I have a 2011 3500 4 door, 4wd, weighs 12k# with all my stuff on it. Stock shocks were gone at 30k miles. I wore through a set of monroe shocks in 15k miles. Truck mostly sees highway but does a bit on gravel roads or out in a pasture. I really would hate to keep burning through shocks. Would bilstein hd or 5100 handle my truck better? Or do i need something with a remote resevior like the bilstein 5160?...or just a bigger shock...fox, king, etc? Thanks for the help, trying to make a purchase this week. Im also going to replace steering stabilizer, and all the rubber bushings for the links in the front end.

 

Trying to do some research online. Kind of unclear if the 5160s with the remote res will help the lifespan of the shocks, or does it just hekp for full length travel of the piston? Seems to me it might help it last longer on a heavy truck. Thoughts anyone?

 

My understanding of the remote reservoir is that the extra fluid helps to keep the temperature of the shock lower on terrain where the suspension is articulating a lot. I would assume that the cooler you can keep the shock's fluid, the longer the shock will last, as well as keeping the damping ability more consistent.

Having said that, be aware that I'm nowhere near a suspension engineer or a shock expert. I'm just spouting some casual knowledge.

 

My 5160's have lasted two to three years of use now and still working fine. I like them better than the 5100's that I have on my 02. They take the cold weather very well. Once I find some more cash, I plan to buy a set of 5160's for the 02.

I find in the rough gravel roads the original stock shocks get very hot and stop working after awhile. Never had this issue yet with the 5160's so far.

 

Wonder what they put on the 5500 C&C trucks...

 

Thats what im buying for...the front of my 4500. They fit the same as 3500 in the front. I bought a set of monroe that were advertised for front and rear of 4500...rears dont fit bolt size, fronts fit but wore out in 10k miles.

 

bilsteins

 

King makes the best.