ShockWareHouse.com : Blog

QUESTION:

I HAVE A 2004 FORD F150 SUPERCREW(

) WITH AN ANNOYING “BUMP” OR RATTLE  IN THE FRONT END WHEN TRAVELING OVER ROUGH ROADS. I HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED AND THE SHOP SAID EVERYTHING WAS TIGHT. COULD THIS BE THE STRUTS OR STRUT MOUNTS? The truck has 140k miles.

ANSWER:

It’s always best to go with what the mechanic says, only because we cannot see the vehicle or have access to it.There are a lot of parts on a suspension, it could be almost anything. Struts themselves would not make a noise. They are just a hydraulic cylinder. Mounts typically squek and click when one goes bad.Both of these, especially the mount, are easy for a mechanic to check. But it sounds like they did that already. Normaly if a strut / shock is bad, you will get really bad tire wear, so if the tire wear is good, it’s probably something else. But that’s just a guess, all we can do via internet. 

QUESTION:

I need 4 shocks for a 2003 alpinlite 5th wheel trailer,14,000GVW, 33ft long.2 Dexter axles.would like to have b ilstine or Monroe shocks. can you help me with the right cat #? I want to be sure that they are HEAVY DUTY

ANSWER: 

The only company we have offering products for Trailers is Monroe. Those products are mentioned here - http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/mon_retrokit.cfm

QUESTION:

I have a 2003 sprinter 3500 van with dually in the rear 6 lug rims, will the bilstein touring package that u sell fit on my van, if not let me know what to order.

ANSWER:  

Bilstein says their parts will only work on 6-lug wheel Sprinters - http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3950&selected_year=2003

QUESTION:

Hi, I just have a question regarding your Bilstein front shocks for my 2005 Toyota 4Runner SR5, V6 2WD. Front shock’s part # BE5-C513-HO. Will this work if I put a raised (lifted) coil springs (2″-2.5″) or perhaps use a regular coil spring height and just put

a spacers to level the front to the rear?  Please advise.

ANSWER:

You must check with the coil-spring or spring spacer company you want to use and make sure their product is compatible with a stock height / stock length unit, because that is what the Bilsteins will be.

If their product requires modification, or a special (non-stock length) unit in front, they will have to tell you what to use. Their engineers would have designed the product to be used specifically one way or the other.

Online catalog -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=4468&selected_year=2005

QUESTION:

Camry is a U.S. spec car it was just built in Japan instead of

the U.S. They could have been manufactured in either country.

I have no reason to believe that the suspension is any different as far as

fitting the car, other than maybe the vendors used by the factory are

probably different.

Looking in other places I have noticed that some U.S. built cars came with

Delco units and the Japanese cars came with Tokico’s I think

I know that there is a difference between the SE model and the LE model but

it’s because the SE is a bit stiffer I think..

ANSWER:

The 2002 Camrys are listed in our online catalog -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=4471&selected_year=2002

The shock companies do not print valving specs, and Toyota probably doesn’t either.

So there is no way to know how ’stiff’ a unit is valved, regardless of brand or manufacturer.

They are all a twin tube low pressure design, that makes them all essentially the same thing.

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/glossary.cfm

QUESTION:

Avalanche has a 2″ READY LIFT torsion key set installed up fron to level/raise front end…33″ tires on stock 17’s. what is the best shock fit/ride/durability?

ANSWER:

If the ready lift company says to use a stock length unit, then any monotube brand we have should do.

Such as Bilstein, KYB Monomax or KYB Gasajust.

If the kit requires a special shock, we may or may not have a unit, depending on the modifications you made.

Only the level / lift kit manufacturer can tell what size shock to use that’s compatible with their product.

Online catalog -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=make&type=T

QUESTION:
motorhome is bad with any wind conditions. Had motorhome for 3+ years. Springs squeak but seem OK. Has safe-t-steer installed.

Will replacing springs/shocks help?

ANSWER:

If the motothome chassis has twin tube low pressure units on it now, replacing those with a monotube design (such as a Bilstein) will give you better handling and control.

Monotubes -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/glossary.cfm

Online catalog -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=make&type=M

QUESTION:

Almost always carrying 1000 lbs water tank. sometimes rock loads double that. best shocks fr. and rear not more than $300 total ?. does not go on highway so comfort is low priority.

ANSWER:

You want to use the Bilstein HDs. They are very durable, and can take some punishment.

Note that shocks don’t support weight, the springs do that.

But if you need more support in the rear, the Airlift kit supports around 5,000 lbs.

That product will help if you get squating, or a lot of side to side rocking, even at slow speeds.

A second choice would be the KYB Monomax, or the KYB Gasajust.

These are all listed in our online catalog -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=4007&selected_year=2002

QUESTION:

I drive pretty much on pavement and good dirt roads, the 4wd is primarily for snow here in Wyoming not for serious offroading. What Monroe shocks do I need?

ANSWER:

The most rugged Monroe shocks for trucks is their GasMagnum line.

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/mon_magnum.cfm

Online catalog -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=make&type=T

QUESTION:

The truck has been lifted 4 inches by a local shop before i purchased it. it has a full rancho lift kit and shocks. i am looking for something that is both soft in small bumps and stiffer in the larger bumps.

i am looking for bilstein shocks, unless you can suggest better options. i used them on my other truck with no lift and they definitely were superior to any other shocks i used.

thank you for your time.

ANSWER:

Bilstein only offers a front shock for a 4-inch lift.

BE56138 -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm/id/364112

If the lift kit part number on your truck is RS6488, Rancho makes units front and rear.

We list all these in our online catalog -

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3997&selected_year=2002