Well I did my daystar leveling kit this past weekend. The outcome was very minimal, wasnt too thrilled about it, but its just about level so I guess I cant complain too much.

Well after the install, I drove it around to make sure everything was still ok. I knew my shocks were bad but I had decided to do it at a later time. There was a rattle coming from the right one so I ended up replacing the two fronts today with Monroe Reflexes. To my surprise, they do not ride much different from my stock shocks that were in horrible condition. I thought they would have given it a bit different ride one way or another, softer or rougher. It rides almost exactly stock... Anyone else have an opinion in this? I also did new sway bar end links at the same time as the shocks.

 

The rough ride can also be due to the leveling kit. Once you alter the stock suspension, it's not going to feel the same. It is weird that you didn't notice any difference (smoother\rougher) when replacing the shocks, however. I sometimes miss the stock ride of my truck before I lifted it, but then I stand back and look at how it looks now and the rougher ride is totally worth it.

 

I have the Reflex Monotubes all the way around on the girlfriends Blazer and on the front of my truck and they work well for me. The ride is firmer than stock and was a huge improvement on both the Blazer and my truck.

I would guess that your ride quality issues are related to your leveling kit and not the shocks. I am sure that someone will trash Monroe shocks as Bilsteins are the choice shock on this site but I have never had any problems with them. I have had the others but keep coming back to Monroe.

 

Monroe shocks = FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

dang it. i was planning on putting in monroe gas-magnums. I still think anything will be better than my stockers with 180k

 

extended stockers and my ride is alright by me.

 

cranked the torsion bars and put rancho shocks no extension on mine and rides better than it did before i lifted it

 

When you guys say that the ride is "better", what are you meaning by it? The ride is softer and the bumps of the road are less noticeable, or the truck has a stiffer feel to it and drives more like an off-road truck?

Oh yea, DirtyD, why do you think the Refexes suck so bad? Im the type to usually try and buy the best, but my stock shock needed immediate replacement so I chose the Reflex because they seemed to be the biggest competitor to Bilsteins and are at my neighborhood parts store...