Needless confusion: Bilstein shocks

[Larryjb]

I had been spending months trying to figure out what shocks to use, and if any kits were required to convert my autoride shocks to standard Bilsteins.

It turns out it was ridiculously easy. Remove the old shocks, tie back the connectors, install the new shocks. To get rid of the service autoride suspension, remove the fuse, disconnect the battery, reconnect, and you're done. The whole job to do all four shocks, including swapping out the winter tires, took a 3-4 hours. However, I work slowly.

Use the B4600 shocks if you're keeping everything stock.

I came across so many posts from people not sure what shocks to use. A few have answered that you use the B4600 for stock or lowering, B5100 for lifting. That seems about right.

The ride is better, but I think the front shocks weren't so bad and were still dampening, so I didn't get a noticeable in ride quality. Pretty good for a 17 year old truck.

 

[j2daugh]

I had been spending months trying to figure out what shocks to use, and if any kits were required to convert my autoride shocks to standard Bilsteins.

It turns out it was ridiculously easy. Remove the old shocks, tie back the connectors, install the new shocks. To get rid of the service autoride suspension, remove the fuse, disconnect the battery, reconnect, and you're done. The whole job to do all four shocks, including swapping out the winter tires, took a 3-4 hours. However, I work slowly.

Use the B4600 shocks if you're keeping everything stock.

I came across so many posts from people not sure what shocks to use. A few have answered that you use the B4600 for stock or lowering, B5100 for lifting. That seems about right.

The ride is better, but I think the front shocks weren't so bad and were still dampening, so I didn't get a noticeable in ride quality. Pretty good for a 17 year old truck.

So no resistors are needed? Also, don't you need coils for the rear? If so what did you use? My system is still functioning well (after a compressor replacement) but I'm interested in swapping and going with Bilsteins and a slightly larger tire. Tia for any info/experience you may have!

 

[Larryjb]

ah, I knew this would come up! Many systems had a computerized ride involving the shock, but still had coil springs. If you currently have coil springs, all you need are the shocks. If you have the system that uses air springs, you won't have coil springs. In this case you will need coil springs and shocks.

If you already have coil springs, you only need B4600 shocks.

If you don't have coil springs, you will need springs and shocks.

If you are lowering, raising, or levelling, you need to do more research.

 

[Bombsquad85]

ah, I knew this would come up! Many systems had a computerized ride involving the shock, but still had coil springs. If you currently have coil springs, all you need are the shocks. If you have the system that uses air springs, you won't have coil springs. In this case you will need coil springs and shocks.

If you already have coil springs, you only need B4600 shocks.

If you don't have coil springs, you will need springs and shocks.

If you are lowering, raising, or levelling, you need to do more research.

The stock autoride springs are going to be too soft a f will cause early wear on your rear shocks. I would pick up a set of bilstein springs that go with the shocks.