SHOCK Comparison - which do you think is best?

I'm in a 99 Tahoe LT 4x4

Tokico Trekmaster:
http://www.ajusa.com/cgi-bin/tokico/products?ajr_skey=f64e1e37e29925091d8645d7bc606985

OR

RANCHO RS9000X:
http://my4by.com/index.php?cPath=22

OR THE

KYB Monomax:
http://www.ajusa.com/cgi-bin/kyb/products?ajr_skey=f64e1e37e29925091d8645d7bc606985

ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS WELCOME. I'm looking for something that performs the best! I like the Ranchos adjustability for different terrains but I've never heard anything about them.

I have sold Rancho and Monomax, I would take the monomax over rancho every day of the week. I have the monomax on both my '94 K1500 and my wifes '02 S10 Crew and love them on both trucks. I don't know anything about the other brand that you mentioned, but I really like the ride of the Monomax. If your tahoe is not the z71, the monomax shocks will make it ride and handle like one. Hope this helps.

02 Hoe 4WD
I just installed the KYB MonoMax. Dropped the rear end about 2 inches (not what I wanted)... The MonoMax are almost half the diameter of the stock shocks...I hear they're Bilstein? As for the ride, ...they're a bit stiff but make the Hoe handle very nicely. Also have Eiback Anti-Sway bars (front and rear) plus I'm running 20's with Bear Eradispeed +1.

Other additions:

Series 77 K&N

Airaide Throttle Body (watch out if you don't have electric fans, clearance issues with K&N)

Magnaflo Duals (3 chamber)

Hypertech Superchip

I'd be happy to answer any questions about any of the above mods that I've installed

I use my Hoe in law enforcement, massive improvement over the Crown Vic that I had...

Jogit
Deputy in Texas

02 Hoe 4WD
I just installed the KYB MonoMax. Dropped the rear end about 2 inches (not what I wanted)... The MonoMax are almost half the diameter of the stock shocks...I hear they're Bilstein? As for the ride, ...they're a bit stiff but make the Hoe handle very nicely. Also have Eiback Anti-Sway bars (front and rear) plus I'm running 20's with Bear Eradispeed +1.

Other additions:

Series 77 K&N

Airaide Throttle Body (watch out if you don't have electric fans, clearance issues with K&N)

Magnaflo Duals (3 chamber)

Hypertech Superchip

I'd be happy to answer any questions about any of the above mods that I've installed

I use my Hoe in law enforcement, massive improvement over the Crown Vic that I had...

Jogit
Deputy in Texas


If the back end of your truck dropped 2 inches then your truck is either lifted and needs longer shocks or the part store you purchased them at sold you the wrong shocks. On my '94 K1500 it raised the back end of my truck between 1/2 - 1 inch. If your truck is stock, give me the part number off of the shock to see if you were given the correct shocks.

If the back end of your truck dropped 2 inches then your truck is either lifted and needs longer shocks or the part store you purchased them at sold you the wrong shocks. On my '94 K1500 it raised the back end of my truck between 1/2 - 1 inch. If your truck is stock, give me the part number off of the shock to see if you were given the correct shocks.

I purchased them from www.ajusa.com - here is the description from my order
KYB 565103 Item: MonoMax High Performance Shocks Rear
Fits: 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE V8 5.3L

565103 is the number stamped on the end of the box that the rear shocks came in from KYB.

Thanks in advance for looking into this!!!

That is the correct part number, but is it the same part number on the bottom of the shock? Has your tahoe been lifted?

Yep, everything matches up on the part number off the KYB shock.. The suspension hasn't been lifted, everything was stilll stock until I indstalled the new KYBs. I talked to a tech at KYB today and he said that I may in fact have what I may have is called Autoride Suspension or Premium Smooth Ride Suspension even though there are no wires connected to the rear shock (like some of the front shocks with that suspension). No kidding, the stock shock is 2.85"OD on the bottom metal part (3.23"OD on the plastic boot - top) and is 24.75" long. The KYB MonoMax is 1.98"OD and about 22" long. He also said that if I do infact have the Autoride Suspension or Premium Smooth Ride Suspension, that it would make sense that there was and approximate 2" drop and that KYB will not have a direct replacement for this until later this year. Three things I also noticed since installing the KYB - 1, I like the stiffness and handling. 2, I bottom out going through small dips...and 3, there is an awful knocking/bumping when on a "washboard" road. So, it looks like the stock shocks go back on until I can find a satisfactory replacement so I can get the rear of my hoe back up and running smooth without bottoming out.

BTW - the stock shock has an orange and yellow lable with black text and says "SACHS" in the bottom left corner and "15029588" over "TXU" in the bottom right corner of the sticker. On the right side of the sticker along the edge is a bar code with D06/101/2/3/0235 under it, also "Made in U.S.A." (KYB is made in Japan)....for what that's worth.

Many thanks for your help horse!!

Trial and error - what an experience!