2024 Suspension options available?

[Joebob]

Well, after ordering Old Man Emu replacement shocks from four different vendors, they all responded back with one of the shocks from OME is out of stock and discontinued.

I was after a heavy-duty shock to support the weight of Overlanding offroad. I read that the OME was the best option. With this shock being eliminated from our tiny pool of usable products, what is everyone turning to?

I know the following are available:

Fox performance 2.0 (Soft shock from what I read)
Bilstein 5100 (standard upgraded off-road shock)

There are also standard road driving shocks from places like Les Schwab.

Does anyone know of some proper off-road shocks? With remote reservoir? I'm looking to keep this rig for off-roading only, driving only to the off-road location.

 

[cgalpha08]

Your best bet, for something that you really want and is proper is to do the following:
Call accutune offroad and they will set up a fox or king shock for you that is proper.

Shock wont necessarily support the weight, if you want weight support, I would slap an off the shelf fox shock in and add air bags to the rear.
Plenty of other members have added rear air bags to combat additional weight.

Another option is to go with custom leaf springs, such as those from deaver.

 

[Jeepwalker]

I guess if it was me I'd go with the Bilstein.
Good chance they (I'm guessing) supplied the original mono-tube shocks for GM. They have a great reputation and the price is right ...from, like RockAuto.

 

[zebra]

i just installed some bilstein 4600s (blue/yellow... also called HD) and am happy enough with them.
if we've still got the truck by the time these wear out, i'd do 5100s instead. they're nearly the same but valved slightly stiffer to give the same effective rates as the 4600s (stock suspension) except on lifted trucks that exert more momentum on them.

neither of those have remote reservoirs or adjustable settings, though. you'd want to look at 5160, 8100, 9200 (if going with bilsteins).

 

[H3Hummer]

I also found Ranchos +2" on eBay .

But for me, till now...my Bilsteins +2" 5100 series are still doing the job, so, don't change a winning team!

 

[alrock]

If you're talking about supporting the weight of added equipment, shouldn't you start with springs before shocks? Springs control the weight and suspend the vehicle, shocks control the motions. If you have good springs and remove the shocks, the vehicle stays at the same height but is bouncy. If you remove the springs and leave the shocks, you're sitting on the ground with the shocks fully compressed.

The shocks everyone upgrades to are not so much about weight but about controlled motion - regardless of weight as it comes to our H3s. Airbags, like mentioned above are essentially supplemental springs. When I carried extra weight in the H3 with equipment, tools, etc. I upgraded my springs and kept OEM shocks (though I also used Bilsteins at times).

 

[650Hawk]

As said, shocks don't support the weight, the springs/torsions support the weight. Shocks only dampen the movement.

BTW, the Fox 2.0 shocks are NOT soft.

 

[JPaul]

Old Man Emu leaf spring packs in the rear, Fox or Bilstein shocks, airbags in the rear if you're going to have a lot of weight in the rear (though the OME springs have a higher arch than stock so you don't really need airbags).

 

[crwalkerasla]

I recently saw a blind review on Youtube of the 6 top selling offroad shocks. Priced from High to budget, Bilstien 5100 came in 1st, FOX 2.0 or 2.5 (can't quite remember) came in 3rd. (But it was in a Tacoma)

 

[650Hawk]

I recently saw a blind review on Youtube of the 6 top selling offroad shocks. Priced from High to budget, Bilstien 5100 came in 1st, FOX 2.0 or 2.5 (can't quite remember) came in 3rd. (But it was in a Tacoma)

"Top selling" doesn't necessarily mean best shock. Just sayin'

 

[4speedfunk]

Airbags! It’s the ONLY way to properly support extra payload.

Beefier springs, shackles, or shocks…are all band-aides. This because the spring mounts, shackles, and bushings, as well as the upper shock mounts, are not designed to be overloaded. During an overload, the springs will flatten and grow longer. The shackles will rotate rearward to a horizontal position. The bushings will be in a bind and wear out immediately. On the H3…it only takes one overload and all these parts will permanently relax. This is very common on H3’s (stock and Rancho).

I recommend installing airbags between the frame rails and the rear axle. This will PROPERLY distribute the extra weight directly down to the tires. The springs will keep their intended arch shape, and the shackles will remain in their proper semi-vertical position. I’ve done this mod on many H3’s and it works well. I prefer stock GM H3 springs with urethane bushings at all six points with stock shackles. The factory shackles are flimsy but the length is perfect, so even if I use beefier shackles…I prefer stock length. I often use this system in combination with a spring-over mod but, it works with stock suspension as well.

If you do buy new GM springs…get the SUV ones as they are slightly more firm than the T springs.

 

[crwalkerasla]

Any particular brand of air bags that you'd recommend? I've been considering this too.

 

[cgalpha08]

Any particular brand of air bags that you'd recommend? I've been considering this too.

Firestone kit is a popular one with the daystar cradle, you have to leave the bag un connected on one end so you can still flex the truck.
I have air lift on my daily, no issues