Bilstein was a softer ride, if I wrote the opposite I mixed them up. RS5000 is pretty firm.

Bilstein seems to be the favorite of most, but they are about the most expensive shock out there. Monroe's aren't bad...

 

Hammer, I asked this in another thread, but I think it was buried amidst a bunch of other stuff, and kind of off the OP topic, anyway:

I have an '05 4x4. I have seen on here that some people have Bilstein 5100's all the way around on their '05's. I know about the difference in front suspension between pre and post '06. I saw your thread with the part numbers, but when I talked to 4WheelParts, I explained that I wanted to raise my torsion bars by approximately 2", and that I know of other '05's that have 5100's installed, somehow. They said that Bilstein does not make an application for my truck, and wouldn't really go beyond that.

So, what are the pre-'06 guys installing on their trucks?

 

There are 2 types of 5100s. The standard and the ride height adjustables. The latter are not applicable to particular models. I am not sure.

But here are the links from the Bilstein site for 2005 and 2006, respectively.

http://cart.bilsteinus.com/search/mm.../drivetype=4WD


http://cart.bilsteinus.com/search/mm.../drivetype=4WD

 

Monroe offers (or did) a 90 day ride guarantee. This is how I swapped my Rear Sensatrac shocks for Reflex at no charge. The guy at Monroe recommended running a set (all 4) vs one type up front and another out back.

Basically Reflex are firm valving but loosen on big bumps. Sensatrac are soft valving but stiffen up. So they work quite different from each other.

 

I put Monroe Reflex on mine. The step-out on bumpy turns went away.

 

Had the same issue (really bad hop) with my 07 1500 QC! Put the Bilstein HD's on and have not had the issue since! Much better ride all around!

 

Thanks for that link. So, the 2005 1500 guys are using the 2500 Bilsteins? Looks like these would be what I would need, then, from that selection?:

Part Number: 24-185776
Setting: 5100 Series
Drive Type: 4WD
Position: Front
Descriptor: Front Lifted Height: 0-2.5"
*Collapsed Length (IN): 14.88
*Extended Length (IN): 24.37
*Collapsed Length (MM): 378.0
*Extended Length (MM): 619.0
Old Part Number: F4-BE5-6681-H8

Part Number: 24-191203
Setting: 5100 Series
Drive Type: 4WD
Position: Rear
Descriptor: Rear Lifted Height: 0-1"
*Collapsed Length (IN): 16.95
*Extended Length (IN): 27.36
*Collapsed Length (MM): 430.5
*Extended Length (MM): 695.0
Old Part Number: F4-BE5-6647-H1

I need to bounce these off of Hammer's part number thread and see if they match up.

*EDIT*: None of the part numbers (new or old) on that Bilstein page correspond with what Hammer provided (BE5-6243-H5).

 

So which ones did you like better? How did the ride differ?

 

How are Bilstein HD's different from the 5100's?

 

I had the sensatrac shocks on for 30-40 miles tops. We have 3 foot wide speed humps (3) on a road by me. Stock the truck used to come down, bounce up and repeat slightly once. The Sensatrac was slower, but would mimic that, sorta. Picture the rear doing this

I swapped the fronts with Reflex struts and then the reflex rear. The Reflex would barely go up with the rear end rising over the hump and came down firm. I liked it better, as the stock or sensatrac shocks exaggerated the humps. My one buddy put Sensatrac shocks all around on his 03' Ram 1500. He has 245/70/17 tires and his truck rides nicer than mine with 20's.

Another friend with an 05' Jeep Cherokee put reflex out back and likes them. Stock fronts with 70k miles.