Bilstein Steering Stabilizer
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 643
Likes: 38
From: LA = Louisiana
Just hung up with John at Bilstein...… one of their tech/application guys.
He said that he would not recommend using any shock that is not tuned as a steering dampner in a dual system.
He did say that they have several that are used in Superlift dual steering kits (they are 5100 units with a Superlift label). If they have one that meets the specs he said that would be the best choice. So now I will do another search.
He also suggested that if I cannot find one that is tuned/tested as a dampner that will fit/work, that the best thing may very well be to use a brand that has been tuned and tested to work (i.e. - Fox, King, etc.)
Right now I'm pretty much at the point of using PMF with Bilstein ………… or if I like the Kelderman kit better just go ahead and go with the Kelderman Fox kit.
NOTE: The closest Bilstein that I have found is a steering dampner:
Fox 985-24-068 collapsed 17.85" extended 28.95" travel 11.1"
Bilstein 33-170862 collapsed 18.11" extended 27.56" travel 9.45"
So from the midpoint of the Fox, this Bilstein would be 1.315" short fully extended and .26" long fully compressed. I don't think the compressed length is an issue (only .25" delta) but the expanded length being about 1.315" short is a stretch. Not really sure without someone with a Kelderman measuring their total extended length of the their Fox unit. If the Kelderman is only extending the Fox to about 27.5" then this Bilstein would work. I would assume this is measured from the center of each eyelet. I am assuming here that the Fox unit is mounted on the Kelderman brackets at it's midpoint of travel.
He said that he would not recommend using any shock that is not tuned as a steering dampner in a dual system.
He did say that they have several that are used in Superlift dual steering kits (they are 5100 units with a Superlift label). If they have one that meets the specs he said that would be the best choice. So now I will do another search.
He also suggested that if I cannot find one that is tuned/tested as a dampner that will fit/work, that the best thing may very well be to use a brand that has been tuned and tested to work (i.e. - Fox, King, etc.)
Right now I'm pretty much at the point of using PMF with Bilstein ………… or if I like the Kelderman kit better just go ahead and go with the Kelderman Fox kit.
NOTE: The closest Bilstein that I have found is a steering dampner:
Fox 985-24-068 collapsed 17.85" extended 28.95" travel 11.1"
Bilstein 33-170862 collapsed 18.11" extended 27.56" travel 9.45"
So from the midpoint of the Fox, this Bilstein would be 1.315" short fully extended and .26" long fully compressed. I don't think the compressed length is an issue (only .25" delta) but the expanded length being about 1.315" short is a stretch. Not really sure without someone with a Kelderman measuring their total extended length of the their Fox unit. If the Kelderman is only extending the Fox to about 27.5" then this Bilstein would work. I would assume this is measured from the center of each eyelet. I am assuming here that the Fox unit is mounted on the Kelderman brackets at it's midpoint of travel.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 8
I was thinking about going that same route with an aftermarket single. But my truck is one of the unfortunate ones that actually had death wobble (I hate that term) and is completely stock right down to the original tires at the time DW occurred. Didn’t want to deal with it again so went the dual route. Also feel like the drag link and maybe the track bar received undue wear and tear for the few thousand miles the truck was wobbling so working on a slow plan to replace them too. They both feel like they have too much movement in the joints/bushings to me. The tie rod ends feel nice and tight though so not going to mess with them...... yet!
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,277
Likes: 949
I was thinking about going that same route with an aftermarket single. But my truck is one of the unfortunate ones that actually had death wobble (I hate that term) and is completely stock right down to the original tires at the time DW occurred. Didn’t want to deal with it again so went the dual route. Also feel like the drag link and maybe the track bar received undue wear and tear for the few thousand miles the truck was wobbling so working on a slow plan to replace them too. They both feel like they have too much movement in the joints/bushings to me. The tie rod ends feel nice and tight though so not going to mess with them...... yet!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 244
Likes: 45
Good luck getting one of these stabilizers. Seems they are out of stock everywhere. I ordered 5100 shocks on June 10th from 4wheel parts and still waiting for the fronts. I will get this stabilizer though....guess I'll just have to wait. Dang covid thing!
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
I ordered mine last night from these guys, I already have a shipping confirmation so they may be the best option? Amazon had a 10 day wait.
https://www.shocksurplus.com/
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 244
Likes: 45
I ordered mine last night from these guys, I already have a shipping confirmation so they may be the best option? Amazon had a 10 day wait.
https://www.shocksurplus.com/
https://www.shocksurplus.com/
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 244
Likes: 45
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 4,064
Likes: 13
Has the Bilstien been in stock anywhere yet, or are they all waiting to recieve stock being that its a new item? When I looked before it almost seemed like a pre order type deal.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 244
Likes: 45
Does kind of seem like a pre-order deal. I ordered one anyway from 4wheel parts so, the wait is on. Looking forward to improved steering over the stock stabilizer, though my 2017 F250 drives ok I get a occasional slight shimmy.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,277
Likes: 949
Fixed your post.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Just wanted to post up and say that I bought the Bilstein steering dampener and put it on last night. While I cannot say that my truck was doing the same thing as everyone else's trucks, I can say that my truck was exhibiting exactly what the new Steering Dampener TSB described. For a couple reasons I decided to bypass going to Ford and just install this part. I can tell you that it fixed exactly what my truck is doing. Easy install, no real special tools needed and about 30 min of time, taking you time. Highly recommend if you are annoyed by the steering wheel feedback but don't want or don't need to go to a dual steering stabilizer.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,277
Likes: 949
Just wanted to post up and say that I bought the Bilstein steering dampener and put it on last night. While I cannot say that my truck was doing the same thing as everyone else's trucks, I can say that my truck was exhibiting exactly what the new Steering Dampener TSB described. For a couple reasons I decided to bypass going to Ford and just install this part. I can tell you that it fixed exactly what my truck is doing. Easy install, no real special tools needed and about 30 min of time, taking you time. Highly recommend if you are annoyed by the steering wheel feedback but don't want or don't need to go to a dual steering stabilizer.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
https://sportcompactwarehouse.com/bilstein-24-286558
seems like they went up a little since i bought but they were in stock and shipped fast