Chevy 3500 shock replacement

[mrbarkley]

We full time with a 2006 Chevy 3500 Duramax that tows a 37" 17,000# 5th wheel. Does anyone have any recommendations/experience with replacing their shocks?

[N-Trouble]

BUT having to replace Bills is not very common... THey have outlasted every truck I have had them on so far

[drcook]

Keep in mind warranty replacement. Get onto the Bilstein website and read the fine print. I know I had to give my old ones back before being handed the new ones. Maybe it is different now, but you need to look into it.

I just spent (wasted) a bunch of time (better part of a day, when all added up, trying to deal with off-shore, customer service reps, who do not have any clue what an RV is, or how to think logically and could not accept that their people made a mistake. The cultural disconnect is awful. In the future, I will only buy stuff from Amazon that I won't have to deal with the offshore folks at all about, if at all.

If you want to deal with the hassles of Amazon.com just to save a few bucks, that is your perogative, but I chose to deal with a brick and mortar business who has a vested interest in keeping me happy.

I bought mine from Autozone. They kept the records on file, handled the swap out. All I had to do was hand them the old ones, say thank you, and carry the new ones out the door to put back on the truck.

I would also look at Summit Auto Racing.

[mrbarkley]

Thanks for the feedback. It looks like Bilstein's is the way to go. Amazon.com seems to have the best price. Any other suggestions?

[Norskeman]

Bilsteins - put a set on mine at 21,000 miles. On my 2005 I put on a set as soon as I took delivery.

http://www.kennedydiesel.com/results.cfm?SubCategory3=19

[Cummins12V98]

drcook wrote:
Bilsteins. Have had 2 sets on the truck since 2004. The first set was replaced under warranty.

Here is a comparison of the 4600 -vs- 5100 series shocks

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/images/bilstein-5100-vs-bilstein-heavy-duty.cfm

I also replaced the front sway bar and added a rear sway bar, both from Hellwig. The sway bars made a monumental difference.

Additionally Hellwig's service and warranty support is 2nd to none. I had an end-link fail and was due to leave on vacation. Hellwig got the part to me, under warranty, on time so that I didn't have to remove the rear sway bar and pull the trailer without it.

I have an 04.5 2500HD Duramax, so my suspension is the same as yours (mrbarkley)

The link says what i was told by the sales person at genosgarage.com that the 4600 and 5100 are exactly the same but the 5100 can be used in stock configuration. The reason someone may want to run the 5100 on a stock truck is if they think they may ever do a lift up to two inches.

If no lift is planned use 4600's.

With up to 2" lift or may do so 5100's.

[drcook]

Bilsteins. Have had 2 sets on the truck since 2004. The first set was replaced under warranty.

Here is a comparison of the 4600 -vs- 5100 series shocks

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/images/bilstein-5100-vs-bilstein-heavy-duty.cfm

I also replaced the front sway bar and added a rear sway bar, both from Hellwig. The sway bars made a monumental difference.

Additionally Hellwig's service and warranty support is 2nd to none. I had an end-link fail and was due to leave on vacation. Hellwig got the part to me, under warranty, on time so that I didn't have to remove the rear sway bar and pull the trailer without it.

I have an 04.5 2500HD Duramax, so my suspension is the same as yours (mrbarkley)

[larry_barnhart]

Bilsteins for our dually.

chevman

[rhagfo]

Bamaman1 wrote:
I had Bilsteins on my F250, and they didn't seem better or last longer than other major brand shocks. I replaced them with Monroe's heaviest shock bought at RockAuto.com for about $25 each. You cannot beat their prices.

Well the Bilstein's are lifetime warranted so, you spent an extra $100 for the Monroe's.

I would be about X4 for Bil's, I run the 5100 on a non lifted Ram 2500.

[Bamaman11]

I had Bilsteins on my F250, and they didn't seem better or last longer than other major brand shocks. I replaced them with Monroe's heaviest shock bought at RockAuto.com for about $25 each. You cannot beat their prices.

[Cummins12V98]

Bilstein 4600's, several will be along shortly to concur.

[N-Trouble]

http://forums.trailerlife.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28561237.cfm