Thanks, Sounds like the 5100's alright.

 

I just ordered a set of fronts from tire rack along with a set of ATE slotted rotors and Satisfied pads. It looks like I'll get the shocks tomorrow, I'll let y'all know as soon as I get them on and drive the big pig.

 

I think that I had about 37K on the clock when I replaced mine and felt a vast improvement. Not that the factory shocks were worn, they just rode like crap IMO...very harsh.

 

Mine come today. I have been noting the handling and hitting all the small irregularities in the road I usually avoid on the way to work. Heh!

Save me some crawl time guys, what size sockets do I need?

 

I've never heard of breaking in shocks before.
I have HDs. I was expecting a little stiffer ride. Its a bit too soft for me. But for a stock replacement they're ok.

 

Huh! I've read all kinds of Bilstein HD feedback across different vehicle types and wonder if then p/n's are the same for some trucks and Tahoe or Suburbans. With all the glass weight one would think it would ride softer but...........?

 

Bump for you, I can't rember...

 

I'd expect them to have different ones for pick-ups vs Suvs, considering the extra weight they carry.
If they are different, they're valved for the extra weight. If not it would make the ride softer.

 

The suburbans and tahoes have the same shocks. The pickups have different shocks than the suvs, both front and rear.

 

OH Boy!

I had all kinds of regret paranoia going on until taking the maiden voyage with the new HD's.
If this is break-in I hope it only gets better but I'll take it as is if it stays like this.

Amazing stability in comparison to the Tenneco's. I cannot believe how different it feels, even on a relatively smooth road. There are no negatives in comparison the the OE's. None.
Nose dive and lean are noticeably reduced. Some old road work patch jobs I avoid make me wonder if I missed them. I have been purposely hitting them for three days now.
I will sum up by saying more stability, smoother on the light to mild road irregularities, better handling via responsiveness to turning and breaking.
It feels like another truck, a better one.

The install.
Fit was perfect on all four corners. No anomalies.
The supplied front upper rubber bushings were of a different configuration than the OE. The OE has a steel spacer between the upper and lower rubbers you tighten until bottoming. The rubber shown signs of wear and a little breaking up in the centers where they flex.
The Bilstein rubber has no spacer and I tightened them until the nut got tight. It may have been when the threads ran out. The rubber compressed is half the uncompressed height and is a little larger in diameter than the steel washers.
All the bolt and nuts took a 21mm wrench.

The Tennecos.

The drivers side would not extend as fast as the passenger side. It takes three times longer for it to extend after I fully compressed them.
The rears were the same and all the Tennecos were a tad easier to compress than the Bilsteins.
The eyelets are far better built on the Bilsteins.
The OD's and weights were identical using my package shipping scales.

I'm a very happy camper. I was afraid I would put them on and they be too harsh or no difference be felt. Not so.