New Shocks Today
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 934
Likes: 248
From: CA
New Shocks Today
Well like the title says, I installed Bilstien 5100's on my F350 today. It's a 4x4 SRW, so I think it was pretty straight forward. The only issue I found was the lower bracket on the passenger side rear was loose. This was causing the old shock to rub against the sway bar. It didn't rub through but it sure had a nice size divot in it. I installed the new shock, used a floor jack to lift the point where the shock connects then retightened the u-bolts that hold the bracket. Took her out for a little drive and all I can say it what an improvement. But that isn't to surprising the old shock could be compressed by hand and had no rebound.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,893
Likes: 3,611
I went with these after I installed the heavy duty front bumper replacement (w/ brush guard ). I like them a lot.
https://www.bilstein.com/us/en/produ...stein-b8-5160/
The regular duty Bilsteins had started to cause "scalloping" of the tires.
https://www.bilstein.com/us/en/produ...stein-b8-5160/
The regular duty Bilsteins had started to cause "scalloping" of the tires.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 479
Likes: 34
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2010
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,893
Likes: 3,611
I had quite a few miles on my 5100's when the problems began - probably around 100k. That said, it did correlate (came on pretty quickly) with the extra weight on the front. Who knows if the issue was the weight, or weak shocks, or (probably more likely) both. Road condition can also play a big part in individual applications I would think (ie YMMV).
Rotated tires and changed the shocks and no more problems with abnormal tire wear. Now I have 4 new Toyo Mud Terrains and the ride is VERY nice!
Rotated tires and changed the shocks and no more problems with abnormal tire wear. Now I have 4 new Toyo Mud Terrains and the ride is VERY nice!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 239
Likes: 59
I replaced my 170K miles OEM shocks with a set of the 5100’s expecting to feel a big difference. Surprise! There isn’t a bit of difference. None. The old shocks had no rebound and compressed fully with one hand. I have almost talked myself into removing the new ones and trying the same “test” of a hand push and wait for rebound but it’s been 30K miles and I’m lazy.
2006 SRW 4x4 F250 ”with the full Bill Hewitt Treatment”
2006 SRW 4x4 F250 ”with the full Bill Hewitt Treatment”
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 239
Likes: 59
Good question. Honestly I don’t know what I was expecting. It’s been 14 years since my truck had brand new shocks. My back and neck were only 24 years old and the novelty of owning my first brand new vehicle (go big or go home right?) trumped any chance of me remembering a minor detail like suspension behavior.
I can say with confidence that I was not expecting there to be no discernible difference between old and new.
I drove on the old shocks to pick up the new shocks and an hour later I drove on the new shocks.
What just happened? Did I put the old shocks back on? Nope. I see them in the driveway. These are definitely new.
Well that sucks.
I can say with confidence that I was not expecting there to be no discernible difference between old and new.
I drove on the old shocks to pick up the new shocks and an hour later I drove on the new shocks.
What just happened? Did I put the old shocks back on? Nope. I see them in the driveway. These are definitely new.
Well that sucks.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 722
Likes: 22
From: New Orleans to San Diego
I went with these after I installed the heavy duty front bumper replacement (w/ brush guard ). I like them a lot.
https://www.bilstein.com/us/en/produ...stein-b8-5160/
The regular duty Bilsteins had started to cause "scalloping" of the tires.
https://www.bilstein.com/us/en/produ...stein-b8-5160/
The regular duty Bilsteins had started to cause "scalloping" of the tires.
The link you posted is a good looking shock.
Is your truck 2wd or 4wd?
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,826
Likes: 3,110
From: Jersey Shore
Marker,
I had flipped mine at approximately 15k miles along with adding BFG tires and an Excursion front sway bar and Helwig rear bar. While the tires were slightly softer, the bars caused more jarring with potholes, but flatter cornering, which I wanted. I was looking for softer compression shocks, they were.
I had flipped mine at approximately 15k miles along with adding BFG tires and an Excursion front sway bar and Helwig rear bar. While the tires were slightly softer, the bars caused more jarring with potholes, but flatter cornering, which I wanted. I was looking for softer compression shocks, they were.