Well I took the plunge and bought some bilsteins. The stock shocks on a 05 3500 dually would real quick let you know that they were not real absobent.
The stock shocks were easy to compress by hand when I was taking them off even on the front one that you have to push it under the tower and spin that out of the way.

THe bilstein on the other hand let me know that my bowl of wheaties was real small and to go back for another serving. the back two went on pretty simple except for my fifth wheel hitch being in the way but other than that they went in about an hour.

The front put the the hurt on me and if it wasnt for my 10 year son being their to help I might still beon the truck. I used a jack under the bumper to bring up the suspension to the max of the jack and then I put the tower on loose with one nut. I used a board to push down as my son stood ready to spin the tower on top to pin it. At that point I repositioned the board again and compressed as much as I could telling him to spin it on which he did and then we did the final compression to attach the last two nuts. the conpression on these thing must be a least twelve inches.

It was a work of art that I could have my son help me like this.

The ride let me tell you is like riding in a nice SUV and not a 1 ton truck I can say for the 300.00 that spent on them was a real good investment. I went throught a grocery store and lowes parking lot with lots of speed bumps with no bounce and a solid feel.

 

mine are back ordered. when they come in do you wanna do mine too? sounds like you have a system already and if you want some more practice ive got a case of beer for you and a 6 pack of dublin Dr. Peppers for your son

brett

 

Sound like a grest offer but I thinkevery man should experience how much love they have for their truck.

 

Are these for a 2WD truck? I am looking for something a little better myself. Especially for towing. Get that stupid bounce every now and again. How did they do towing?

 

I must just be a bad ****, j.k. I had no trouble putting mine on when I did the Kore kit. I was by myself and it was raining. Not real sure how long it took to do the fronts because I did the whole front suspension, but the back only took me 20 or so minutes. I don't have any air tools or a garage to do stuff like this in, but it sure would be nice.

 

I installed mine without any help, and didn't lift the truck. I compressed those suckers by hand, WHILE installing the nuts of the shock tower. Talk about tough wrenching!! I had to put my full weight on those things to compress them....

 

It is definately a pain in the bootay, but it's worth it, I think

 

Oh, come on, Brett!!! If I can handle them, surely you can!!!!

 

oh yeah...i know what you were handling...probably a big glass of lemonade while watching someone else do the work like a typical girl j/k megan...well you know where i am so come show me how to do them

brett

 

Its 100% easier if you leave the shocks compressed like they come out of the box and leave the plactic strap attached. Bolt up the lower mount and then position the upper mount and cut the strap when your lined up or done.

Samer goes for the rear. Attach one end and cut the strap and install the bolt as it de compresses.

Its a snap if youve sone shocks before.

I have to get creative when installing my fox shox. I just attach the upper mount and use a bottle jack on the bottom to compress into the mount.

 

Typical girl - yeah, right!!!
Drive down and show you how? I'd end up just having to do it for you! Now, where would the fun be in that!!! You'll get them w/o any problem! Just messin' with ya!!

It is very true what Eric mentioned above... Leave the straps on until your ready to do the second bolt. That makes it much, much easier. The rear ones are the easiest of course. I started w/ the front ones to get the hard part out of the way.

 

All I know is that I am glad that they are in and I dont have to work on them again for awhile.

I will say that for a 1 ton dualie 4 x4 they are the cats meow compared to the plastic POS that came with the truck.

A new stereo install was also done so onthe ride from san antonio to houston at 80 mph it was smooth and one heck of a jam session for the 250 trip.

If anybody is looking for some bilsteins I got mine off ebay from top gun customz for 299.00 delivered. Best price that I could find anywhere.

 

Is the ride firmer and the bumps sharper? I am looking at new but donot want firmer... I would prefer frim but not sharp.
tj

 

Eric Logan...you beat me to the punch...leav the straps...put the bottom in first...then cut and aim the shock!

 

The ride is firmer not sharper. With the stock shock going over speed bumps with 1 ton suspension was very sharp and jerky on the suspension after crossing.

THe bilsteion take that jolt and it does the dip on speed bump now but that is it. No more motion after crossing.