Bilstein 4600s on a K30

[84K30]

It looks as though these shocks are recommended for K20s on various sites...summit, rockauto etc. but not for K30s. Is anyone running these on 1 ton 4x4? I put a set on my 96 F350 and it really smoothed out the ride. Truck is stock height.

Thanks, Eric

 

[Blue Ox]

The rears on a K30 are longer and mount inside the frame. Not sure if you could get by with the fronts, but the heavier springs on a 30 would probably require different valving than a 20.

 

[Craig 85]

I think the K30 vs K20 is about a 2" difference if I recall the research for my K30 a few years ago.

 

[84K30]

Thanks for the replies. I’m also considering Rancho 5000 series shocks and AC delco stock replacements. Any experience with either of these? The current shocks and steering stabilizer have an unknown number of miles on them so I’d like to replace them.

 

[F-64]

You may have to go with the Bilstein 5125 series for the rear.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...ear/1985/make/chevrolet/model/k30?prefilter=1


5100 series for the front

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...ear/1985/make/chevrolet/model/k30?prefilter=1

You should measure your current eye to eye on your shocks before you buy.

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[Frankenchevy]

Thanks for the replies. I’m also considering Rancho 5000 series shocks and AC delco stock replacements. Any experience with either of these? The current shocks and steering stabilizer have an unknown number of miles on them so I’d like to replace them.

I wouldn’t get any modern Rancho stuff.

 

[84K30]

Thanks for your suggestions. Once I discovered that I would be “mixing” gas charged with traditional if I were to go with Rancho, I removed them as an option (I am a bit OCD like that). I'm now leaning heavily towards the Ac Delco professional series shocks. They are gas charged and should definitely fit. Approximately $160 for all 4 on RockAuto.

Update: Found some KYB monomax shocks for about 45 each. Gas charged and monotube. Has anyone ran these? If so, how did you like them? I would definitely look into painting them black, I'm thinking the red would look kind of strange with my blue paint.

 

[77 K20]

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I ran them for awhile on my K20 until I put the lift on. I thought they were a good shock. Having run Bilsteins on my previous K10 I thought they were very similar to them, but at a much lower cost. My dad ran KYB Gas-a-just shocks on his K15 for probably 20 years and they were a good shock.

 

[Blue84]

I am running BDS Fox 2.0 Performance shocks all around on my 1984 K30 and just added the dual steering stabilizer to the front axle.

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[Blue84]

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Here is a pic from about a week ago after I installed the stabilizer and new mud flaps.

 

[RoryH19]

I have Skyjacker black max with quads on the front for my K5. Also use their steering stabilizer.
I like them but they only have 300 miles so can't give a thorough review.

 

[QBuff02]

You should measure your current eye to eye on your shocks before you buy.

I just went through this last weekend, pulled the shocks off because I was going to repaint them as they were kind of grungy looking, well needless to say 3 of the 4 are pretty much shot, and while I was underneath staring at it I realized that maybe the shocks just weren't quite the right length. So I did some measuring and I came up with the shocks on it were absolutely the wrong length for my application. I bought this truck with an unknown amount of lift on it and it appears the previous owner must have just ordered shocks that "looked good" and threw them on it. They were all Rancho shocks, and I don't remember the exact number for them but they were only going to allow something like an 1 1/2"-2" of extended travel. My eye to eye with the truck on the ground in the rear is 25" and the shocks on it were roughly 27" all the way extended. My truck only has about a 3" lift. Front (eye to eye was 17 1/2") was basically the same way, shocks were just a little too long. I went to summit and looked up shocks for my application and referenced the collapsed and extended lengths and compared it to my eye to eye measurements and found shocks that were right in the sweet spot to order. So now when I install the new shocks I should have 4-5" of shock travel each way up and down on front and rear shocks both.

 

[84K30]

Blue84, that is a clean ride.