Bilstein: Front AND Rear?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: North Central Florida
Bilstein: Front AND Rear?
Preface: I plan of installing a set of Bilstien 5100's on the front of my '06 F250 that has a 2 1/2" leveling kit. The truck has about 5K miles on the Rancho's that came as OEM.
1) Should I buy Bilstein's for the rear or just leave the Rancho's?
2) If you think the Bilstein's would be the way to go on the rear should I buy 5100's too or just the HD's?
Thanks for reading.
Edit to add: Most of my driving is highway but about 10% is rough, pot holed, wash boarded and just plain bumpy lime rock.
1) Should I buy Bilstein's for the rear or just leave the Rancho's?
2) If you think the Bilstein's would be the way to go on the rear should I buy 5100's too or just the HD's?
Thanks for reading.
Edit to add: Most of my driving is highway but about 10% is rough, pot holed, wash boarded and just plain bumpy lime rock.
Last edited by RGT; Apr 13, 2007 at 08:36 AM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 0
From: Great Falls, Montana
I've heard good things about the bilsteins and been awhile since I heard anyhting good about rancho's.
Of course, we also deal with road salt and the main complaints are damaged finish.
Of course, we also deal with road salt and the main complaints are damaged finish.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 0
From: central TX
I would get both ends. I've never experienced the 5100's.
A story about my parents Sequoia: I put HD's on it when it had ~60K miles on it. I knew they originals were gone, it wouldn't keep the tires planted under heavy breaking over bumps, lots of brake dive, leaning etc. Keep in mind it has slightly over sized tires on it. I did the fronts first and took it for a quick test drive. Took it to the same horrible bumpy road that I really noticed the problem before.
It was worse over all! Different, but worse. It actually felt very dangerous, very out of balance (handling-wise). Went home to check everything, seemed fine. Went ahead and did the rears too. Took it back out and it was a completely different animal. It felt perfect. They really needed to be matched, their is too big a difference between the shocks to not have a matched set on that truck.
If I were doing it, I would probaably get the 5100 over the HD. There's a good chance they will compliment each other a bit better.
A story about my parents Sequoia: I put HD's on it when it had ~60K miles on it. I knew they originals were gone, it wouldn't keep the tires planted under heavy breaking over bumps, lots of brake dive, leaning etc. Keep in mind it has slightly over sized tires on it. I did the fronts first and took it for a quick test drive. Took it to the same horrible bumpy road that I really noticed the problem before.
It was worse over all! Different, but worse. It actually felt very dangerous, very out of balance (handling-wise). Went home to check everything, seemed fine. Went ahead and did the rears too. Took it back out and it was a completely different animal. It felt perfect. They really needed to be matched, their is too big a difference between the shocks to not have a matched set on that truck.
If I were doing it, I would probaably get the 5100 over the HD. There's a good chance they will compliment each other a bit better.
Last edited by tdister; Apr 13, 2007 at 05:36 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 0
From: central TX
Oh, and even near new like yours I would do them all. I've installed about 6 sets over the years. Never on anything over a half ton, but the differences are always dramatic...even over fresh OE-style shocks.
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
ranchos are the worst shocks i have ever had in any of my trucks,besides the crappy finish (they look ancient after a year) they ride as if they were filled with cement,plus I had them fail on 2 different trucks(the bottoms blew out)
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 1
From: Monroe, MI
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 936
Likes: 1
I like the edlebrock's over the bilstein's - both ride well, but bilstein uses rubber bushings where edlebrock uses polyurethane, which will out last rubber by far.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 0
From: central TX
And that's a valid point. However, mine are doing just fine at ~70K miles.
It is also seemingly pretty soft rubber. I think the general consensus the last time this was discussed is that they are quieter and since they are compressed so much the handling difference aspect near nil.
I though the Edelbrocks rode well, but the didn't do much for everyday handling improvement. Too soft at "normal" suspension compression. I've also heard of them not lasting that long by a couple people, I don't have a whole lot of actual or vicarious experience with them though.
It is also seemingly pretty soft rubber. I think the general consensus the last time this was discussed is that they are quieter and since they are compressed so much the handling difference aspect near nil.
I though the Edelbrocks rode well, but the didn't do much for everyday handling improvement. Too soft at "normal" suspension compression. I've also heard of them not lasting that long by a couple people, I don't have a whole lot of actual or vicarious experience with them though.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by tdister
I did the fronts first and took it for a quick test drive. Took it to the same horrible bumpy road that I really noticed the problem before.
It was worse over all! Different, but worse.
It was worse over all! Different, but worse.
My Rancho 9000x's look like they are 20 years old - after 5 years of winter salt, so I gotta agree about the finish thing.
But performance wise and adjustability, can't complain. They turned my '01 into (almost) a sports car - or at least a '74 highboy.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: BC Canada
Hey i have run the bilstein 5100. They work great! But had some coating issues with the finish. One year and the finish looked real bad. I actually got warranty for them but i dont think it was worth the hassle. The one guy at bilstein said that the finish went because i live in "CANADA". Anyways, the shocks work great but the finsih will not last for a winter. I will try the Donahoe shocks on my new truck.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
for the record, the HD replacement Bilstein shocks are the same things as the 5100's... the only difference being that the 5100's are for lifted applications while the HD replacements are vehicle specific... that, and I believe the finishes are different on both (yellow/blue for the HD, silver/black for the 5100's)...
fwiw, I have 5150s on the my ranger, and they perform awesome... never really liked the ranchos on my dads 01 F-150...
Joey
fwiw, I have 5150s on the my ranger, and they perform awesome... never really liked the ranchos on my dads 01 F-150...
Joey
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 936
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by shoobear
Hey i have run the bilstein 5100. They work great! But had some coating issues with the finish. One year and the finish looked real bad. I actually got warranty for them but i dont think it was worth the hassle. The one guy at bilstein said that the finish went because i live in "CANADA". Anyways, the shocks work great but the finsih will not last for a winter. I will try the Donahoe shocks on my new truck.