nothing about that is wallet friendly. Thanks for playing though. Put them in the for sale section. Then you'll have advertised them in two threads.

- Lee

[bigdaddylee82]

Pro Comp ES9000 twin tube 14.5" travel $40.95 ea

Rancho RS5000 twin tube 14" travel $45.99 ea (RS5045 is the longest travel I've found with eyes on both ends)

Doetsch 8000 Pre Runner twin tube 13.5" or 14" travel $44.40 ea (8403 or 8407 will get you the longest travel 8000 series Doetsch offers with eyes on both ends)

Rubicon Express twin tube 14" travel 47.95 ea (RXT3210 these should have eyes on both ends and are valved for leaf spring, RE lists their application as 6.5" lift Ford Super Duty)

That's pretty much it for long travel shocks under $200 so far. I've read about some Gabriel factory application shock models that will allow around 12" travel, and some of the factory shocks on late model Ford Super Duties are 10" to 12" travel Rancho 5000s. So there's some cheaper options, but from what I've read 14" to 15" of travel is the sweet spot for how this truck will be set up.

If I wanted to step up to the cheapest monotube shocks, I've found the Bilstein 5125, and Pro Comp MX2 shocks for between $75 and $80 a piece.

- Lee

[rcurrier44]

BBCS from poly performance... they are 100$, 15" travel max and are valved for rockcrawling. I have been very happy with mine and think they are the best inexpensive shock out there.

-15"s of shock travel
-High pressure Nitrogen charged mono-tube
-Internal floating piston (IFP) that dissipates heat more effectively for increased seal life and durability
-Digressive piston (both comp & reb sides)
-Valved specifically for rockcrawling
-Durable powdercoated finish for the best corrosion resistance
-Nitro Steel shock shafts won’t chip or flake like chrome
-Polyurethane bushings
-*NEW* Upgraded Polyurethane bottomout bumper with Alumnium bumpcap
-Welds done with robotic projection welder for accuracy and quality
-Tube ends are rolled closed for leak-free construction
-Large, 46mm piston for more consistent damping
-Viton seal and low friction piston rod bearing for long life and no leaks
-Available For Both Leaf Spring And Coil Spring Applications

http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/...ocks-p-84.html

[bigdaddylee82]

Originally Posted by rcurrier44

BBCS from poly performance... they are 100$, 15" travel max and are valved for rockcrawling. I have been very happy with mine and think they are the best inexpensive shock out there.





http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/...ocks-p-84.html

Yeah, that's what PolyP told me when I was asking them about the RE shocks listed earlier. They didn't tell me anything about the RE shocks they just said this (the BBCS) is what you want. I've heard/read good things, but at this point in the build, with the deadline, and the amount of coin that has
to be dropped elsewhere $400 for shocks just ain't gonna happen.


At around $178 I think that the Doetsch 8000s are going to win. They are beefier than any of the "cheap" competitors I've seen so far, even beefier than the Doetsch 9000 which cost a little more. The 8000s will achieve the kind of travel wanted, and I've read much more good things than bad about them.

Doetsch 8000s Specs:

• High velocity, speed sensitive valving
• Massive 1 5/8" piston assembly (I don't know about "Massive" but the competition is only 1 3/8")
• Large 11/16" chrome shaft (competition is only 5/8")
• Teflon wiper seal
• Bump stop (competion doesn't provide this feature)
• Double welded
• Urethane bushings
• Twin Tube
• Added oil capacity (This doesn't "really" mean anything)
• Cellular gas (I may wish they were high psi Nitrogen, but won't know tell we try them)
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

When I say "competition" I'm talking about shocks in this same price range, like the ones mentioned earlier, including Doetsch's 9000 series. If anyone has any other reasonable suggestions I'm all ears.

- Lee