ShockWareHouse.com : Blog

Make: Chevrolet
Model: Venture
Year: 2002
Vehicle Setup:Front Wheel Drive
Suspension Type: Struts

Question:

I want to replace the springs and struts on my 2002 Chevy Venture minivan, is there anything available for a DIY guy to do in my garage doesn’t require a dangerous spring compressor?

Answer:

Monroe makes a Quickstrut specifically for people in your situation who need to replace their front struts and springs but don’t want to pay a mechanic to do it or risk using a spring compressor.  The Monroe Quickstrut for a 2002 Chevy Venture (also fits Pontiac Transport and Montana and Oldsmobile Silhouette) comes pre-assembled with a strut, spring and mounts and is ready to be installed with basic hand tools.

Chevy Venture Van Monroe Quickstrut #271670

Tags: oldsmobile silhouette quickstrut, pontiac montana quickstrut, pontiac transport quickstrut

Make: GMC
Model: Envoy xl 4wd 6 cyl
Year: 2003
Vehicle Setup: Four Wheel Drive
Suspension Type: Rear Self Leveling

Question:

looking to convert factory GMC Envoy XL air ride load leveling to coil springs. What do I need to do this?

Answer:

To convert your air suspension Envoy XL to Coil spring, you’ll need to use part # 02GEBERT-R, which includes two coil springs designed to fit directly onto your truck along with instructions for disabling the factory air system.  With this kit, you can use your current shocks, or any of the shocks listed on our page for your truck.  You will want to continue using shocks designed for a factory air suspension truck, since your mounting points will not be altered by the conversion kit.

You can see the coil spring conversion kit for a 2003 GMC Envoy XL here:
2003 GMC Envoy coil spring conversion kit.

And all of the parts we carry for that truck here:
2003 GMC Envoy Shocks and Suspension Components

Tags: coil spring conversion kit, envoy coil spring conversion, trailblazer coil kit, trailblazer coil spring conversion

—— Vehicle Information ——-
Make: Toyota
Model: Avalon
Year: 2002
What is your driving style: Normal Driver
Vehicle Setup: Front Wheel Drive
Suspension Type: Regular Shocks or Struts

Question:

The struts on my 2002 Toyota Avalon are worn out and now the car doesn’t handle like it did from the factory, what parts do you recommend for restoring the factory handling and ride?

Answer:

The best struts we have for your car are KYB GR2s, they are designed to be a direct factory replacement for your factory struts and are valved a little bit stiffer than the factory units to give you more control and reduce the car’s tendency to wallow over uneven roads. You can see those here:

2002 Toyota Avalon Front Right Strut
2002 Toyota Avalon Front Left Strut

2002 Toyota Avalon Rear Right Strut
2002 Toyota Avalon Rear Left Strut

You can see all of the parts we have available for the 2002 Toyota Avalon here.

Make: Toyota
Model: Tundra
Year: 2003
Chassis Designation: Rear Wheel Drive

Question: I have a 2003 Toyota Tundra Access Cab 2WD V8 and am looking for replacement shocks, what parts are available?

Answer:

We have a few different options for your truck.  If you’re looking for a replacement shock, the Monroe Sensatrac will give you a ride similar to the factory shocks.  If you’re looking to upgrade your shocks, the Bilstein Heavy Duty is a good choice and will give you more control while towing, hauling and offroading, as well as reducing body roll in corners and nosedive under heavy braking.  We also carry leveling shocks from Bilstein (5100 Series) and Edelbrock (IAS Performer Zinc) that will raise the front of your truck to make it even with the rear and eliminate the rake that the truck comes with from the factory.  We also have a leveling kit from Bilstein that includes springs and can be adjusted for height while on the truck (part # BTS-7514)You can see all of those parts here:
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=4507&selected_year=2003

Make: GMC
Model: K2500 HD Sierra
Year: 2001
Chassis Designation: 4WD Crew Cab

What is your driving style: Hard Performance Driver
Vehicle Setup: 4 Wheel Drive
Suspension Type: Regular Shocks or Struts

Question:

My truck is a K2500 HD 4 door crew cab.  I am looking for a good heavy duty shock I was told by a dealer that the 5100 series would be for front and because I tow a trailer (30ft traveler trailer and a utility trailer for work) that the 6100 series would be for the back. Is this what you would recommend.  They say that the truck is stock suspension with a leveler in the front, I would like to raise it up some anywhere from 2″to 4″ and would like your suggestions concerning that as well.

Answer:

The Bilstein 5100 series is the best choice for your truck front and back because it is designed specifically for your truck, rather than being built for generic off-road racing trucks like the 6100 series. The 5100s are a really good choice for towing large trailers and will give you more control and better stability over the truck and trailer than your stock shocks do.   For your truck as it sits now, you will want to use either part # F4-BE5-E710-H0 for the front, which is designed for up to 4 inches of leveling if you’ve used the torsion bars to lift the truck, or part #  F4-BE5-D146-H0, which is designed for up to 2.5 inches of suspension lift if you have a different sort of leveling kit.

Part #  F4-BE5-D147-H0 is the best shock to use for the rear with no lift, but if you plan on lifting the rear of the truck, we have a shock designed for 2 or 4 inches. You can see all of those shocks here:
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=698179&selected_year=2001

Make: Chevy
Model: Silverado 2500HD
Year:  2009

What is your driving style: Hard Performance Driver
Vehicle Setup: 4 Wheel Drive
Suspension Type: Torsion Key Lift

Question:

2500HD 2dr reg cab, 8ft bed. I raised the truck by cranking up the torsion bars.  Will a stock length shock work or do I need to purchase a shock  designed for a lifted truck?  Thanks.

Answer:

With a torsion key lift on a 2009 Chevy 2500, you have extended the distance between the top and bottom shock mounts, so you should use a shock designed for lifted trucks. Bilstein 5100 series offroad shock part number F4-BE5-D146-HO is a very good choice, and will keep you in control no matter how you use your truck, be it towing, hauling, offroading or just highway driving.  You can see that shock here:
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm/id/315309/name/F4-BE5-D146-HO-Bilstein-5100-Offroad-Racing-Unit

Tags: 09 chevy bilstein 5100, 09 chevy torsion key lift, 2009 chevy 2500 torsion bar lift, 2009 duramax torsion key lift

Question:

I have a ‘06 Tahoe 4×4 Z71…trying to pull a 20′  metal car trailer..rear end dips way down..need advice..how to upgrade

Answer :

We have two options for you that will both give your Tahoe extra support, the first and best is the Airlift 1000 airbag kit.  This works in addition to your existing spring and shock and needs to be manually inflated, either with an onboard kit that we sell or an external air compressor (not hard to do, but some people don’t want to reach under the truck every time they tow a large load.

The second option is the Monroe Loadeveler, which is a standard shock with a strong coil spring added to it.  The Loadleveler installs in place of your factory rear shocks and never needs to be adjusted, but will give you harsher ride when the truck is empty.
You can see those here:
Airlift 1000 -
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm/id/288267/name/60769-Air-Lift-1000-Air-Spring-Kit-GM-Trucks-and-Ford-Cars
Monroe Loadleveler -
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm/id/18178/name/58639-Monroe-Loadleveler-Pair-GM-SUVs

Make: Nissan
Model:  Armada
Model Year: 2005
Chassis Designation:

What is your driving style: Normal Driver
Vehicle Setup: 4 Wheel Drive
Suspension Type: Rear Self Leveling

Additional Comments: 2005 Nissan Armada SE Off-Road 8 Cyl 5.6L

While we don’t have any shocks and struts specifically designed for the Armada, several of our customers have had success using the Titan front struts, you can see those here:
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=4336&selected_year=2005
The rear Titan shocks WILL NOT fit on an Armada, and we currently do not have any designed for the 05 Armada with rear air leveling.

Make: Nissan
Model: Frontier
Year: 2000
What is your driving style: Normal Driver
Vehicle Setup: Rear Wheel Drive
Suspension Type: Regular Shocks or Struts

Question:

Which shocks should I buy ? I have a 2000 Nissan Frontier 2-Door extra cab with the vg33 engine, manufactured 10/00.  I tow a utility trailer 1-3 times a month for deliver/pickup-2,000-3,500 lbs

Answer:

Here are the shocks we carry for the Nissan Frontier:

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=4323&selected_year=2000

If you want a shock similar to the original twin tube design, Monroe
Sensatrac or KYB GR2 shocks will be fine.

If you want a performance shock (better handling/ control, especially at highway
speeds) you want to use a monotube design. Such as our Bilstein Heavy Dutys or KYB Gasajust.
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/glossary.cfm

Make: Jeep
Model: Cherokee
Year: 2000
Driving Style: Normal Driver
Vehicle Setup: 4 Wheel Drive
Suspension Type: Regular Shocks or Struts

Question:

I use my 2000 Jeep Cherokee as daily driver mostly, with some “light” off road mixed in on occasion – half dozen trips to beach & mountains each year.  I am trying to decide if KYB GR2 shocks would be fine or if I should step up to entry/OEM level Bilsteins.  Thanks
Answer:

KYB GR2s are a twin tube low pressure design, like the stock Jeep units.

Bilsteins are a monotube Performance unit.

If you want to use a unit that is similar in valving to the original units,the KYB shocks will be fine.  If you want better performance, dampening, handling and control, especially at highway speeds, the Bilstein Heavy Duty shocks would be the way to go.

All of our shocks for a 2000 Jeep Cherokee are found here:

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=4130&selected_year=2000