Shock choice question

[ScarabEpic22]

This is my first thread over on the lifted side of the world, decided having my 02 SWB TB at stock height wasn't cutting it for me. Now that I have the SS, no need to go low, so I went high! Just got one of Mark's new 3" lifts, already have the front end ripped apart thanks to my dad and brother helping out. Both strut assemblies disassembled (didn't have to cut the shocks this time) and the UCAs flipped in about 3 hours, not too shabby in my book.

So my dilemma is shocks, I have Bilstein HDs all around now and after being dropped 2" for ~60k then being at stock height for the last 5k, they're ok but on their way out. I'd rather replace everything now and not tear the front strut apart again in 6 months.

Quick rundown of my 02 from what Ive read on here and seen on the truck:
02 SWB 3.73s + G80
Dark blue front springs (think they're 87s, pretty good I guess. My RPO codes dont match the sheet on here though, I have 6SK, 65I, 652, 7SJ, 8EX, and 9EW. Think one of the 6s and the 7 denote front springs...) [EDIT: They're not 87s, no SWB trucks came with them]
Regular rear springs? (haven't seen anything on them being special, imagine there's something that Im missing here)
3" front lift
2" rear lift
Going to run a set of Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 2 255/65R17s on some LTZ rims Ive been running as a winter tire setup on my SS (commence joking about almost stock tire size here).

Going to keep all the stock springs for the time being, mostly doing the lift for my brother to take the TB back to school in Montana with him where there's snow on the ground for 5-6 months. Thinking Skyjacker N8030s for the rear and another set of Bilstein HDs for the front. Apparently Bilstein has changed their part numbers, believe I should be looking for 24-103336 now instead of F4-BE5-A333-H0.
Other options are Pro Comp Toxic 415509 (or other Pro Comp that works for a 2" rear lift).

Any suggestions/comments? This is a light duty offroad rig, mostly I want a set of shocks that 1) I can get locally [can do for the Skyjackers, Pro Comps, and Bilstein HDs] and 2) ride pretty well on the highway.

Thanks guys, appreciate any and all insight!
Erik

[Trail X]

You have an 83 and an 84 spring. Not 87, I don't know of any that came stock with 87s.

[navigator]

I know Mark suggests the skyjacker H7030 as an affordable option for the rear. I seem to recall the N8030 as an upgraded version.
Keep in mind that you'll have to get some grade 8 washers to fill in the gap between the shock and shock mount for those.
You could also go the BDS route, they don't require the washers. For more info on them you can search this thread that I have bookmarked.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=260&start=20

[ScarabEpic22]

You have an 83 and an 84 spring. Not 87, I don't know of any that came stock with 87s.

Thanks, I was wondering if I had an oddball. I saw in the other thread most SWB I6s came with grey/pink combo so I was curious why both of mine had blue marks on them. Looking at the Factory spring part numbers thread, I dont see any of the RPOs mentioned in there on my truck? I took a pic of the RPO code sticker last night, Ill take pics of the springs this evening and post them all.

As for shocks, Id rather spend the extra $10 now and get the Skyjacker Nitros vs the Hydros. Any reason I should go with Hyrdos vs Nitros? I know the Hydros are a hydraulic shock whereas the Nitros are nitrogen-pressurized, will the Nitros ride more like the Bilstein HDs I currently have? I know about the washers, not a big deal for me. Thanks for the recommendation on BDS, but Im in a little bit of a time crunch and I can get the Skyjackers local to me. Need to have the truck back on the ground and running by friday so I can get it aligned Saturday.

Anyone running Bilstein HDs up front and Skyjacker Nitro N8030s out back? Looking like this is the route to go...

[Trail X]

Thanks, I was wondering if I had an oddball. I saw in the other thread most SWB I6s came with grey/pink combo so I was curious why both of mine had blue marks on them. Looking at the Factory spring part numbers thread, I dont see any of the RPOs mentioned in there on my truck? I took a pic of the RPO code sticker last night, Ill take pics of the springs this evening and post them all.

The dark blue pen mark is a quality check on the line. The colors I reference in the chart are on the part number tag.

[djthumper]

As for shocks, Id rather spend the extra $10 now and get the Skyjacker Nitros vs the Hydros. Any reason I should go with Hyrdos vs Nitros? I know the Hydros are a hydraulic shock whereas the Nitros are nitrogen-pressurized, will the Nitros ride more like the Bilstein HDs I currently have? I know about the washers, not a big deal for me. Thanks for the recommendation on BDS, but Im in a little bit of a time crunch and I can get the Skyjackers local to me. Need to have the truck back on the ground and running by friday so I can get it aligned Saturday.

Anyone running Bilstein HDs up front and Skyjacker Nitro N8030s out back? Looking like this is the route to go...

That is what I am running on my rig with Z71 springs. Take a look at my build thread. Just replied to your other question that I missed in the rear shock thread.

[ScarabEpic22]

Thanks, I was wondering if I had an oddball. I saw in the other thread most SWB I6s came with grey/pink combo so I was curious why both of mine had blue marks on them. Looking at the Factory spring part numbers thread, I dont see any of the RPOs mentioned in there on my truck? I took a pic of the RPO code sticker last night, Ill take pics of the springs this evening and post them all.

The dark blue pen mark is a quality check on the line. The colors I reference in the chart are on the part number tag.

Ah I see, well Ive lost all the tags in the last 9 years so I have no idea then! Still I dont see the right RPO options, am I blind here?

As for shocks, Id rather spend the extra $10 now and get the Skyjacker Nitros vs the Hydros. Any reason I should go with Hyrdos vs Nitros? I know the Hydros are a hydraulic shock whereas the Nitros are nitrogen-pressurized, will the Nitros ride more like the Bilstein HDs I currently have? I know about the washers, not a big deal for me. Thanks for the recommendation on BDS, but Im in a little bit of a time crunch and I can get the Skyjackers local to me. Need to have the truck back on the ground and running by friday so I can get it aligned Saturday.

Anyone running Bilstein HDs up front and Skyjacker Nitro N8030s out back? Looking like this is the route to go...

That is what I am running on my rig with Z71 springs. Take a look at my build thread. Just replied to your other question that I missed in the rear shock thread.

Ive looked at your setup a lot, you're the one inspiring me to get the N8030s! Unfortunately it looks like there are only a few in the country, all on the east coast, so Im going to probably go with the Hyrdo H7030s instead as I can get them before next week.

How bad would the right be if I left the stock height Bilstein HDs in the back for a month? Ill have access to the 02 again in mid-October, could I hold off on new shocks until then?

[navigator]

I'm running stock shocks in the rear with the Z71 springs which are about 1.5 inches of lift, not quite as tall as Mark's lift. The ride is great on the highway, bumps and all.
I have not ridden them offroad yet though so I can't comment on that.

From reading responses previously I think a lot of folks have ridden with the stockers for a little while but I think all have upgraded before too long. Most folks likely beat on their rigs more than I do though.

[ScarabEpic22]

I'm running stock shocks in the rear with the Z71 springs which are about 1.5 inches of lift, not quite as tall as Mark's lift. The ride is great on the highway, bumps and all.
I have not ridden them offroad yet though so I can't comment on that.

From reading responses previously I think a lot of folks have ridden with the stockers for a little while but I think all have upgraded before too long. Most folks likely beat on their rigs more than I do though.

Ok great to know! Ill order the N8030 Skyjackers and install them in mid-October then. My rear springs might have sagged a bit by now so who knows, they've got probably 90-95k on them (had drop springs in for a while).

[navigator]

give it a little time for others to chime in before you place your order.


Here are some comments to a similar post I had a while back.
I wanted to run the 3/4 spacer and the 1.5 lift springs which would put me at about 2.25.
Depending on the situation the 2 inches might top out your rear shock and ride rough on bumps.
Mine do fine with the 1.5 springs but I can't speak for certain on the 2 inch spacer.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2037

[ScarabEpic22]

Thanks for the link Chris, Ill see how the ride is but unfortunately its either wait until October to install them or use some generic Monroe shock (stock height) so Id rather be in for a crappy ride for a bit then use the right shocks for a lift. 2" will put me at the very top end of the shocks I know, hope its bearable.

[djthumper]

I considered the H7030 but considering some of the washboard trails I take I knew the gas filled shocks would do much better. They are the same length anyhow.

Depending on what you are already running up front I would think those would hold out until October. If the rear is already going to be pushing it, length wise, I would get those replaced.

[Trail X]

Still I dont see the right RPO options, am I blind here?

They were in the list you posted previously. I've found the 2002s and 2003s had many many random spring RPOs, then they seemed to have normalized.

I found 6SK and 7SJ in compnine.

[ScarabEpic22]

I considered the H7030 but considering some of the washboard trails I take I new the gas filled shocks would do much better. They are the same length anyhow.

Depending on what you are already running up front I would think those would hold out until October. If the rear is already going to be pushing it, length wise, I would get those replaced.

Bilstein HDs all around currently, half the reason I want to replace them now is I have the front strut apart and I hate dealing with spring compressors. Rather do it now while its apart and save myself some headache down the road.

Installed the rear last night, stock swaybar endlinks were tight to install and the shocks are right at the upper limit of their travel just sitting. Think I might have to see if I cant get rear shocks before next week because I can already tell the ride is going to absolutely suck unless there's 500+ pounds in the back.

Still I dont see the right RPO options, am I blind here?

They were in the list you posted previously. I've found the 2002s and 2003s had many many random spring RPOs, then they seemed to have normalized.

I found 6SK and 7SJ in compnine.

I know mine are in there, I meant to say I didnt see my RPOs in the list you have in the other thread. Oh well, should have remembered to use compnine right away.

[Trail X]

The rpo list in the other thread is not complete. I began it, thinking it would cover all years, but then realized the list was far longer than I imagined.

[ScarabEpic22]

The rpo list in the other thread is not complete. I began it, thinking it would cover all years, but then realized the list was far longer than I imagined.

Ah gotcha, guess we need to thank GM for not making up their minds in terms of labeling them until ~04. But for 04+ guys, I imagine the list is pretty accurate.

[Nakashige]

i am running the n8030s as well check out my build thread

[ScarabEpic22]

i am running the n8030s as well check out my build thread

How is the ride on them?

I ended up going with Pro Comp 926500s that I saw on here with a 2.5" lift, picked them up today when I got the front Bilsteins from 4WheelParts.

[Nakashige]

Personally I like them rides a little rough but I dont mind it

[ScarabEpic22]

Personally I like them rides a little rough but I dont mind it

Cool, a little rough I can deal with, I just wanted to make sure it wasnt soft and mushy like the stock shocks were. The Bilstein HDs are pretty firm, especially when you run them lowered (wont do it again though).

About to slap all the parts on and get it back driving.