Hi, I am looking at replacing the Shocks on my 04 1500 Hemi Quad cab 4x4, are the Blistein 4600 series shocks front and rear any good? Is there a better shock to go with?

Any tips on replacing them anything to watch out for? Any special tools? Does it change the alignment?

Also what about the Front stabilizer bar is that something I should change? Or do you wait till it goes bad? How can you tell if it is bad?
If I do replace, which one should I use.
Thanks

 

The sway bar end links do break. The bushing wear as well. Not that high in cost. You could do them at the same time. 4600 are great shocks, many run them. Personally I have the 5100.

 

I fitted 4600 on my 03 4x4. Front and rear. I was told by the seller (a Dodge specialist no less who sells performanve parts) they would fit. So did Bilstein and were suitable for my year model of truck even though I do have the torsion bars tweaked to get the truck level.
Although The Bilsteins are a great shock, the front 4600 are too short for the 1500 torsion bar set up like that.
The ride was bottoming out on the smallest of bumps/sleeping policeman etc. I had a bone shattering ride on the front. I know its a truck, but this was rediculous believe me!
The rears were ok.
I changed out my 4600 and fitted ProComps all round (see exact model in my sig).
Ive never looked back. They are slightly longer on the front than the Bilsteins and have more travel. No bottoming out at all.
Btw..... I asked bilstein technical in Germany, the UK (where im from) and the USA about this issue. Even sent pics of the bottom shock rubber bushing being pulled out of the shock eyelet. The pics and write up of all this is on this site somewhere.
Not one of tech depts ever got back to me, with regards to a successful outcome to this issue. Or any offer a refund.
I tried many many times with them all as well.
There was and is no way Id go back to a stock torsion bar height adjustment.
So imho..... bilstein technical suck big time!!
They did not support their product one bit, despite assuring me initially when i asked, if they were suitable bearing in mind this torsion bar height adjustment.
Al.

 

Thanks for the info, Any install tip's torque Specs? I am not sold on 4600 yet but install and torque specs should be the same for all. Thanks

 

Monroe reflex is a good choice. I had those on my 04 1500. This is my first set of blistein.

 

I cant remember the torque specs for the upper/lower front/rear mounting bolts but weedahoe a moderator on here, has full manuals available for download.
Just remember on all the bolts use antisieze compound, especially on the front bottom shock bolts.
Oh and don't cut off the plastic banding keeping the new shocks compressed, until you have fitted the tops of all the shocks.
Cut the band after the tops are fitted, allowing the shocker to lengthen into the final bottom position.
Al.

 

I recall Hammer having a similar "customer service" experience with Bilstein. IIRC, he blew out a brand new 5100 on a hunting trail and Bilstein refused to cover it because he was off of a road designed for vehicular travel, or something lawyerese like that. I still may eventually crank the T-bars and go with 5100's (I think I may have to do a major front suspension preventative maintenance job here soon), but his story (and now yours) really resonate in the back of my head. We have 5100's on our lifted JK, and I've wheeled the snot out of it with no issues so far, but I still hate to hear stories like yours with such important and well-respected brand components.

 

So I ordered the 4600 series Bilsteins, Any install tips? Torque specs? The front shocks how do i torque the top lock nut? the shaft appears to just spin, I see there appears to be a allen key in the middle of the shaft to hold it, but then how would I get the torque wrench on it? If I can't how do I know when it is tight enough? Thanks

P.S If I decide to put a leveling kit in it can I still use these shocks?

 

Use an open end wrench to grab the top groove/nut.


SJ03

 

How would I torque them?