Bilstein ,Kyb monotube ,Belltech ....daily driving opinions

[Swearbody]

Unless you get into shocks with single or double adjustable damping, I'm not sure you'll notice a huge difference between new KYB and Bilstein. Best shocks I ever had were Tokico on an Infiniti sedan and QA1 Stocker Star on a 55 Chevy car, both with adjustable rebound damping.

Last time I looked, Tokico did not make a shock for our trucks, but I just found these from QA1.

https://www.qa1.net/news/qa1-releases-stocker-star-shocks-for-2wd-trucks

Not inexpensive, but I highly recommend them, even if you get the model with only adjustable rebound damping. As I recall, mine had 12 settings for rebound damping, and I could really tell the difference with just 2-3 clicks. And they can be rebuilt.

I don't think a soft ride and improved handling go hand in hand. Even new performance sedans and coupes tend to ride rougher, which is a trade-off for better steering response and flatter cornering. In the past few years, BMW went for a smoother ride on some of their sedans, but at the expense of handing, for which they were widely criticized.

I have a set of tokico blues still left over from years of building turbo ricers. Damn good struts in my opinion.

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Ive had suspension setups that cost as much as the cars they were on. It was usually my first mod to any car I had. Suspension and brakes...then mo powa.
This build is nothing with any significant power...no reason to think ill need more than OE handling and its 2wd longbed so "softer" is just about right i feel.



So thoughts on a hybrid setup so to speak maybe? Adjustable qa-1 up front and kyb mono's in the rear. Or would I just end up pissed I cant adjust the rear as well,LOL


The truck is tight. Steering is tight, no pull or play, springs feel soft but hey they're 37yo and my last truck had HD springs so maybe they are fine. So a set of the KYB monomax for $200 is sounding really good at the moment.
I can always do some adjustable if I ever decide to do 2/4 drop(which is a 70/30 split on staying stock height)

 

[MikeB]

If I could choose just one end of a pickup for adjustable shocks, it would be the rear. That would let me fine tune for a compromise between an empty bed and, in my case, typically no more than a 200-300 lb load.

 

[Swearbody]

If I could choose just one end of a pickup for adjustable shocks, it would be the rear. That would let me fine tune for a compromise between an empty bed and, in my case, typically no more than a 200-300 lb load.

See im just the opposite. I want to have control over the front since it is where you "feel" the suspension working and where the telemetry is more variable....though on these trucks you feel it all<LOL. But I see your point on rear adjustment. There are so many options to do a really good adjustable setup I fell like I should go as low budget as possible unless I plan to go all the way. Luckily it rides OK now so I dont have to rush my decision....AT least until I do the 4.10's and trutrac, then ill have to do at least shocks and some form of rear traction assistance.

In a perfect world id have the funds to do a full coilover /4 link setup but I dont 6k right now for suspension.

 

[Frm Frank]

I installed the KYB’s on my 77 K10 and I’m totally happy with them

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[Craig Nedrow]

beautiful truck Frank!!

 

[Frankenchevy]

beautiful truck Frank!!

I agree. I forgot what he said, but the truck looks great!

 

[Snoots]

I've had the KYBs' on my Jimmy for about a year and hauling air or a load of gravel or bricks they do very well.