Why Bilsteins?
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 25
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Why Bilsteins?
Hello Everyone!
Please pardon my ignorance here. I am new to the DIY lifestyle on cars. After leaving a company car w/ provided maintenance (10 years) I have been bitten by the bug. It is also a carryover from my father dragging my butt out of the house to help him on the old Biscayne Wagon and '72 Skylark.
Anyway, I have been reading a lot about the Bilstein Shocks on here and around the net. What I can not find is a comparison of these to other shocks. I guess I am looking for something a little bit more than "Trust me." to help me choke down the price difference! About the cheapest I can find is $239.00 for set of 4 new with free shipping.
Please feel free to flame or whatever. Looking for an education here.
Drew
'02 Expedition 2wd AirLeveling XLT
Please pardon my ignorance here. I am new to the DIY lifestyle on cars. After leaving a company car w/ provided maintenance (10 years) I have been bitten by the bug. It is also a carryover from my father dragging my butt out of the house to help him on the old Biscayne Wagon and '72 Skylark.
Anyway, I have been reading a lot about the Bilstein Shocks on here and around the net. What I can not find is a comparison of these to other shocks. I guess I am looking for something a little bit more than "Trust me." to help me choke down the price difference! About the cheapest I can find is $239.00 for set of 4 new with free shipping.
Please feel free to flame or whatever. Looking for an education here.
Drew
'02 Expedition 2wd AirLeveling XLT
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2005
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this is my first post here on ford-trucks. I found this forum because i was doing research on which shocks i should get for my expedition. I new i need to change shocks because my expy would be boucning all over the place.
Well, after reading nearly all the posts on shocks, bilsteins, ranchos and monroes. What i found was this:
1. No reported anything bad about bilsteins. There were mixed reviews with all other name brands. 100% off all the comments of people who had em were positive. Many of those who owned other brands would say "...looking into bilsteins."
2. They apparently last longer than other shocks. Making it less expensive in the long run.
3. "firm, but not harsh" seems to be the consensus.
I just ordered my set from eshocks.com (which btw had some of the best customer service i've ever experienced) which are due to arrive this weekend. I will get them installed next week and report back.
Well, after reading nearly all the posts on shocks, bilsteins, ranchos and monroes. What i found was this:
1. No reported anything bad about bilsteins. There were mixed reviews with all other name brands. 100% off all the comments of people who had em were positive. Many of those who owned other brands would say "...looking into bilsteins."
2. They apparently last longer than other shocks. Making it less expensive in the long run.
3. "firm, but not harsh" seems to be the consensus.
I just ordered my set from eshocks.com (which btw had some of the best customer service i've ever experienced) which are due to arrive this weekend. I will get them installed next week and report back.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 418
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From: Richmond, TX
Originally Posted by DrewCosgrove
Hello Everyone!
Please pardon my ignorance here. I am new to the DIY lifestyle on cars. After leaving a company car w/ provided maintenance (10 years) I have been bitten by the bug. It is also a carryover from my father dragging my butt out of the house to help him on the old Biscayne Wagon and '72 Skylark.
Anyway, I have been reading a lot about the Bilstein Shocks on here and around the net. What I can not find is a comparison of these to other shocks. I guess I am looking for something a little bit more than "Trust me." to help me choke down the price difference! About the cheapest I can find is $239.00 for set of 4 new with free shipping.
Please feel free to flame or whatever. Looking for an education here.
Drew
'02 Expedition 2wd AirLeveling XLT
Please pardon my ignorance here. I am new to the DIY lifestyle on cars. After leaving a company car w/ provided maintenance (10 years) I have been bitten by the bug. It is also a carryover from my father dragging my butt out of the house to help him on the old Biscayne Wagon and '72 Skylark.
Anyway, I have been reading a lot about the Bilstein Shocks on here and around the net. What I can not find is a comparison of these to other shocks. I guess I am looking for something a little bit more than "Trust me." to help me choke down the price difference! About the cheapest I can find is $239.00 for set of 4 new with free shipping.
Please feel free to flame or whatever. Looking for an education here.
Drew
'02 Expedition 2wd AirLeveling XLT
Seriously though, you have LLS and Bilstein is one of the FEW top end manufacturers that make a set for LLS. They do last longer than your regular brands. They last longer than most other high end brands. They are good!
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 545
Likes: 1
From: Shreveport, La.
Bilsteins, buy 'em you'll like 'em. Ride quality.
There are much higher priced shocks out there by the way, and the cheaper ones all offer the same stiff ride.
There are much higher priced shocks out there by the way, and the cheaper ones all offer the same stiff ride.
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Originally Posted by 01silvergt
This......
Also Known As......What the4by4freek said above.
Also Known As......What the4by4freek said above.
Got it.
Thanks for all the replies. I guess what I am looking for is if anybody has any info like "Bilsteins are made with XYZ metal that is stonger than the competition's" or "Bilstein's have XYZ design and the competition has a design that is PDQ." Stuff like that.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 545
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From: Shreveport, La.
Originally Posted by DrewCosgrove
In the immortal words of Homer Simpson..."Doh!"
Thanks for all the replies. I guess what I am looking for is if anybody has any info like "Bilsteins are made with XYZ metal that is stonger than the competition's" or "Bilstein's have XYZ design and the competition has a design that is PDQ." Stuff like that.
Thanks for all the replies. I guess what I am looking for is if anybody has any info like "Bilsteins are made with XYZ metal that is stonger than the competition's" or "Bilstein's have XYZ design and the competition has a design that is PDQ." Stuff like that.
If you want to compare to other brands, then go to their web site for their info.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 418
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From: Richmond, TX
Originally Posted by DrewCosgrove
In the immortal words of Homer Simpson..."Doh!"
Got it.
Thanks for all the replies. I guess what I am looking for is if anybody has any info like "Bilsteins are made with XYZ metal that is stonger than the competition's" or "Bilstein's have XYZ design and the competition has a design that is PDQ." Stuff like that.
Got it.
Thanks for all the replies. I guess what I am looking for is if anybody has any info like "Bilsteins are made with XYZ metal that is stonger than the competition's" or "Bilstein's have XYZ design and the competition has a design that is PDQ." Stuff like that.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 418
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From: Richmond, TX
Originally Posted by gibsonj
Hey 01SilverGT
Do you have a Bilstein part number for front replacement on LLS Expy? I can only find a listing for rear.
Thanks.
Do you have a Bilstein part number for front replacement on LLS Expy? I can only find a listing for rear.
Thanks.
Front – BE5-2571 (w/ and w/out LLS)
Rear – BE5-2573 (NON LLS)
Rear - BE5-2572 (With LLS)
4wd;
Front - N/A (W/ LLS)
Rear - BE5-2573 (w/ LLS)
Front - BE5-2574 (Non LLS)
Rear - BE5-2575 (Non LLS)
These are part numbers for factory ride height suspensions. If you have a lifted truck, you need to check the Bilstein site out for additional information.
http://www.bilstein.com/302trucks&suvs.pdf
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Richmond, TX
Originally Posted by gibsonj
Thanks for the reply.
I have 4WD with LLS, so guess I'm outa luck for Bilsteins on the front.
Any suggestions? Thanks.
I have 4WD with LLS, so guess I'm outa luck for Bilsteins on the front.
Any suggestions? Thanks.
You can still go with a high end shock in the rear, others do it all the time with LLS 4x4 systems. Do you tow? Do you haul heavy stuff? If you do, then go with a top brand shock in the rear and factory replacement up front.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 304
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From: Connecticut
Napa should have it by now, as well Monroe (aftermarket front LLS shocks) - cheaper than factory, I don't know if they are any better. I waited for them to become available but needed the front shocks already so I went with factory. For rear, I used the Bilstein.
For reasonable factory price, try fordpartscheap.com.
For reasonable factory price, try fordpartscheap.com.