Like other I am also looking into new shock, my stockers are 7 years old with 34K miles and the bodies have some rust scale.
Need to keep the hauling towing capacity and would like a better on road ride (more control on bumps and such). Looked at the Thuren Fox 2.0's however I don't think I need something that crazy as I am not offroad that often and its typically not high speed (also worried about winter corrosion). So that leaves the Bilstiens 5160 or 7100's unless I am missing something.
To kick off the sticky here is some great info by posted by Coder in a different thread.
I have progressed up through various levels of shocks in my PW and here is what I noticed:
OEM Bilstein's PW specific valving:
- compliant and absorbent but not overly soft
- some noticeable side to side sway
- when pushed hard they go right to the bump-stops
- they fade when pushed hard for a long period
Bilstein 5100's:
- somewhat stiffer than the OEM's
- a more controlled feel than the OEM's not as much side to side sway
- when pushed hard they go right to the bump-stops
- they fade when pushed hard for a long period
Bilstein 7100's with Carli Performance 2.0 PW valving:
- slightly stiffer than the 5100's
- the more you push them the better they feel
- when pushed hard they don't go right to the bump-stops but resist
- they don't noticeable fade when pushed hard for a long period
King 2.5" Pin-Tops with Carli Hemi valving:.
- like driving a high-end sports car around town
- its like being glued to the road, but you feel every imperfection
- no sway in the corners, the more you push them the better they like it
- I can do 45-50 mph down a dirt road and hit fairly sizable ruts and bumps comfortably
- on rough roads I find myself waiting for the "wam bam" on big bumps but nothing happens, just a soft thump
- no fading when pushed hard for a long period