I'm looking at getting new shocks for my w150. I was looking into getting a set of bilsteins. Has anybody used these and if so what are your thoughts? My truck is just used as a work truck, no lift kit or anything crazy.

Definitely a waste of money. I've used them before. The $25 Monroematics are a lot better. I actually took the bilsteins off my truck because I didn't like them, sold them on eBay. I put Monro matics on the front and rancho 9000 on the rear. I would put rancho 9000 on the front of my truck too, but they don't make them for that application. The nice thing is they are adjustable so you can tune them too the load and to the ride that you like.

In order to get the correct bilstein's you're going to need to know the following data:

1. Weight (Front/Rear)
2. Spring Rate
3. Eye Type
4. Extended Length
5. Collapsed Length



Once you have that, it's pretty easy to find the correct bilstein's...I went with the 33-185552 which is a 5125 series that has the 255/70 Valving and they ride amazing and have great control. My ramcharger is about a 4" lift but I didn't use a "kit" but custom built the suspension.


I'll never buy another brand of shock I have them on 2 vehicles that I run hard thru some nasty sand on the beach and I coulnd't be happier. I also have Bilstein's on the FJ Cruiser

Ok thanks, any experience with Ranchos? I'm stuck between a few brands, I just don't want to buy junk.

only with Rancho's that come installed as OEM on SuperDuty Ford trucks, and they're a bit harsh, but with some weight rode great, but on the beach in the sand and when you get into wheel hop they almost feel harsher.....I will say too that the KYB Mono-Max is INCREDIBLY harsh (I genuinely regret that purchase on my rwd F150 but I purchased them based on $ as they were half the price of 5100's)

The most important thing is to get the correct valving based upon your vehicle weight and spring rate, otherwise it'll either be too soft, or too harsh.

I put Bilsteins on my 2000 2500 4x4 many years back and they had over 100k miles on them before I stopped driving it. I just put a set on the front of my 1998 2500 2wd and I have no complaints , I'll be putting a set on the rear soon as I get the time to clean the Arkansas mud off the underside after i get the spare out to give me access .

I have Rancho 5000 shocks on my '01 Ram 1500 4X4. I agree with Shanker; they're a little bit harsh. That said, I don't have anything to compare them to other than the worn out factory shocks that they replaced.

I just pulled the factory installed shocks out of my 98 2500 2wd , the truck has 172k miles and the front upper shock mount bushings were nowhere to be found , and going my how egged out the bushing hole on the right side was they've been gone for a VERY long time ... It rides a hole lot better now.

I bought a 1996 Dode Ram 1500 Extended cab long bed from a friend who put new Bilstein shock and rear swaybar when it was two years old. 200,000 miles later, still works great and that big truck still holds pretty firm when I'm sliding into corners. Had that brand on my cuda and will put on my 72' Charger when it's done being built. Good product and worth the money.

Do you happen to know the #'s on those shocks?....Thanks

I had them on an f350 and they worked great. I liked them a lot, but the Edelbrocks were the best of all time. I put those on everything I could. Wish I could find a set left on a shelf.

I also tried Bilstein,
then tried Edelbrock IAS and found them superior on a 1995 2wd Ram

The IAS “anti-roll” feature worked so good I took the front anti-roll bar off,
and found that one front wheel could hit a pothole or pavement fault and not jolt the opposite front wheel.