leathermaneod

Hi all, I'm in need of new shocks fit the truck in my sig. I'm thinking of Bilsteins either 4600 or 5100. My truck is stock height. I know the 5100 are more for lifts but since they are only a few dollars more I'm thinking about getting them for the extra stiffness/heavy duty properties. I use my truck mainly as a daily driver and only go off road occasionally for hunting/fishing and to get firewood. I am open to other suggestions I just so far found that almost everyone loves Bilsteins. I think my truck has the 4600 now but they seem to be worn out.

SIXSLUG

Hey Leather, I'm also due for shocks and am going to go with the B-steins, just not sure which one. I have a 2" levelling kit so probably the costlier one's!

Dad has the blue and yellow ones on his truck since forever and it still rides better than mine, but its a regular cab...

Geno's was having a sale just recently.....

leathermaneod

Yes Geno's has 10% off when you buy more than one right now so that helps a little. I am not totally sure if mine are worn out or not as I haven't driven enough different cars/trucks to really know the diff but my wife said the truck rolls around like a boat and after that I did notice that the passenger front corner seems to sag just a bit so I figured I might as well get some new ones...my truck is stock height I'm just not sure which ones to pick...the 5100 are only a couple dollars more but I don't off-road much so I'm not sure if they will be as nice on the road...I do want something with good control though

leathermaneod

Just fyi katoom is very happy with his rancho 9000s so i am going to look into them as well

leathermaneod

So the rancho 9000s are too expensive for me haha. I'm thinking that I want to go with the Bilsteins but I can't decide which. Cost doesn't really matter as its a difference of about $5 per shock. I am just worried that the 5100 will be too stiff, especially in the back when empty because my truck is just a daily driver so most of the time it's empty. But at the same time I'm worried 4600 won't be stiff enough

SIXSLUG

A lot depends on what spring rate you have up front, if stock, you could reference a build sheet for the info. Usually a dealership can run your vin and get that. The stiffer springs won't need a stiffer shock if you are looking for ride over control when loaded/towing..

PS the tags may still be on the front springs if you are in a drier area. They won't be the same left to right so if you have one 039, the other side will most likely be different...

leathermaneod

Oh ok thanks for the info! I actually decided on the 5100 from Geno's last night so hopefully I'll get them installed this coming weekend :-) I also ordered a new oem steering stabilizer from Geno's.

SIXSLUG

Post up how you like them after install, eh?

leathermaneod

Will do! :-)

SIXSLUG

Just a note, that sagging won't be corrected by a shock, sounds like an over load on the spring. My truck has the camper and plow package from the factory and my springs are 046 and 049. There used to be a good source for that info but I can't remember the site..I'll try to find it.

SIXSLUG

Found it! Check out Dave Fitz's dodgeram.org

leathermaneod

Ok thanks me for that tip! At this point, I'm not 100% sure if it's a slight sag or just the way the truck was sitting. I thought it was a sag, but the other day at work it looked fine. I think it may just be the angle of the ground where it was parked at home(different spot than usual). I'll double check once I get the shocks installed. I want to work on it tomorrow but gota wait for this crazy rain to stop, so I may not get to it till Saturday. I also have a starter and a thermostat to install at the same time so I have my work cut out for me!

leathermaneod

Ok thanks will do! I have the build sheet for my truck and I think it says I have a towing package so I'll have to look into all that.

leathermaneod

Hey Kurt,

Not sure where you live so you may not have much input on this but Ill ask anyway just in case. I pulled the 5100s out of the box tonight to look them over before the install tomorrow and I was thinking about the zinc coating(I live in watertown ny, LOTS of salt). I did some research and found a bunch of people a few years back saying it doesn't hold up well in salt. :-( I am pretty religious about pressure washing the underside of my vehicles multiple times during the winter but I'm not sure how much that will help... Now I got the shocks because they are what i wanted function wise not for the shiny look, and I really don't want to have to send them back and figure out which others to get. However, I don't want them getting all rusty either. Now obviously painted ones can and will rust too. I want to figure out the best way to protect these things. Do you think I would be better off clear coating them, painting them, or spraying them with some undercoating before the install?

seafish

Fluid Film works very well to repel water and protect from rust.