off-roader
Expedition Leader
Will be interested to learn your long term opinions...
Best place to buy shocks?
- Thread starter vgreen
- Start date
YOURDOCTORONLY
Observer
Hola from Puerto Rico my friend!!! Man, just go with the best!!! RANCHO SUSPENSION!!! 5000 SERIES, SR 5223 in front and 5213 on the back, nitrogen, the best thing on earth, I already installed them the past weekend and believe me, the best...Price??? $59 each... I have a Dakar Edition 2000 with 32x11.5 and lifted 
off-roader
Expedition Leader
Rancho 5000's? GLWT!
shov3lbum
Adventurer
I once tried KYB's when I first got my rig, they sucked, way to stiff for my light truck. In fact I don't ever recall them compressing! Once I took them off they shot straight out and I couldn't even budge them with all my weight on them, horrible shock IMO. Then I tried Gabriels (Autozone special) those were even worse, barely compressed, WAY too much gas pressure or something. The last set before my current ones were Monroe shocks, yea yea, they're bad quality, but they were charged perfectly, allowed for good control, and didn't force my suspension to stay stiff all the time. The only problem was that they would start leaking every few months, and I'd have to warranty them out (free of course, but a PITA to change)
The set I'm on right now are the tokico trekmasters, love them, they are twin tube, low pressure gas design, excellent compression control, and my suspension actually cycles unlike the KYB's and Gabriels which didn't allow any movement.
Say what you will, I love my twin-tube low pressure gas. Never had good experience with mono-tube high pressure gas, never.
The set I'm on right now are the tokico trekmasters, love them, they are twin tube, low pressure gas design, excellent compression control, and my suspension actually cycles unlike the KYB's and Gabriels which didn't allow any movement.
Say what you will, I love my twin-tube low pressure gas. Never had good experience with mono-tube high pressure gas, never.
HenryJ
Expedition Leader
The patented internal design. No springs to weaken over time.
off-roader
Expedition Leader
Not sure that the first is necessarily an advantage. Just 'cause it's patented doesn't necessarily make it better you know what I mean?
I'm don't have any engineering knowledge to confirm nor deny one way or the other but the spring is potentially one for sure.
I'm don't have any engineering knowledge to confirm nor deny one way or the other but the spring is potentially one for sure.
shov3lbum
Adventurer
Right patented just means it's their design and no one else can use it, means absolutely nothing, I can patent a shock design too, except I doubt anyone would buy it. :elkgrin:
And I don't recall there being a reason for a spring inside of a shock?? That makes no sense, the point of a shock is to slow down/stop the cycles of the suspension on the vehicle not support the vehicle..maybe I missed something here?
And I don't recall there being a reason for a spring inside of a shock?? That makes no sense, the point of a shock is to slow down/stop the cycles of the suspension on the vehicle not support the vehicle..maybe I missed something here?
HenryJ
Expedition Leader
Valving. Bilstein valving
Another shock internals:
(note the spring)
Do a little research on the different designs internally. I did and learned quite a bit.
Here is a quick video that I found: BILSTEIN Shock Shop
The patent does give them the advantage as no one else can use the patented design.
Choose what works for you.
shov3lbum
Adventurer
Huh, thanks for that, I was thinking like a massive full length spring, not some little spring that controls the valving...regardless though, I still learned something! I've done my fair amount of research on shocks too, just was thinking along different lines
And once again, yes they have the advantage because clearly the patent is theirs, but a more proper statement would be their design is better because of the valving and the ability of the shock to adapt to different conditions. Other than that, yes the patent advantage goes to the one who filed the patent, yes.
And once again, yes they have the advantage because clearly the patent is theirs, but a more proper statement would be their design is better because of the valving and the ability of the shock to adapt to different conditions. Other than that, yes the patent advantage goes to the one who filed the patent, yes.
off-roader
Expedition Leader
I'd like to see what a comparison from an independent source has to say...
And i mean looking at comparable shocks with their street price because if the either one is 2x more expensive (for example), they'd better be 2x more superior IMHO.
With well over a decade owning numerous Montero's, and having ridden in each others rigs, I have yet to find someone who could illustrate a sufficient reason for me to pay so much more... (Just checked and I'm seeing a 2x price difference)...
And i mean looking at comparable shocks with their street price because if the either one is 2x more expensive (for example), they'd better be 2x more superior IMHO.
With well over a decade owning numerous Montero's, and having ridden in each others rigs, I have yet to find someone who could illustrate a sufficient reason for me to pay so much more... (Just checked and I'm seeing a 2x price difference)...
shov3lbum
Adventurer
Agreed, that's why I didn't mind the Monroe's, about $24/ea from Napa, and they kept warranting them out with no issue. I liked how they were valved, looked ugly, but who cares, they worked for me. Just a major PITA changing out the front shocks between the double wishbone suspension. So I chose a brand that would last and provide lighter valving because let's face it, the Montero Sport is just a lighter vehicle, not to mention I have my front torsion bars cranked and re-curved and added leafs in the rear = harder to compress.
off-roader
Expedition Leader
Valving. Bilstein valving
Another shock internals:
(note the spring)
Do a little research on the different designs internally. I did and learned quite a bit.
Here is a quick video that I found: BILSTEIN Shock Shop
The patent does give them the advantage as no one else can use the patented design.
Choose what works for you.
Nice... Although, this looks like it comes from Bilstein. I'd like to hear what a knowledgable independent source has to say?
Dont get me wrong but coming from the sales/marketing end I realize its pretty. easy to put together a seemingly informative and authoritative video like this for the uninformed consumer. They'd simply agree and believe everything being said. For all we know other shock top tier makers employ the same features he mentions.
You know what I mean? Not saying the video is a lie. Just noting I can't confirm one way or the other because of the source.
HenryJ
Expedition Leader
Agreed!
I am just one believer. I have no affiliation with Bilstein. My fleet logs 200k miles annually. 90% of that is offroad and treated like rental vehicles. That is the base for my experimentation
off-roader
Expedition Leader
Well if its any indication, the stock 3-way adjustables are KYB's. Mine have over 275k miles on them and they still work fine! :smiley_drivefuriously knocking on wood)...
furiously knocking on wood)...