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New shocks!

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
Installed some new Bilstein 4600's over the weekend. G*d, I wish I'd done this several years ago. What a difference! Even the DW noticed. :B

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
B&W OEM Companion & Gooseneck Kit
2017 KZ Durango 1500 D277RLT
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 64 Year Member
14 REPLIES 14

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
N-Trouble wrote:
Dave and Sue wrote:
Drop the air pressure down on the rear tires. Check your tire sticker on the door panel.My dually say down to 40 unloaded and 65 loaded.Makes a world of difference in my trucks ride.


Agree tire pressure makes a big difference. Unfortunately on a lot of these trucks it will setoff the TPMS. I had my dealer reprogram mine


Methinks the TPMS =should= match the placard...

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
B&W OEM Companion & Gooseneck Kit
2017 KZ Durango 1500 D277RLT
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 64 Year Member

N-Trouble
Explorer
Explorer
Dave and Sue wrote:
Drop the air pressure down on the rear tires. Check your tire sticker on the door panel.My dually say down to 40 unloaded and 65 loaded.Makes a world of difference in my trucks ride.


Agree tire pressure makes a big difference. Unfortunately on a lot of these trucks it will setoff the TPMS. I had my dealer reprogram mine
2015 Attitude 28SAG w/slide
2012 GMC 2500HD SLT Duramax
B&W Turnover w/Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch

Dave_and_Sue
Explorer
Explorer
Drop the air pressure down on the rear tires. Check your tire sticker on the door panel.My dually say down to 40 unloaded and 65 loaded.Makes a world of difference in my trucks ride.
2011 Ram 3500 Dually Mega Cab
2016 Chaparral 370FL

Super_Dave
Explorer
Explorer
On a 3500, I feel like the Bilstiens do feel better when driving unloaded than my adjustable Ranchos.
Truck: 2006 Dodge 3500 Dually
Rig: 2018 Big Country 3155 RLK
Boat: 21' North River Seahawk

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
I guess I've been driving trucks =way= too long, then. I =expect= a stiff ride from a pickup. If I wanted a soft ride with a "bed", I'd drive an El Camino. :B 'Course I wouldn't be able to tow my FW...or much else.

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
B&W OEM Companion & Gooseneck Kit
2017 KZ Durango 1500 D277RLT
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 64 Year Member

IBcarguy
Explorer
Explorer
N-Trouble wrote:
IBcarguy wrote:
I just put Bilstein 5100s on my 2013 GMC 2500HD and wish that I didn't! It's fine when the 5th wheel is hooked up but rides terrible when empty. I need a kidney belt to ride in it now.


If youโ€™ve been riding around on blown out factory shocks ANY shock is going to feel firm.

My truck had 52k miles on the original shocks. Since I bought the truck to tow my new FW, I thought new shocks would would improve the ride when towing. I had no idea it would be so stiff until I drove my son-in-laws new 2500HD...no comparison. The Bilsteins are way too stiff. I'm on the verge of taking them off and installing OEM shocks.

N-Trouble
Explorer
Explorer
IBcarguy wrote:
I just put Bilstein 5100s on my 2013 GMC 2500HD and wish that I didn't! It's fine when the 5th wheel is hooked up but rides terrible when empty. I need a kidney belt to ride in it now.


If youโ€™ve been riding around on blown out factory shocks ANY shock is going to feel firm.
2015 Attitude 28SAG w/slide
2012 GMC 2500HD SLT Duramax
B&W Turnover w/Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch

Lynnmor
Explorer
Explorer
IBcarguy wrote:
but rides terrible when empty. I need a kidney belt to ride in it now.


I'll bet that you read all the glowing reports about how great things are after installing Bilsteins, I know that I bought into the BS. If I had it to do over again, the stock shocks would still be installed. Yes, there was some improvement in handling, but on a road with broken concrete the wheels will not respond fast enough to follow the pavement.

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
IBcarguy wrote:
I just put Bilstein 5100s on my 2013 GMC 2500HD and wish that I didn't! It's fine when the 5th wheel is hooked up but rides terrible when empty. I need a kidney belt to ride in it now.


Dunno what to tell ya. I'd been recommended Ranchos, but all the ones that were recommended were adjustable and I hated the thought of having to crawl under my truck every time I wanted to change from daily to towing. If I was 30 again...

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
B&W OEM Companion & Gooseneck Kit
2017 KZ Durango 1500 D277RLT
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 64 Year Member

IBcarguy
Explorer
Explorer
I just put Bilstein 5100s on my 2013 GMC 2500HD and wish that I didn't! It's fine when the 5th wheel is hooked up but rides terrible when empty. I need a kidney belt to ride in it now.

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
MFL wrote:
laknox wrote:
MFL wrote:
Good for you Lyle!! It sure doesn't hurt to upgrade the current truck, to make it ride and TOW better too!

Jerry


Actually, it =does= hurt...ME! Man, I'm sore! :B I haven't done shocks myself, in probably 30 years and I can tell you that I would cheerfully coldcock the idiots who decided that nuts and bolts need to be standard on one end and metric on the other. :M

Lyle


Ha!!! Did I not just read how spry you are at almost 61, in another thread. Me thinks you better be watching for sales on step stools.

Jerry


Spry is for going =up=, not crawling around underneath stuff. :B Actually, I'm surprised how sore my neck is from having to hold my head up off the creeper. Father's day is coming up and I'm hinting real hard for a new one that has the inclining bed. :B Elbows and knees sure don't have the padding they used to, either; they're =tender=!

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
B&W OEM Companion & Gooseneck Kit
2017 KZ Durango 1500 D277RLT
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 64 Year Member

MFL
Nomad II
Nomad II
laknox wrote:
MFL wrote:
Good for you Lyle!! It sure doesn't hurt to upgrade the current truck, to make it ride and TOW better too!

Jerry


Actually, it =does= hurt...ME! Man, I'm sore! :B I haven't done shocks myself, in probably 30 years and I can tell you that I would cheerfully coldcock the idiots who decided that nuts and bolts need to be standard on one end and metric on the other. :M

Lyle


Ha!!! Did I not just read how spry you are at almost 61, in another thread. Me thinks you better be watching for sales on step stools.

Jerry

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
MFL wrote:
Good for you Lyle!! It sure doesn't hurt to upgrade the current truck, to make it ride and TOW better too!

Jerry


Actually, it =does= hurt...ME! Man, I'm sore! :B I haven't done shocks myself, in probably 30 years and I can tell you that I would cheerfully coldcock the idiots who decided that nuts and bolts need to be standard on one end and metric on the other. :M

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
B&W OEM Companion & Gooseneck Kit
2017 KZ Durango 1500 D277RLT
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 64 Year Member

MFL
Nomad II
Nomad II
Good for you Lyle!! It sure doesn't hurt to upgrade the current truck, to make it ride and TOW better too!

Jerry