Need soft shock recommendations (hate my Bilsteins)

SVG · March 15

Look into Multi-Matic DSSV's.

fondupot · March 15

1 hour ago, SVG said:

Look into Multi-Matic DSSV's.

Leaky leaky.

I must be the minority here, because I LOVE my truck with the Bilstein 5100's i have the fronts set at 1.5" and a 1" block in the rear and the truck rides so much better than stock.

Vincej138 · March 15

25 minutes ago, fondupot said:

Leaky leaky.

I must be the minority here, because I LOVE my truck with the Bilstein 5100's i have the fronts set at 1.5" and a 1" block in the rear and the truck rides so much better than stock.

Na, Im with ya. Cornering and controlling larger tires they are so nice for the price. I only switched to the Fox 2.5's for the wheel travel and bigger hits/speed. The people who do spacers instead of 5100's make my brain hurt.

SVG · March 16

21 hours ago, fondupot said:

Leaky leaky.

I have read that the DSSV's put in the Canyon's & Colorado's have had some issues but I haven't read of any issues in the 1/2 ton trucks. If I remember correctly, the 1/2 ton version has a larger diameter rod and maybe other changes I'm not familiar with.

Mine haven't leaked a drop (knock on wood) and truly transformed the truck's road manners.

23RST · March 16

On 3/15/2024 at 1:25 PM, SVG said:

Look into Multi-Matic DSSV's.

I'd be very interested in pulling them off a wreck.

Grumpy Bear · March 17

When I opted for the King OEM coil-over which came with a 750# spring. With the minimum preload the shock was very close to the top of its travel. Within a half inch. The 600# spring brought it to about a quarter inch above mid travel and minimum preload. This shock has 1 inch more travel than stock which gives two inches more wheel travel. No custom control arm was required as it fall then within the range of the stock geometry. I then installed the Bell drop spindle.

I could install the 500# springs, get a softer front. Preload would center the travel. Softer linear valving or lighter fluid and it could become car like.

When I did the rear drop spring set up and removed the block the stock length King lands right in the middle of its travel. As I don't use more than a thousand pounds EVER in the box.... perfect.

Truck has 178,000 miles on factory arms and bushings, ball joints and tie rods. Holds alignment and is still on its second set of tires. Went 125K on the first set when the dated out with 5/32 even wear still on them.

A rebuildable shock with tunable piston shims is a different beast that a fixed shim piston with a bypass circuit.

This setup took the 'jar' out of the ride on expansion joints and potholes and the bump hop at the rear. Vastly improved the ride and with more travel bumps are like landing on a cloud. Not bouncy. It gave it more control, not less on the ramps. This truck came with allot of front bar and needs none in the back as set up.

But yea, expensive and time consuming not a budget many will be happy with.

If I were doing this again, I would have ordered the same rear shock with the remote reservoirs instead of the piggyback. I don't often hit the bump-stops, but I could shorten them if piggybacked with plenty of room. I gave up some compression distance. The reservoirs would hit the axle tube without the stops. And no, they can't be flipped or rotated. They just hit something else. I tried.

I like the stance. Not slammed, just nice..........2/4 drop, 1-degree forward rake.

Edited March 17 by Grumpy Bear

23RST · March 18

On 3/15/2024 at 1:25 PM, SVG said:

Look into Multi-Matic DSSV's.

I just picked up a pair today for $200. Came off a truck w/4 miles on the ODO. These things are like new...

Got 2 questions for you..

1. Do I need the trail boss UCA to mount these?

2. Can I run the rears on the standard (non-ZR2) leaf springs?

Edited March 18 by 23RST

carkhz316 · March 19

Add me to the one of 3 people who are not content with the Bilsteins. I know this is the half ton forum, but I added them to my 2500 recently, and they're way too stiff for my liking. The Ranchos were just fine overall (I feel like I'm going to be hung for saying that). The Bilsteins are a little bit "tighter" when towing and hauling, which I can appreciate, but the reality is I'm only towing/ hauling about 20% of the time.

I'm not really old either. I'm 37. active and in good shape without back problems.

Edited March 19 by carkhz316

attroamlo · March 19

I actually did both. A spray in Premium Line-X, tonneau cover and the thick rubber matt with it added about 400#, I had to add some nitrogen to the back half.

newdude · March 19

16 hours ago, 23RST said:

I just picked up a pair today for $200. Came off a truck w/4 miles on the ODO. These things are like new...

Got 2 questions for you..

1. Do I need the trail boss UCA to mount these?

2. Can I run the rears on the standard (non-ZR2) leaf springs?

Per GM you need the entire GM 2 inch lift kit installed before you can install the Multimatics.

Edited March 19 by newdude

23RST · March 19

41 minutes ago, newdude said:

Per GM you need the entire GM 2 inch lift kit installed before you can install the Multimatics.

I swore I had read something in the past about requiring the trailboss UCAs.... a 2" lift would be why!

Any aftermarket kits you could recommend I look at? Based on what I've been reading, I think I just need UCAs and 2" rear block + U-bolts.

12 hours ago, carkhz316 said:

Add me to the one of 3 people who are not content with the Bilsteins. I know this is the half ton forum, but I added them to my 2500 recently, and they're way too stiff for my liking. The Ranchos were just fine overall (I feel like I'm going to be hung for saying that). The Bilsteins are a little bit "tighter" when towing and hauling, which I can appreciate, but the reality is I'm only towing/ hauling about 20% of the time.

I'm not really old either. I'm 37. active and in good shape without back problems.

You're not crazy. I'm 31, it's insanely, annoyingly stiff

Edited March 19 by 23RST

diyer2 · March 19

Monroe or Gabriel.

SVG · March 20

On 3/18/2024 at 1:29 PM, 23RST said:

I just picked up a pair today for $200. Came off a truck w/4 miles on the ODO. These things are like new...

Got 2 questions for you..

1. Do I need the trail boss UCA to mount these?

2. Can I run the rears on the standard (non-ZR2) leaf springs?

If your truck has the factory 2" lift you're golden. If not then probably yes, you'll probably need control arms and CV shafts.

Chevyguy273 · March 22

On 3/18/2024 at 3:29 PM, 23RST said:

I just picked up a pair today for $200. Came off a truck w/4 miles on the ODO. These things are like new...

Got 2 questions for you..

1. Do I need the trail boss UCA to mount these?

2. Can I run the rears on the standard (non-ZR2) leaf springs?

Where did you find these for an unbelievable $200 for the pair?

EXSlider400 · March 29

Going with Rancho RS7MT (linear piston) They also have a 15% off right now. Similar to Blistein 5100 (digressive piston) but a little softer. Either mono tube will be better than the stock AT4 Rancho twin tube. If I run across any DSSV takes offs at a deal, I would love to try them.