K5 Shock choice

[mister.freeze]

my 72 has a 3/4 ton 4" spring lift (Skyjacker) and I think it's time for new shocks. I'm partial to KYB's, but I'm not against anything. Cheaper is nice, but better is, well, better. What part #'s should I be looking for? Thanks in advance for any input.

[Lieferson]

Could always order a set of FOX 2.0s off of BDS website. Spendy but id be willing to bet they are the best out there. If not those id run Bilsteins. im sure with some quick searching you can find the part numbers that will fit your application

[mister.freeze]

Originally Posted by Lieferson

Could always order a set of FOX 2.0s off of BDS website. Spendy but id be willing to bet they are the best out there. If not those id run Bilsteins. im sure with some quick searching you can find the part numbers that will fit your application

you would think so but most of my searching pulled up dropped trucks. A 4" lift seem fairly common, and I was hoping folks would chime in with what they used.

[simicrintz]

X2 on the Bilsteins.

[6768chevylover]

I'm interested myself. I'd say fox or bilsteins 5100 series since it seems to be the choice people reply with. My eye is on this thread..

[mister.freeze]

WHICH Bilstein 5100? Yes, they do seem to be the most preferred...

[6768chevylover]

That's what I would like to find out. I see them in pics and recommendations but no one seems to either remember part numbers or where they got them.

[Spf79]

I have a 4" lift with a 1" Off road design add a leaf.
I have Bilsteins on my rolling chassis. I will take pics of the part numbers tonight.

You can also look at offroad design's website, they lay out the shock sizing.
You will be looking for a 5125 series shock for all 4 corners and a 5100 series shock for the stabalizer if you choose to replace that as well.

I found a pic of my stabalizer part number.
The 5125 serise shock will require you to measure your length from frame mount to axle mount. You buy them based upon travel length. I think the ORD website tells you what you should have for travel.

Hope this helps.
I paid mid $70 range per shock from Amazon.

[mister.freeze]

Originally Posted by Spf79

I have a 4" lift with a 1" Off road design add a leaf.
I have Bilsteins on my rolling chassis. I will take pics of the part numbers tonight.

You can also look at offroad design's website, they lay out the shock sizing.
You will be looking for a 5125 series shock for all 4 corners and a 5100 series shock for the stabalizer if you choose to replace that as well.

I found a pic of my stabalizer part number.
The 5125 serise shock will require you to measure your length from frame mount to axle mount. You buy them based upon travel length. I think the ORD website tells you what you should have for travel.

Hope this helps.
I paid mid $70 range per shock from Amazon.

Everything I’ve seen says mount Bilstiens with the label right-side-up. Mine came with the label boot side up. Did you change the orientation of your labels? Offroad Design said they can go either way, but the boots had drain holes only at one end, so I installed them that way.

[Spf79]

Originally Posted by mister.freeze

Everything I’ve seen says mount Bilstiens with the label right-side-up. Mine came with the label boot side up. Did you change the orientation of your labels? Offroad Design said they can go either way, but the boots had drain holes only at one end, so I installed them that way.

No sir, that is the way mine showed up. I called 4 wheel parts and they told me that they could be mounted either way. I like the look of them being backwards from the standard old Rancho 5000's style.

[mister.freeze]

all four corners are the same?
that part #, 33-170794, is the stabilizer.
...patiently waiting on your pix tonite...

[Spf79]

Originally Posted by mister.freeze

all four corners are the same?
that part #, 33-170794, is the stabilizer.
...patiently waiting on your pix tonite...

Negative sir, the rears are different than the fronts. The rears are longer.
I should be home around 7 or so. Sorry, late night.

[Spf79]

You can make out the front numbers, but I need to get you a better pic of the rear shock. That is all I have on my phone.

Talk at you soon.

[Spf79]

Rear shock is the top picture. 33-104652...

Front shock is the lower picture with the Weiand box in the background. 33-186542

Just Google search the part number and the shocks should come up. I found them easily on Summit & Amazon.

These fellas have a nice website for sizing as well. http://offroaddesign.com/catalog.htm

Also note, you can mount these shocks normal or upside down. I decided to mount upside down since I liked the look better.

Let me know what you end up doing. - Post pics!

[mister.freeze]

Yes! Good info. Thanks!

[mister.freeze]

Upside down? But the printing is right-side-up!
Upside down means less reciprocating mass, faster response.
Right-side-up means lower center of gravity. Not a big difference on these trucks, but there's the info if anybody cares.

[mister.freeze]

More specifically...
http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/Bilstein%205125.htm

[6768chevylover]

If you go onto bilsteins website they show https://us.bilstein.com/en/product-s...70794323576229 to be the shock for the front of these trucks with a 3"-4" lift.. Is there a difference in the 5100 to the 5125, does anyone know?

[Spf79]

Originally Posted by 6768chevylover

If you go onto bilsteins website they show https://us.bilstein.com/en/product-s...70794323576229 to be the shock for the front of these trucks with a 3"-4" lift.. Is there a difference in the 5100 to the 5125, does anyone know?

Check this link out. downsouthmotorsports.com/c-234464-dsm-categories-off-road-shocks-all-brands-bilstein-5100-5125-5160-shocks.html

This was the best answer I could find. Since I have the extra inch in lift, I had to work with 5125's since they come in variable lengths for lifts above 4". I hope this helps.

[Rspaeth]

Hey Spf79, that sway bar on your blazer looks great! Is it a 73-87 blazer bar? Did you just use the spring plates from the square body blazer? Can you show me how you mounted it to the crossmember? Also, did you do a rear sway bar as well? Thank you

[Spf79]

Originally Posted by Rspaeth

Hey Spf79, that sway bar on your blazer looks great! Is it a 73-87 blazer bar? Did you just use the spring plates from the square body blazer? Can you show me how you mounted it to the crossmember? Also, did you do a rear sway bar as well? Thank you

Thanks buddy!

The bar is a 73+ bar, the PO installed it with the front cross member out of a 73+ truck as well. The spring plates are 73 as far as I can tell. The crossmember bolts right in, I shimmed it with some thick washers so that it fit tight where the old crossmember was at. The rear is an addco swaybar. I can't remember the part number. It was listed as fitting a 2wd or 4wd truck. With a lift you have make mounts that fit on the rear axle plates that raise the sway bar up so that it is level... otherwise it binds when the axle springs compress. Oh, and if you have the original rear spring square U-bolt set up you will have to change that to a round U-bolt and top plate.

[Rspaeth]

Great info, thank you!!

[chevyguy_72]

I would say Fox 2.0 or Bilsteins ... I have the 2.0s on my 3/4 diesel and they were a nice ride improvement... i also have them on by 72 c10... but no ride time with those yet... Lots of guys swear by the bilsteins too... so also a good option

[mister.freeze]

for my 72 with 4" lift:
Fronts- Rancho RS55001, RS7112, RS999001 ($50, $80, $90)
Bilstein 33-186542, 24-187077 ($70, $80)
Rear- Rancho RS55112, RS7402, RS999112 ($50, $80, $90)
Bilstein 33-104652, 24-187084 ($70, $80)

[mister.freeze]

ProComp 16715’s (321502) for the front, 16712 (322500) in the rear are on there now.