ShockWareHouse.com : Blog

QUESTION:

I have a 2007 Chevy Silverado Crewcab with the 20″ wheels and high performance suspension. Are these the correct shocks for the truck?ANSWER:

You want to click on the Bilstein part numbers in the online catalog, there you will see pictures of the shocks. There are many different GM truck possibilities, so they best way is just to check the pictures. We don’t have access to your truck, so there is no way for us to be sure what you model truck you have. (The wheel size will not effect what shock to use.)

QUESTION:

In searching for the appropriate rear shock absorbers for my 1996 Toyota Tacoma 4WD Pickup, 2.7 L Fuel injected Engine I noted that your information only lists that model “with TRD.” I’ve never seen that designation before. Could you please tell me what “TRD” stands for before I order? Thanks

ANSWERS:

TRD - Toyota Racing Development. If your truck has a big ole TRD Offroad Package sticker on the bed side, you have TRD.TRD Toyota trucks come stock with Bilstein units. If you don’t have TRD, that’s ok, because the Bilsteins (and other brands ) will still fit the non TRD trucks. Online catalog - http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=make&type=T 

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