kully560

which ride better the bilstein 5100 or the kyb monomax, in a most of the time half empty truck thanks

Ace

By "ride better" do you mean a smoother, softer ride?

kully560

smoother ride, I have the bilstein 5100 now and my truck rides very stiff .I have 60000 miles on the bilstein 5100 now so looking for a better ride.

Ace

I'm actually glad to hear that because I have set of 5100s waiting to put on the '07 and I'm looking for a firmer ride. Got a rear sway bar to install on it as well.

I heard the blue/yellow HD Bilsteins were more of a stock replacement type shock, so probably softer than the 5100s.

BroncoAZ

I have the 5100's on mine. The ride is a little firmer than stock, but also much better controlled. Bilstein told me that the yellow HD shocks have a little smoother ride because they are valved to the individual application, but when I purchased shocks I wanted to be able to run a leveling kit without replacing the shocks. Two years later never having added a leveling kit I was thinking about replacing the 5100's with the HD. I have no intention of leveling this truck, I purchased a new set of stock sized Michelin AT2 tires last week. I have also been looking at the Carli rear packs to smooth out the rear a bit.

CD in NM

I have the Bilstein 5100's on my truck, they perform well, they were a little stiffer over the stock shocks, I replaced them a couple weeks after purchasing my truck.

I run the KYB adjustables on my Miata, VERY GOOD shocks. You can tune your ride the way you want it, probably applies to their adjustables for trucks as well. I know nothing about the KYB non-adjustable shocks.


CD

Spooler

Bilstein is the way to go. KYB's have always been just O.K.

Seabiscuit

I had a set of Monomax on my 96 Dodge Ram 1500. They were great. Took the bounce out of the front end on concrete jointed highways. They helped in towing our camper, no tail wag, but I had LT rated tires, no P-rated junk. They were still good when I sold the truck at 70k miles
I put a set on my Montero and they were the best shock for it. I tried Rancho and they were crap,Edelbrocks wore out quick, about 24k miles. I Had 50k on those Monomax and they hadn't rusted or wore out when I sold the Montero.
Heck I have them on my Jeep TJ now. I like a controlled ride. I think I am going to give them a try on the D-Ram next year when I replace the stock ones. They have always been good to me.

Fiftygrit

I have the Mich at2 tires and the yellow blue bilsteins and the ride and control is better than stock thats for sure, my stock rear shocks were actually leaking out at 50k I guess from towing so much, like the new set up.

mikmaze

I was told by the shop that did my front end alignment to go for the monroe gas magnums

justin mcfall

I have KYB Monomax on my truck. It is a little stiffer,but better road control.

sawood

No one has mentioned if the the yellow and blue bilsteins are a smoother ride than stock shocks. I stiffer ride is not what i am looking for. Any experience with thsi would be appreciated. Thanks.

thenrie

The Bil 5100s are specifically designed for mild-to-moderate off-road use for trucks with 2-3" of lift (I had them on a 2000 Toyota Tacoma, lifted, oversized tires, loved them), but if that description doesn't fit your truck, stick with the blue/yellow HDs. That's what I have on my truck and I like the ride. Really tones down the stiff springs on the 3500.

Thought about KYBs. Couldn't stand the color.

LongRanger

Hard finding someone who has had both so you can really get a comparison. I have had MonoMax's on for 12,000 miles, they seem to be loosening up a little. Stiff, but better than stock at dealing with speed bumps and offroad. I got a great deal on them and so far I am happy with them.

Highway 4x4

I put the yellow/ blue Bilstein's on and the ride is better. It's not stiffer enough to say it's stiffer. More controlled and less dive and bottom out on rain gutters and driveways. For me it's the best choice.