biglar

I've talked about this a time or 2 in the past, but have come to the point where I've got to break down and put new shocks on my '02 2500 CTD.

I put 4 new Bilsteins on it in the fall of '07 and drove it a little during the winter. Tho' temps that winter got down to 0º, I didn't drive it under about 20º, give or take. At 1st, with the camper on board, I was amazed at how those shocks anchored that heavy truck. Wonderful and I was very pleased. Took the camper off for the winter and ran with 400# of sand in back and it was great. I lived right next door to work then and doubt if I put 500 miles on it all winter.

By spring, tho', with the camper back on, the truck was bouncing some and I wondered what happened. Talked to Bilstein and the smart a-- there blew me off. My front shocks have the 2" extension and are not warrantied. They won't warranty my rear shocks. Said I'm not an engineer, Bilsteins don't do that and I don't know what I'm talking about. Don't matter - the shocks are shot.......engineer or not.

Drove it on vacation in '08 and it was.....workable, but I wasn't happy. I'm pretty stubborn, so left them in there for this year's vacation and that was a huge mistake. I've Got to put new shocks on there.

My question - what is a good alternative to Bilsteins ?? I'd always heard they're the very best, and the first few months had me sold on that. I hate to spend - what ?? - $400.00 for 4 new shocks and have the same thing happen again. I'm bitterly disappointed in these things. Thanks for any advice you guys can give.

Lar.

User Name:

wow that sucks that there customer service is like that. Im about to take the plunge for these shocks so Hopefully my experience is better. wish i could afford some custom valved kings

95black2615

I just run monroe magnums.......I've run em on my 2500 for over a year and just bought new ones for my 3500........cost $88.00 for all 4 at rockauto.com about 3 weeks ago.

User Name:

what is the ride like compared to stock? My stock shocks are teeth jarring on my truck

95black2615

Well I like em but I dont have anything to compare them to. The trucks I buy have a lot of miles on them and the shocks are always shot and need changed

For the price I got the monroe's for I could buy a new set every year for the price of the bilsteins

nickg

KYB is a good shock, expensive but are reliable and they stand by their warranty (did a set on an audi, one leaked replaced no questions asked) I ran the mono something or other, it was the top of the line shock, they had/have over 100,000kms (60,000M) and when I took them off they are full of gas and working fine! (I removed them as they were stock height and added belistens when I went with Carli Coils)

at the same Time I had Pro-Comps on the rear and they worked just as good as the KYB, but are way... cheaper! infact I still have the pro-comps on the rear.

dieselman2300

I'm not sure what moderl Bilstein you have but the one I have are lifetime warranty.
NOW, the 5100 series are only 90 days.

I have the 2549hd and 2550hd.

http://www.bilsteinus.com/warranty.php

User Name:

I would be interested in the 5100's as I hear the ride is the best for our trucks

RottnRam

I had a similar problem with Bilstein and informed them that my shocks were shot. I asked what they were going to do about honoring the life time warranty. They did not have shocks to replace the defective ones in stock (national back order). I said well since you can not replace your shocks because of stocking issue you can not honor your warranty. I asked for a refund since my truck is a daily driver but, they would have nothing of it... Needless to say, went with KYB.....

Silver_Ram

I had the same problem with Rancho 9000's, Rancho wanted to give me a partial credit that had to be used towards Rancho products.

I put the Bilstein 5100's on the truck. Rides better than the Rancho's loaded & unloaded. I hope I have better luck.

horselady

The ride on my truck was way too harsh unloaded, it had monroe sensatracs on it. I removed them and installed the monroe reflex shocks, much better ride and didn't loose any load handling ability.