How Do Bilsteins Ride?
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How Do Bilsteins Ride?
Question for the SD guys with the Bilsteins: When I installed Bilsteins on my Dodge Ram the ride went from comfortable (if not a little uncontrolled due to the OEM shocks being worn out) to feeling like I pumped the tires up to 100 psi. How do the Bilsteins do in the SuperDutys compared to the OEM gas-charged shocks as far as the ride is concerned?
Thanks.
2001 SD CC V-10 4x4 Lariat
Thanks.
2001 SD CC V-10 4x4 Lariat
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From: Broken Arrow, OK.
It improved my ride quite a bit, my OEM shocks were wore out and when I replaced with the Bilsteins it smoothed out the ride. Are you positive that you got the right model number for your Ram? I don't know if you ordered yours online but they may have sent the wrong ones.
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I like mine. I had the FX4 Rancho branded shocks and the Bilsteins are an improvement all the way around. Controlled but not harsh. From what you're describing about the Ram shocks, they were either too long or too short putting the shock in the wrong part of the stroke while at rest.
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I had a similar problem with my 2001 Dodge Ram. I put the bilsteins on and it felt like I had cement tires. I am not trying to knock Bilstein, they make a great product. It just did not work out on that truck. [same as the transmission, oil pump,every gasket on it, etc,etc, but that is another story]I wouldn't hesitate to put them on a heavier truck like a 250.
I put some RS9000s on my 05 250 about a month ago and have been very pleased with them. It took a few days to find the best setting for what I do with the truck but ever since it is a vast improvement over the stock. The "road bounce" that alot of people talk about was gone instantly.
A note to anyone with an 05 250: Dump the stock shocks, it is absolutely worth the price in inprovement.
I put some RS9000s on my 05 250 about a month ago and have been very pleased with them. It took a few days to find the best setting for what I do with the truck but ever since it is a vast improvement over the stock. The "road bounce" that alot of people talk about was gone instantly.
A note to anyone with an 05 250: Dump the stock shocks, it is absolutely worth the price in inprovement.
Last edited by toypuller; Nov 29, 2005 at 07:44 AM.
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Originally Posted by bdjupiter
Are you positive that you got the right model number for your Ram? I don't know if you ordered yours online but they may have sent the wrong ones.
Originally Posted by dmp437
From what you're describing about the Ram shocks, they were either too long or too short putting the shock in the wrong part of the stroke while at rest.
Originally Posted by toypuller
I put some RS9000s on my 05 250 about a month ago and have been very pleased with them. It took a few days to find the best setting for what I do with the truck but ever since it is a vast improvement over the stock. The "road bounce" that alot of people talk about was gone instantly.
Since the price of the Bilsteins and the RS9000s are virtually the same, I'm going to have to think awhile about which shock to get.
Thanks.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
toypuller,
I have an 05 CC-LB (172" wb) and it sounds like what I'm thinking is the issue with mine. I have sizable suspension resonance issue (you can see the headlights flash on road signs on some roads) at ~70 MPH on some freeways (ohio, concrete slab).
I have tried to air up the continentals to make sure it was not soft sidewalls (was not), now I can only figure that the rancho FX4 shocks have a dead zone in the valving that allows the suspension to move very slightly undamped. Perhaps the better (non OEM; cheap) RS9000s (or other) will have better small displacement damping.
I think I will try the 9000s. Anyone elses thoughts?
Pete
I have an 05 CC-LB (172" wb) and it sounds like what I'm thinking is the issue with mine. I have sizable suspension resonance issue (you can see the headlights flash on road signs on some roads) at ~70 MPH on some freeways (ohio, concrete slab).
I have tried to air up the continentals to make sure it was not soft sidewalls (was not), now I can only figure that the rancho FX4 shocks have a dead zone in the valving that allows the suspension to move very slightly undamped. Perhaps the better (non OEM; cheap) RS9000s (or other) will have better small displacement damping.
I think I will try the 9000s. Anyone elses thoughts?
Pete
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From: Milky Way Galaxy
Originally Posted by 1wheel
. . . I have sizable suspension resonance issue (you can see the headlights flash on road signs on some roads) at ~70 MPH on some freeways (ohio, concrete slab) . . .
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Rather Be Floatin
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From: Marble Falls, Tx.
Envirocon, Thet do have Bilsteins for non lifted superduties. I have an 2003 F-250 PSD and have some Bilstein BES-2815 (Front) BES-2816 (Rear) currently on order for my mule. Reasonalably priced too! The Rancho 9000's were a little too high priced for my budget. Not knocking Rancho they have a great product too just the 9000's are $25.00 a shock higher.
Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
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I ordered mine from eshocks.com and they shipped the same day and free UPS ground shipping for ordering a set of 4.
I checked many sites and found eshocks.com the lowest and informative site.
I love my Bilsteins on my 2003 Excusrion 4X4 diesel.
Good luck.
I checked many sites and found eshocks.com the lowest and informative site.
I love my Bilsteins on my 2003 Excusrion 4X4 diesel.
Good luck.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Milky Way Galaxy
Originally Posted by RedBoat
Envirocon, Thet do have Bilsteins for non lifted superduties. I have an 2003 F-250 PSD and have some Bilstein BES-2815 (Front) BES-2816 (Rear) currently on order for my mule. Reasonalably priced too! The Rancho 9000's were a little too high priced for my budget. Not knocking Rancho they have a great product too just the 9000's are $25.00 a shock higher.
Last edited by EnviroCon; Nov 30, 2005 at 11:19 AM.
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From: San Diego
Originally Posted by dmp437
From what you're describing about the Ram shocks, they were either too long or too short putting the shock in the wrong part of the stroke while at rest.
Originally Posted by Toy3zve
Sounds like a possibility
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Joined: Aug 2005
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I've had Bilsteins on a few other trucks that I've had. While they're a definite improvement in offroad capability, they never have improved the ride of the vehicle. I've found that the rears are too stiff and usually make the ride worse. I think of it as a give and take. Want a great off road shock? Get a bilstein because there's not much better. What a great highway shock? Look somewhere else. Don't be fooled by people who tell you the truck rides like a caddie. It doesn't or they don't know what a caddie rides like.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Broken Arrow, OK.
I don't think that anyone told him that his truck would ride like a caddie, what was told to him is that it is not normal for his truck to ride horrible after changing his shocks. The advice given to him has been spot on. Bilsteins or Rancho's will both improve the ride of a worn out OEM shock.