I was thinking about getting some Bilstein Heavy Duty shocks for my 97 f150 4X4. I don't do much offroading but I do tow a trailer sometimes and cary some tools in the back of my truck. So I am more into the smoothness of the ride than anythiing. I've heard alot of good things about Bilstein 5100's and up but haven't heard alot about their OEM Heavy Duty shocks. What do you guy's think and where is the cheapest place to buy. So far I've seen them at about $70/front and $65/back

Thanks

 

I have Bilsteins on the front of my F350. They are more of a performance shock than a cushy riding shock. They really help reduce sway and leaning in curves and are good off road. If want a softer riding shock maybe some Monroe SensaTracs would be good.

 

Once they break in they are very smooth riding shocks. You will notice a little more cab movement versus suspension movement on big dips in a highway, but it really doesn't seem rough at all, just much more controled. Mine is a 99 4x2 and yours will definetly be valved different, but I've put them on three vehicles and they are the best improvement I've made to any of them. On an f350 I've heard they can be stiff, but on 1/2 tons they are ideal. That is a good price for them. you won't be dissapointed.

 

You might want to check out www.offroadwarehouse.com , as my fronts were only $57 there. For $75 you can get Rancho RS9000X adjustable shocks from the same place.

 

tdister, how long does it take you to break in your new Bilsteins? I put them on my 98 Expy less than a week ago. Extremely impressed with the control, but I sure wish they were smoother on the bumps and potholes. Will it get any better????

 

I noticed a difference about 100 miles, but by 500-700 I would say they are pretty well broken in. Some of that may just me getting adapted to them. Also check your tire pressure, as I had mine a little over recomended to compesate for the weak shocks. Potholes are always going to be rough with these, they are designed to keep the tire in contact with the ground, and that comes with the teriitory. I drive through an auto gate everyday that has a vertical 1 1/2" steel plate coming off the ground, in situations like this the ride has definetly improved. Is yours a 4X4?

 

It's a 4X4, yes. It is definetely starting to get smoother. Still firm in the city, but I think getting smoother. Some of it, like you say, may just be getting used to them. I'm pretty picky about stuff like this, especially with the cash that was needed to be shelled out. Here is a post from a guy at the Expy forum that has Koni's, and explains why he thinks they are superior to Bilstein's:

-------
Bilstein's give a firm controlled ride BUT-it is a single tube shock. Koni's are double tube and a softer controlled ride and that's why I got them.

Never had Bilsteins . All I can tell you is what I know about single tube shocks. A double tube shock has an advantage as far as keeping the ride "softer" yet firms up like a single tube shock when needed (aka-spirited driving). Is the difference overwelming?-I don't know, is the difference noticeable?-I'd guess yes.
-----------

It's too bad a guy can't test drive a few before buying them.

I appreciate your comments.

 

I never really hear bad things about Koni's, but most things I hear are about how good the ride is, not how well they handle. Handleing and control were my concerns. most things I hear on Bilsteins is how well they handle and people were surprised to still have a decent ride. Definatly a better option than Monroe or Gabriel though.

 

I haven't noticed my shocks 'breaking in' or changing in ride quality or damping level and I have had them on for oh maybe 3000 miles, some of that off road driving. I think that may just be that with a one ton 4x4 with straight axle/leaf spring frontend, the ride is going to be rough no matter what...

 

I'd skip the Sensa-tracks. I put a set on my Bronco less than 12 months ago and all 4 are completely shot. I've treated them well too, almost no offroad use and minimal thrashing. I've got a set of Bilsteins on the way Oh, as for the Rancho 9000's, I had a set on my lifted explorer, they were great!

 

SaCalDesertRider, I've heard that a good rule of thumb is: Heavy springs need lighter shocks, light springs (1/2 tons) need heavier shocks. Is yours a diesel? Did you consider it a stiff ride before? Just wondering for some family members, Thanks.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. I decided to give the Bilsteins a shot!

 

Centurion: good choice, I'm sure you'll like them!

Tdister: The ride was stiff before with the old shocks, but it was also bouncy because the shocks were old and it leaned around curves. Now it is still stiff, but not bouncy, and it doesn't lean in corners as much. The stiffness is from the springs (heavy leaf springs). The truck has a 351 gas V8. Stiff shocks on a light sprung vehicle can make the ride stiffer, but that is not what happened here. The general idea with damping is that on a heavy vehicle, with heavy springs, you need more damping, especially when you have alot of unsprung weight, which is what I have because of the Dana 60 straight axle. On a lighter truck with independent frontend (less unsprung weight) and softer springs (not carrying such a heavy load), you would need less damping. Presumably, shocks are made with the proper damping designed for the vehicle they are intended to go on. I would imagine a Bilstein for my truck would have harder damping (resistance to movement) than a shock designed for a 2wd half ton with IFS, at least I would hope so...

An illustration of this point is the way the Rancho 9000's work. They have adjustable damping. If I run the damping adjuster all the way up when the truck is empty, the ride is really harsh. But running them all the way up when the truck is loaded with alot of weight yeilds a firm ride and better control in curves. Running the shocks with the damping all the way down when empty yeilds a softer ride, but if I run them that way when the truck is loaded, it is bouncy and wollowy in the curves, because the damping isn't strong enough to control the axle and body movement with the increased weight. I have found that position 3 (on a 1 to 9 scale, with 9 having the most damping effect) is ok for empty, 5 is good for lightly loaded, 7 is good for moderately loaded, and 9 is good for overloaded. I didn't like them on 1 even when empty, the truck felt wallowy.

(I have Bilsteins on the front axle and 9000's on the rear axle.)

You are right though, on 2 otherwise equal vehicles of equal weight, the one with stiffer springs would require less damping and the one with softer springs would require more damping to have a near equal ride in both of them.

 

As a follow up on the Bilsteins....I installed mine last night to replace my worn out Sensatracs. So far I really like them...I gave them a good work last night, bombing down a bumpy dirt road at 40, they felt great, the CD player didn't even skip. At slow speeds they seem somewhat stiff but at high speed, they really shine. Now, if they last at least twice as long as the monroes (1 yr) I will have spent the same amount of $ and saved myself a couple hours of wrench turning!!

 

Remember, they have a lifetime warranty. Thanks for the follow-up