New shocks on my Jimmy

[87Skier]

I thought I would share my experience with the shocks I put on a few months back.

I bought KYB GR-2/Excel-G for front and rear. They were about $100 for all 4 and had a $40 mail in rebate. They replaced some old oil filled shocks. I don't know the history of those shocks, but had at least 50,000 miles on them and are at least 20 years old.

Overall the ride is nicer and the handling is better. It still feels top-heavy, but rolls slightly less than before. Low speed ride quality has definitely improved. The shocks don't handle bumps at high speed very well. There is a bad road by me that I usually test stuff on, and the new shocks handle this much worse than the old. This is probably due to the limited travel of the front springs.

When I hit the bumps at high speed, it felt as if it only hit the first part and that the front end wasn't even on the ground any more. This is completely different than my 96 Suburban or even my car. The 96 Suburban with original shocks (I'm assuming), will just kind of bounce through these bumps. The car with 2 year old Monroe OE shocks makes the bumps feel like nothing more than a small patch of gravel.

These shocks just aren't stiff enough for my liking. I like a good soft ride, but I also need shocks that can handle bumps on the highway. I would look for something different.

[simicrintz]

Just my opinion (and everyone knows what opinions are worth!) but $15 shocks (in essence what they cost each after the rebate) can only do so much. I like to use Bilstein's on my trucks/Jeeps and pay almost $100 per shock. They serve me well and do what I think you are looking for based on your report. I like the 5100's if that helps!

[parb]

I wanted to buy the bilstein shocks for my 72 jimmy. i even went so far to email bilstein to figure out what to buy. I couldn't figure out the part numbers i needed to buy for a stock ride height jimmy.

do you know the part numbers for bilstein that works on our trucks? Bilstein themselves say that they have nothing that works.

[simicrintz]

I usually go to 4WP with my truck and have them size accordingly. My Jeepster has a SOA setup (and they don't even show Jeepsters IIRC) so we pulled a couple of measurements and away we went. My Duramax has them and that was easy (in the book). I have not done them on my K5 yet (the shocks on there have less than 1,000 miles and had been replaced right before we got it). If you have a 4WP near you I would run by and have them take a look.

[parb]

I tried doing that, called up one of the 4wd shock shops that several people on this forum recommended. But they basically told me that they don't work on stock ride height vehicles and couldn't help me. Kind of sucked...

[simicrintz]

I'd call or run by here:

550 W. San Carlos St.
San Jose CA 95126
Phone: 408-279-4979
Sales Associate:
408-279-4979
Fax: 408-279-4710
Email: jos@4wheelparts.com
Store Manager: Scott Mounce
Asst Manager: Rich Esparza
Service Manager: Ryan Ashby
Mon-Fri: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Local Time)
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Local Time)
Sunday: Closed

I have had good experiences down here (San Diego) with these guys and they seem to know their stuff. Don't know why they couldn't match up a stock ride vehicle.

[Blazerowner]

Call Off-road Design. They will know.

[parb]

Originally Posted by Blazerowner

Call Off-road Design. They will know.

I called off-road design, they would not help me with my Jimmy unless it was lifted.

[Blazerowner]

That’s surprising. Usually they are able to help. You can always look at what is recommended for a lift and just subtract the lift to find the part number. Have you thought of measuring the mounts?

[parb]

Yes, i figured i'd measure and get it done later. I was hoping i could just piggy back on a board member who had already done that

I need to get it going so i bought the KYB shocks for now. Once my jimmy is running i'll consider the upgrade to bilsteins. i got the kyb's super cheap, i think i paid less than $40 each. I won't feel like i'm really wasting money by having the KYB's for just a short time. The original shocks where at least 30 years old and i had to replace them.

[87Skier]

I heard that bilsteins don't fit on the rear and that most people who go that route fabricate a new mount.

[simicrintz]

Having trouble confirming 5100's availability for our rigs. I did find these for the fronts only in the 4600:https://www.summitracing.com/parts/b...t/model/blazer

[71BUCKET]

Literally just went through this and still working it out.
Off road design basically gave me same thing “it’s not lifted, we got nothing”

So. Bilstein 4600s. Summit only list fronts 24-009232 not lifted
Now I took off the dead shocks off the rear and measured them
Bilstein makes a 4600 24-009331 that works length wise

however rear eye bushings are 14.4mm on the 9331s where they need to be 12.7 like the fronts. The 9331s have to have top and bottom bushings/mount pressed out and new bushings/eyelet put in. I haven’t had time to address that now.

That said you can get a set of 5100s that work for the rear but I wanted matching setup front and rear and Bilstein does not make a 5100 short enough for front.

But, I urge you all to double check all this.

[parb]

Great info! I look forward to learn from you what you ultimately end up doing.

Do you think it would be a negative experience to mix the 4600 and the 5100 series? Intuitively I'd think so, but wanted to hear if there are any opinions based on data?

[71BUCKET]

I have to press out the rear top mount. It’s made to bolt through frame but can press that out. Replace bushing and on lower mount I’m looking for thicker metal sleeve. Have been busy and out town this past weekend. Hopefully I can get it together this weekend.

I just looked at the 4600-5100 as different valving and such. I didn’t get deep into it, just figured it was smart to match the set.

[Blazerowner]

My bilsteins bolted right up but I do have a 3” shackle flip.

[Ewr101]

I just replaced all the shocks on my 2wd 72 Blazer with the same set up as the original poster and they seemed a little "floaty" to me. Next was a front sway bar installation and now I'm very happy with the ride. No floating feeling, the handling is much better and the ride is very nice. I know a sway bar isn't supposed to effect straight ahead driving, but I sure feel the difference.

[71BUCKET]

Update: now have a matching set of bilstien 4600 series on my k5. Had To change the the mounts on the upper rears to an eyelet. Easily done.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by 71BUCKET

Update: now have a matching set of bilstien 4600 series on my k5. Had To change the the mounts on the upper rears to an eyelet. Easily done.

Old thread, but do you happen to have the part number for the eyelet that you swapped in?

[pjmoreland]

I bought a pair of Bilstein 24-009331 rear shocks and took some measurements. It looks like Bilstein E4-R01-Z008C58 sleeves are a good candidate for installing in the upper bushings in place of the studs.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bsn-e4r01z008c58

The bigger challenge is that the lower bushing sleeves are 1.68" wide, but the axle brackets are only 1.38" wide. I'm hoping I can spread the brackets enough to accept the wider sleeves.