Would different shocks make a difference?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

bigcountry78

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Posts
3,600
Reaction score
8,589
Location
Hickory, North Carolina
First Name
James
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10 Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
350
As most of you know, my truck has slowly been returned to stock While I’ve worked on it. It rides and drives much better. Now I’m wondering if new shocks will help. My current ones are Rancho 5000’s. They are about 20 years old, but only have about 20k miles on them. I see where rock auto is having a close out sale on Gabriel brand oem replacements, and I can get a set of 4 for about $54, before shipping. I know the Ranchos are geared more towards off road, so would I see any improvement by going with the Gabriel’s? Or would it be a waste of time?
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,008
Reaction score
8,972
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
I'd say they would if they were lift shocks on there now and now you're back to OEM lift. Them things may be close to bottoming out now and will certainly ride stiffer.
 

bigcountry78

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Posts
3,600
Reaction score
8,589
Location
Hickory, North Carolina
First Name
James
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10 Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
350
I don’t THINK they are lift shocks, but I could be wrong. The truck didn’t have a huge lift, mostly cut fenders. But I’m thinking more like after 20 years, the bushings are rotten and the seals probably aren’t much better. Plus ranchos are geared more towards off road, thinking maybe they have a harsher valving.
 
Last edited:

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,008
Reaction score
8,972
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Yep, after 20 years... As you said, for $54 close out for a fresh set of shocks, you're not going to get hurt. I think they'll have a $9.99 flat rate shipping. That's what they charged me for the set I just bought and I applied our 5% discount from the Rock Auto Vendor Page so my grand total was $68 and they were on my doorstep 2 days later.
 

bigcountry78

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Posts
3,600
Reaction score
8,589
Location
Hickory, North Carolina
First Name
James
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10 Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
350
I went ahead and pulled the trigger. $65 after shipping for a set, Seems like a win win. I know they aren’t the best on the market, but they’re sure to be better than my current setup.
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,008
Reaction score
8,972
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
They may not be the best, but for the price I think they'll work just fine and serve their purpose.
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
I don't really agree but that's ok...
IMO shocks are just starting to get decent at $100 each.

It's one of those things.. that if you never experienced it you just wouldn't know the difference.
And some people (ME) really seem to get spoiled easy.

Anyways James, I appreciate all the work you've done on your rig, and I hope you're satisfied with the setup.
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,075
Reaction score
3,044
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
I did run some KYB monomax shocks for about 2 years and thought that they were very similiar in ride characteristics to the Bilsteins I had on my other truck. The KYB shocks can be found for about $50

I've yet to run some Fox shocks or Kings though.
 

Frankenchevy

Proverbs 16:18
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Posts
5,904
Reaction score
7,249
Location
USA
First Name
Jeremy
Truck Year
Square
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
Small
Old ranchos weren’t bad. Modern ranchos are junk, though. Just about any shocks are likely better. They came factory on my 2019 z71 and rode terribly. Have adjustable Eibach springs and shocks all around and it’s 100% better.
 

bigcountry78

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Posts
3,600
Reaction score
8,589
Location
Hickory, North Carolina
First Name
James
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10 Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
350
I don't really agree but that's ok...
IMO shocks are just starting to get decent at $100 each.

It's one of those things.. that if you never experienced it you just wouldn't know the difference.
And some people (ME) really seem to get spoiled easy.

Anyways James, I appreciate all the work you've done on your rig, and I hope you're satisfied with the setup.
And that’s ok, I did ask for opinions lol. I love my truck, but It’s hard to justify $500 worth of shocks on anything that isn’t my DD. But, I figured just about any new shock would be an improvement over old ones.
 

bigcountry78

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Posts
3,600
Reaction score
8,589
Location
Hickory, North Carolina
First Name
James
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10 Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
350
One other thing I should mention, I had the rear shocks off a while back for whatever reason, and they didn’t have any rebound. If you pushed it all the way in, it stayed in. I was always under the impression that they should push back out if they were still working. But, maybe that is a Rancho thing. They had resistance, but no rebound, if that makes sense.
 

waterpirate

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2019
Posts
823
Reaction score
1,840
Location
delaware
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
v10
Engine Size
5.7 tbi
I am pretty sure I put the Gabriels on my sled last year. They replaced the set of red riders from 20 years ago. lol It was a improvement! I got mine at napa.
Eric
 

Fortarel

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2019
Posts
8
Reaction score
4
Location
Colorado
First Name
Michael
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K3500 3+3
Engine Size
454
I'll throw in a couple cents: just recently changed out old worn out shocks and went with the Bilstien's. Massive difference. I guess it's possible that I could have gotten that same improvement with a cheaper shock, but I had talked to a lot of folks who tried other brands and they all swore by the Bilstiens. Not cheap I guess, but given the moderate miles I put on the truck, they'll last me for quite some time. Non-lift truck; haul about a one ton load once a week thru some 50mph tight canyon driving so I really needed stability.
 

elcamman50

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2016
Posts
18
Reaction score
22
Location
lakeside, california
First Name
charles
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
350
Six months ago, I took off the Hi Jacker Air Shocks I put on my Big 10 back in the mid 80s. Put on some Gabriels and it was like night and day. I could push the Hi Jackers up and down with one hand...lol. Am rebuilding my front end as soon as the cool weather starts here. Will put in new shocks too!
 

Raybo135

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2019
Posts
294
Reaction score
310
Location
Arvada, Colorado
First Name
Raymond
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
K10 Silverado
Engine Size
400
I'll throw in a couple cents: just recently changed out old worn out shocks and went with the Bilstien's. Massive difference. I guess it's possible that I could have gotten that same improvement with a cheaper shock, but I had talked to a lot of folks who tried other brands and they all swore by the Bilstiens. Not cheap I guess, but given the moderate miles I put on the truck, they'll last me for quite some time. Non-lift truck; haul about a one ton load once a week thru some 50mph tight canyon driving so I really needed stability.
I am curious, I have a 76 K10 and I put new Monroes on it last year. I getting up there in years and like the smoother rides. I didn't really notice much difference in the ride from the old ancient shocks and the new Monroes. My question is, if I get new leaf springs with just 1 less spring in the front AND the rear, will my ride be easier on the kidneys? I current have 3 in the front and 6 in the rear. I just use it to drive on weekends and don't haul anything in it.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,847
Posts
903,394
Members
33,362
Latest member
Dhatch84
Top