best shocks for the H2?

[PARAGON]

Personally, I would not do the torsion bar keys.

[CBR_Raven]

Originally posted by PARAGON:
Personally, I would not do the torsion bar keys.

why do you say that? i just want it to sit a lil higher...at least 1 1/2"

[PARAGON]

I think you will be looking for more wear and tear on the front end components with the new keys. Even some people that have over torqued their stock keys have experience premature failure. You are changing the driveline geometry.

[PARAGON]

I would try raising some with the stock keys first. I've been told by GM that the truck is supposed to just ride on the "jounce bumpers" or what we used to call "bump stops."

[CBR_Raven]

Originally posted by PARAGON:
I think you will be looking for more wear and tear on the front end components with the new keys. Even some people that have over torqued their stock keys have experience premature failure. You are changing the driveline geometry.

well, would you suggest doing a 2" to 4" airbag lift or 2" body lift instead? i don't want to do a real lift...just want a lil more height... an inch or two would be perfect.

[CBR_Raven]

even if i use the stock keys, i'm still gonna need an alignment right?

[MarineHawk]

Originally posted by PhilD:
You can usually get 1-2" out of the stock keys just by cranking the up. Any higher than 2" and you will put the front geometry out too much and wear your steering components out faster. I wouldn't use +2 keys either.

As for the rest of the deal, (I presume they are installing either factory or Moog Pitman/idler), they are charging you over $500 for the install of everything. Not bad, but not that great either.

I know there are a thousand opinions on this one, but I still don't know the answer: Will cranking the torsion bars one inch adversely affect the durability of any of the front end components? Cranking 2"?

Will 1" that make the 37" tires fit better?

1" torsion adjustment plus 37" tires would improve my breakover angle a fair amount, right? How much?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

[PARAGON]

Yeah, anytime you alter the torsion bars, you need to get an alignment. But, personally, I would ride on it for 10-15 miles or so before I got the alignment after making the torsion bar adjustments.

When you crank on the bars the torque from the bar might not be enough to settle just right and driving a few miles will allow things to settle, otherwise it might throw that new alignment off if you do both at the exact same time.

[CBR_Raven]

ok, here's the run down on the prices...

2" torsion bar cams $79.95 + $56.00 labor
Front Shocks $89.99 + $84.00 labor
Rear Shocks $89.99 (labor included with front)
Pitman Arm $148.74 + $105.00 labor
Idler Arm $155.88 + $70.00 labor
Alignment $105.00

plus a couple other small charges they have printed on the invoice...

Brake Clean Consumed $6.25
Grease Consumed $7.75
Freight IN $12.50

Here is what the total reads...

Merchandise $744.53
Labor $420.00
Misc -$183.50
Tax $59.75
Total Amount $1040.78

[PARAGON]

Originally posted by MarineHawk:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PhilD:
You can usually get 1-2" out of the stock keys just by cranking the up. Any higher than 2" and you will put the front geometry out too much and wear your steering components out faster. I wouldn't use +2 keys either.

As for the rest of the deal, (I presume they are installing either factory or Moog Pitman/idler), they are charging you over $500 for the install of everything. Not bad, but not that great either.

I know there are a thousand opinions on this one, but I still don't know the answer: Will cranking the torsion bars one inch adversely affect the durability of any of the front end components? Cranking 2"?

Will 1" that make the 37" tires fit better?

1" torsion adjustment plus 37" tires would improve my breakover angle a fair amount, right? How much?
Thanks in advance for any advice. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>It really depends on where they are now. If the truck is sitting hard down on the jounce bumpers (the yellow bump stops) you might could safely get 2" out of it. If you are just off the top of the jounce bumpers now, I would be scared to add another 1".

37" are going to fit no matter if you crank 'em or not. As a matter of fact, mine DID NOT rub and I cranked on my torsion bars, got an alignment among other things and now they are rubbing a little in a couple of spots, but the rubbing is very minor.

[PARAGON]

Originally posted by CBR_Raven:
ok, here's the run down on the prices...

2" torsion bar cams $79.95 + $84.00 labor
Front Shocks $89.99 + $105.00 labor
Rear Shocks $89.99 + $56.00 labor
Pitman Arm $148.74 + $105.00 labor
Idler Arm $155.88 + $70.00 labor

plus a couple other small charges they have printed on the invoice...

Brake Clean Consumed $6.25
Grease Consumed $7.75
Freight IN $12.50

Here is what the total reads...

Merchandise $744.53
Labor $420.00
Misc -$183.50
Tax $59.75
Total Amount $1040.78

Where is the alignment accounted for in that?

[PARAGON]

Not sure if you want to do anything but you could easily dump over $200 of that by not doing the keys and doing the shocks yourself. It would maybe take you a couple of hours (giving you plenty of time) to do the shocks.

[CBR_Raven]

Originally posted by PARAGON:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CBR_Raven:
ok, here's the run down on the prices...

2" torsion bar cams $79.95 + $84.00 labor
Front Shocks $89.99 + $105.00 labor
Rear Shocks $89.99 + $56.00 labor
Pitman Arm $148.74 + $105.00 labor
Idler Arm $155.88 + $70.00 labor

plus a couple other small charges they have printed on the invoice...

Brake Clean Consumed $6.25
Grease Consumed $7.75
Freight IN $12.50

Here is what the total reads...

Merchandise $744.53
Labor $420.00
Misc -$183.50
Tax $59.75
Total Amount $1040.78

Where is the alignment accounted for in that? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>my bad, i had to go back and edit that post and incude the alignment.

[MarineHawk]

Originally posted by PARAGON:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MarineHawk:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PhilD:
You can usually get 1-2" out of the stock keys just by cranking the up. Any higher than 2" and you will put the front geometry out too much and wear your steering components out faster. I wouldn't use +2 keys either.

As for the rest of the deal, (I presume they are installing either factory or Moog Pitman/idler), they are charging you over $500 for the install of everything. Not bad, but not that great either.

I know there are a thousand opinions on this one, but I still don't know the answer: Will cranking the torsion bars one inch adversely affect the durability of any of the front end components? Cranking 2"?

Will 1" that make the 37" tires fit better?

1" torsion adjustment plus 37" tires would improve my breakover angle a fair amount, right? How much?
Thanks in advance for any advice. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>It really depends on where they are now. If the truck is sitting hard down on the jounce bumpers (the yellow bump stops) you might could safely get 2" out of it. If you are just off the top of the jounce bumpers now, I would be scared to add another 1".

37" are going to fit no matter if you crank 'em or not. As a matter of fact, mine DID NOT rub and I cranked on my torsion bars, got an alignment among other things and now they are rubbing a little in a couple of spots, but the rubbing is very minor. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for the info. So I take it that these fine beasts aren't uniformally torsioned from the factory?
I'll check it out in the morning and see if I cen tell how far above the the jounce bumpers I am. I torsioned my Sierra about 1-1/2", but I was less concerned about #@^&ing it up.
(Side note: I just had the thing realligned when I had the tie rods upgraded - doh!!!)

[PARAGON]

Nope they are no where near the same from the factory. A couple of years ago I was trying to figure this out and went to the dealer lot and out of 9 vehicles 1 was the same, they were all different.

[CBR_Raven]

well, i got everything done. the steering feels a lot better and the new shocks seem to give the rig a better ride. i will take it back and have them check the alignment in about a week or so. thanks guys, for all the input.

[WORKIN]

Originally posted by CBR_Raven:
well, i got everything done. the steering feels a lot better and the new shocks seem to give the rig a better ride. i will take it back and have them check the alignment in about a week or so. thanks guys, for all the input.

After all that and no pics ? what's up with that........

[CBR_Raven]

Originally posted by WORKIN:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CBR_Raven:
well, i got everything done. the steering feels a lot better and the new shocks seem to give the rig a better ride. i will take it back and have them check the alignment in about a week or so. thanks guys, for all the input.

After all that and no pics ? what's up with that........ </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I didn't think pics would be neccessary for this lil mod but I will be posting more pics soon. here's a link to pics that i last posted before the 2" torsion keys and Rancho Shocks.

http://elcova.com/groupee/forums/a/t...1/m/8581051061