Shock Recommendation 2003 Dodge 2500
#2550346
09/15/18 04:41 PM
09/15/18 04:41 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 527 SW CO
HemiSportFury
OP
mopar
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OP
mopar
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 527
SW CO
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At 195,000 miles on my original shocks I think it might be time to replace them. My truck is a 2003 2500 CTD with stock suspension and tires. I do pull a camper and enclosed car trailer and on my last trip with the camper did notice the truck seems to bounce more than it used to. I've looked at Bilstein B8 5100. They have good reviews but would like to hear from you. What are you recommendations and experience?
Thanks for any input.
'64 Sport Fury, 528 Hemi, FiTech EFI, 4-speed, 4.10 Dana 60 '57 Belvedere 2dr sedan, current project in process '19 Cherokee Trail Hawk Elite '03 Ram 2500 CTD HO, 6-speed 214,000 miles and still going strong
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Re: Shock Recommendation 2003 Dodge 2500
[Re: HemiSportFury]
#2550387
09/15/18 06:42 PM
09/15/18 06:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,177 Someplace you aren't
SomeCarGuy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,177
Someplace you aren't
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Bilstein is the choice here. I had edelbrock shocks on two diesels. Worked well but fronts died on one truck in 50k. They don’t make them anymore anyway.
Put Bilsteins on and love them so far in about 10k. Heavy towing and loads in the bed at times.
I got them on amazon for the cheapest deal.
I want my fair share
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Re: Shock Recommendation 2003 Dodge 2500
[Re: J_BODY]
#2552502
09/20/18 08:56 PM
09/20/18 08:56 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 527 SW CO
HemiSportFury
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mopar
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OP
mopar
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SW CO
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I put the Bilstein 5100s on yesterday. Have only driver unloaded but they have made a huge improvement in the ride. Taken out all the harshness and the secondary bounce. Seems to be better than when the truck was new, but that was a long time ago so hard to remember.
Was not too bad of a job to replace them, even for this old man. Rears were straight forward. Was able to leave the straps on the shocks to keep them compressed until both upper and lower bolts were installed. This was not possible with the fronts. The new shocks are for a lift of up to 2" so they were about an inch overall longer than the original shocks. I removed the front fender well liner and that made the access pretty easy. I had to rig a piece of wood to help get the leverage needed to compress the shock enough to get the shock tower nuts started, but once I figured that out it was pretty easy/quick to do.
I will be taking my camper on a trip next week so I'll get to see how they do loaded, but based on the improvement in the ride empty I'm pretty optimistic. I guess the old shocks were worn out.
'64 Sport Fury, 528 Hemi, FiTech EFI, 4-speed, 4.10 Dana 60 '57 Belvedere 2dr sedan, current project in process '19 Cherokee Trail Hawk Elite '03 Ram 2500 CTD HO, 6-speed 214,000 miles and still going strong
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Re: Shock Recommendation 2003 Dodge 2500
[Re: HemiSportFury]
#2553528
09/23/18 09:44 AM
09/23/18 09:44 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,486 STL
cdstl
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Sep 2011
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STL
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I have them on my 01 2500 CTD with a 2" level. Good shock, I guess, the truck rides stiff but that is to be expected when it is unloaded. The new tires are looking good after 15k miles. I bought shocks for each axle separately, a year apart, from Geno's. I did this since they were about $80 each and I was trying to spread out the cost. When I did my son's 01 gasser I found a better deal buying all 4 on eBay and that's what I did. 2003 Bilsteins
1972 Cuda 340 4 speed, 2001 Ram CTD 4x4 6 speed, 1970 Duster 408 4 speed, 1996 Ram 5.9 2x4 auto, 1965 Coronet 500
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Re: Shock Recommendation 2003 Dodge 2500
[Re: HemiSportFury]
#2554503
09/25/18 03:04 PM
09/25/18 03:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 527 SW CO
HemiSportFury
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mopar
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OP
mopar
Joined: Feb 2005
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SW CO
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I've now pulled a trailer with the new shocks and it has made as much of an improvement towing as it did when not towing. Huge improvement. Definitely worth the money. The best deal I found was on Amazon Prime with the free shipping factored in. I buy a lot from Geno's but the savings in lower cost and free shipping was too much to pass up.
'64 Sport Fury, 528 Hemi, FiTech EFI, 4-speed, 4.10 Dana 60 '57 Belvedere 2dr sedan, current project in process '19 Cherokee Trail Hawk Elite '03 Ram 2500 CTD HO, 6-speed 214,000 miles and still going strong
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Re: Shock Recommendation 2003 Dodge 2500
[Re: HemiSportFury]
#2554873
09/26/18 01:38 AM
09/26/18 01:38 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,177 Someplace you aren't
SomeCarGuy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,177
Someplace you aren't
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I’m thinking these should be an option when you buy a truck new. They finally figured out the Brembo deal, maybe they will get around to Bilsteins.
I want my fair share
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