[Chas]

Im looking to get some upgraded shocks for the rear of my prerunner. I have shackles and ive removed the helper spring. I do mostly desert running, with the light ocasional trail run. Im torn between these three options

Donahoe's
5150
7100

I ahve the donahoe fronts, and i love them. If the rears will make as much as an improvement, then id be set. Im looking to keep the back end from boucing so much, make it softer and able to soak up bigger whoops and such. What would be my best bet. Any experience with the donahoes. Im looking to spend under 200 per shock.

 

[themariachi]

i love my 5100s...deavers will also help

 

[Blinkin2000]

7100s are bitchin' but i have never rode on 5100s so it is hard to compare.

Check out the DR rear shocks, they look comparable to the 7100s.

 

[rojodiablo]

7100s are bitchin' but i have never rode on 5100s so it is hard to compare.

Check out the DR rear shocks, they look comparable to the 7100s.

Yep, they are JUST like the 7100's. NOT IN STOCK!!!!

 

[Chas]

Hmm, I guess im going to go with the donahoes.

 

[Tweeter]

Go with the Donahoes, but try putting on an AAL also, that will help make it a lot softer. Deavers are good and I've heard good things about the "soft" Fabtech AALs also.

 

[synovus]

Go with the Donahoes, but try putting on an AAL also, that will help make it a lot softer. Deavers are good and I've heard good things about the "soft" Fabtech AALs also.

Please don't spread misinformation. Most AAL's do not make the ride softer. Most make the ride noticeably harsher/firmer.

The Deaver 3-leaf AAL will likely improve the ride, but it's not at all like most AAL's. One thing that helps it to ride better than stock is that when you install it, you remove the stock overload leafs. While it's obviously possible to remove the overload with a single-leaf AAL, most people don't, because it would result in less lift.

Fabtech's longer AAL will likely ride better than some other AAL's, but to say it's "soft" is not accurate. That implies that it rides softer than stock, which it doesn't. It might ride softer than a Pro-Comp short AAL, but both will ride harsher than stock.

 

[Chas]

While it's obviously possible to remove the overload with a single-leaf AAL, most people don't, because it would result in less lift.

Thanks for the reply. I do have a procomp AAL, but im going for offorad control. The lift doesnt matter, and i dont mid if i loose height to gain traction. Should i run the stock overload spring, the procomp, or none at all? I want to get the back end to stop bottoming out and stop bouncing.

 

[rojodiablo]

Thanks for the reply. I do have a procomp AAL, but im going for offorad control. The lift doesnt matter, and i dont mid if i loose height to gain traction. Should i run the stock overload spring, the procomp, or none at all? I want to get the back end to stop bottoming out and stop bouncing.

Deaver add on leaf pack = NO MORE HOP. You won't lose load capacity, you will lose hop. The best deal going for what you get, at $200 ish. You get 1-1/2" SOLID, after it settles for a while. Search the thread on deaver, or add a leafs.

 

[synovus]

Thanks for the reply. I do have a procomp AAL, but im going for offorad control. The lift doesnt matter, and i dont mid if i loose height to gain traction. Should i run the stock overload spring, the procomp, or none at all? I want to get the back end to stop bottoming out and stop bouncing.

For your stated needs, I would suggest the Deaver 7-leaf prerunner pack. It'll give you about 1.5"-2" of lift, and likely ride like a dream compared to your current setup. Those Pro-Comp AAL's are very harsh, in my opinion. Any of the shocks you mentioned in your first post would work well with the Deaver leaf packs. I believe the 5150's are available in a softer valving than the 7100's, but don't quote me on that. I don't know a lot about them yet, but from what I understand the Donahoe rear shocks should be an excellent match for the Deaver's as well. If I remember correctly, the Donahoe's were designed primarily to be paired with the Deavers, or maybe they just did a lot of testing while using Deavers. Obviously if you go with the prerunner pack, you wouldn't use the Pro-Comp AAL, but you could use a small lift shackle if you needed a little more height, which would not alter the ride but may accelerate the sagging/de-arching of the leafs (they'll sag over time on their own; lift shackles tend to make it happen quicker).

If the full 7-leaf pack is beyond your budget at this time, I'd suggest the Deaver 3-leaf progressive AAL. Most of the people I've seen on here who run them seem more than pleased with their performance. Again, you wouldn't use the Pro-Comp AAL or the stock overload leaf, but you could use a small lift shackle for slightly more lift, if needed.

Perhaps just as important in all of this is to make sure you get shocks that are the appropriate length for the amount of travel you'll have, based on whatever leafs you're running. Once you determine your travel and compressed/extended length requirements, then look at which shocks fit those specs. Once you determine which shocks will fit properly, then look for which of those offer the softest valving.

How to measure travel

Bilstein shock chart (to compare the specs of the various Bilstein shocks, such as lengths and valving)

 

[Chas]

Thank you so much for the help. Im probably going to order the donahoe shocks, and then the deaver pack when i can afford it. Thanks agian

 

[04RedLobster]

the 5150s...i believe..doesn't come in softer valves at like 1.5-2" of lift...they come in softer valves when the truck is around 4" and up....170/55 i believe....mine are 255/55 or someting like that...a lot more frimer...they feel great compare to the stock blisteins though...lol