The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1969 - 1972 Blazers and Jimmys Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-01-2018, 03:08 AM   #1
87Skier
Registered User
 
87Skier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 711
New shocks on my Jimmy

I thought I would share my experience with the shocks I put on a few months back.

I bought KYB GR-2/Excel-G for front and rear. They were about $100 for all 4 and had a $40 mail in rebate. They replaced some old oil filled shocks. I don't know the history of those shocks, but had at least 50,000 miles on them and are at least 20 years old.

Overall the ride is nicer and the handling is better. It still feels top-heavy, but rolls slightly less than before. Low speed ride quality has definitely improved. The shocks don't handle bumps at high speed very well. There is a bad road by me that I usually test stuff on, and the new shocks handle this much worse than the old. This is probably due to the limited travel of the front springs.

When I hit the bumps at high speed, it felt as if it only hit the first part and that the front end wasn't even on the ground any more. This is completely different than my 96 Suburban or even my car. The 96 Suburban with original shocks (I'm assuming), will just kind of bounce through these bumps. The car with 2 year old Monroe OE shocks makes the bumps feel like nothing more than a small patch of gravel.

These shocks just aren't stiff enough for my liking. I like a good soft ride, but I also need shocks that can handle bumps on the highway. I would look for something different.
__________________
1972 GMC Jimmy Custom 4.8L (L20)/6L90E/NP205
1989 Chevy Suburban V2500 350/Turbo 400/4.11 gears
1996 Chevy Suburban K1500 350/4L60E
87Skier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2018, 10:29 AM   #2
simicrintz
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Escondido
Posts: 305
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

Just my opinion (and everyone knows what opinions are worth!) but $15 shocks (in essence what they cost each after the rebate) can only do so much. I like to use Bilstein's on my trucks/Jeeps and pay almost $100 per shock. They serve me well and do what I think you are looking for based on your report. I like the 5100's if that helps!
__________________
-Bruce
1971 K5 Blazer 4WD
simicrintz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2018, 10:37 AM   #3
parb
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: mountain view, CA
Posts: 361
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

I wanted to buy the bilstein shocks for my 72 jimmy. i even went so far to email bilstein to figure out what to buy. I couldn't figure out the part numbers i needed to buy for a stock ride height jimmy.

do you know the part numbers for bilstein that works on our trucks? Bilstein themselves say that they have nothing that works.
parb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2018, 03:57 PM   #4
simicrintz
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Escondido
Posts: 305
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

I usually go to 4WP with my truck and have them size accordingly. My Jeepster has a SOA setup (and they don't even show Jeepsters IIRC) so we pulled a couple of measurements and away we went. My Duramax has them and that was easy (in the book). I have not done them on my K5 yet (the shocks on there have less than 1,000 miles and had been replaced right before we got it). If you have a 4WP near you I would run by and have them take a look.
__________________
-Bruce
1971 K5 Blazer 4WD
simicrintz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2018, 08:30 PM   #5
parb
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: mountain view, CA
Posts: 361
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

I tried doing that, called up one of the 4wd shock shops that several people on this forum recommended. But they basically told me that they don't work on stock ride height vehicles and couldn't help me. Kind of sucked...
parb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2018, 10:11 PM   #6
simicrintz
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Escondido
Posts: 305
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

I'd call or run by here:

550 W. San Carlos St.
San Jose CA 95126
Phone: 408-279-4979
Sales Associate:
408-279-4979
Fax: 408-279-4710
Email: jos@4wheelparts.com
Store Manager: Scott Mounce
Asst Manager: Rich Esparza
Service Manager: Ryan Ashby
Mon-Fri: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Local Time)
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Local Time)
Sunday: Closed

I have had good experiences down here (San Diego) with these guys and they seem to know their stuff. Don't know why they couldn't match up a stock ride vehicle.
__________________
-Bruce
1971 K5 Blazer 4WD
simicrintz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2018, 10:28 PM   #7
Blazerowner
Senior Member
 
Blazerowner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Yuba City, Ca
Posts: 1,918
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

Call Off-road Design. They will know.
__________________
Kirk
72 Blazer CST 4wd highlander
66 Nova
Blazerowner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2018, 11:04 PM   #8
parb
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: mountain view, CA
Posts: 361
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blazerowner View Post
Call Off-road Design. They will know.
I called off-road design, they would not help me with my Jimmy unless it was lifted.
parb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2018, 01:50 AM   #9
Blazerowner
Senior Member
 
Blazerowner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Yuba City, Ca
Posts: 1,918
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

That’s surprising. Usually they are able to help. You can always look at what is recommended for a lift and just subtract the lift to find the part number. Have you thought of measuring the mounts?
__________________
Kirk
72 Blazer CST 4wd highlander
66 Nova
Blazerowner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2018, 11:02 AM   #10
parb
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: mountain view, CA
Posts: 361
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

Yes, i figured i'd measure and get it done later. I was hoping i could just piggy back on a board member who had already done that

I need to get it going so i bought the KYB shocks for now. Once my jimmy is running i'll consider the upgrade to bilsteins. i got the kyb's super cheap, i think i paid less than $40 each. I won't feel like i'm really wasting money by having the KYB's for just a short time. The original shocks where at least 30 years old and i had to replace them.
parb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2018, 05:53 PM   #11
87Skier
Registered User
 
87Skier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 711
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

I heard that bilsteins don't fit on the rear and that most people who go that route fabricate a new mount.
__________________
1972 GMC Jimmy Custom 4.8L (L20)/6L90E/NP205
1989 Chevy Suburban V2500 350/Turbo 400/4.11 gears
1996 Chevy Suburban K1500 350/4L60E
87Skier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2018, 06:28 PM   #12
simicrintz
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Escondido
Posts: 305
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

Having trouble confirming 5100's availability for our rigs. I did find these for the fronts only in the 4600:https://www.summitracing.com/parts/b...t/model/blazer
__________________
-Bruce
1971 K5 Blazer 4WD
simicrintz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2018, 11:15 AM   #13
71BUCKET
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Savannah GA
Posts: 169
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

Literally just went through this and still working it out.
Off road design basically gave me same thing “it’s not lifted, we got nothing”

So. Bilstein 4600s. Summit only list fronts 24-009232 not lifted
Now I took off the dead shocks off the rear and measured them
Bilstein makes a 4600 24-009331 that works length wise

however rear eye bushings are 14.4mm on the 9331s where they need to be 12.7 like the fronts. The 9331s have to have top and bottom bushings/mount pressed out and new bushings/eyelet put in. I haven’t had time to address that now.

That said you can get a set of 5100s that work for the rear but I wanted matching setup front and rear and Bilstein does not make a 5100 short enough for front.

But, I urge you all to double check all this.
71BUCKET is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2018, 11:57 AM   #14
parb
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: mountain view, CA
Posts: 361
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

Great info! I look forward to learn from you what you ultimately end up doing.

Do you think it would be a negative experience to mix the 4600 and the 5100 series? Intuitively I'd think so, but wanted to hear if there are any opinions based on data?
parb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2018, 01:02 PM   #15
71BUCKET
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Savannah GA
Posts: 169
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

I have to press out the rear top mount. It’s made to bolt through frame but can press that out. Replace bushing and on lower mount I’m looking for thicker metal sleeve. Have been busy and out town this past weekend. Hopefully I can get it together this weekend.

I just looked at the 4600-5100 as different valving and such. I didn’t get deep into it, just figured it was smart to match the set.
71BUCKET is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2018, 08:35 PM   #16
Blazerowner
Senior Member
 
Blazerowner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Yuba City, Ca
Posts: 1,918
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

My bilsteins bolted right up but I do have a 3” shackle flip.
__________________
Kirk
72 Blazer CST 4wd highlander
66 Nova
Blazerowner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2018, 01:12 PM   #17
Ewr101
Registered User
 
Ewr101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Spring, Tx
Posts: 244
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

I just replaced all the shocks on my 2wd 72 Blazer with the same set up as the original poster and they seemed a little "floaty" to me. Next was a front sway bar installation and now I'm very happy with the ride. No floating feeling, the handling is much better and the ride is very nice. I know a sway bar isn't supposed to effect straight ahead driving, but I sure feel the difference.
__________________
72 Chevy 2WD Blazer
Ewr101 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2018, 10:16 PM   #18
71BUCKET
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Savannah GA
Posts: 169
Re: New shocks on my Jimmy

Update: now have a matching set of bilstien 4600 series on my k5. Had To change the the mounts on the upper rears to an eyelet. Easily done.
71BUCKET is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com