Yet another Bilstein shock thread
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Katy Texas
They're not leaking, i guess i thought they would be firmer than they are. The truck will literally nosedive when braking hard at low speeds. like i said before the truck seems very bouncy, not really firm at all.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
I consider a "good" shock one that let's me keep control of the vehicle when going over bumpy roads.
My Rancho 9000x's do this to an extreme. The stockers on my '01 stank - literally making the truck go into the next lane if it's around a curve.
Any Bilstein owners care to comment?
My Rancho 9000x's do this to an extreme. The stockers on my '01 stank - literally making the truck go into the next lane if it's around a curve.
Any Bilstein owners care to comment?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,844
Likes: 5
From: Albuquerque
Originally Posted by SLAYER1
They're not leaking, i guess i thought they would be firmer than they are. The truck will literally nosedive when braking hard at low speeds. like i said before the truck seems very bouncy, not really firm at all.
If you have the HD's...did you make sure to install them correctly? The correct way...is to have the blue boot in the down position.
If the 5100's, then the black boot in the up position.
Sorry had to ask...because your bilstein shocks are not operating properly. My SD does not bounce like you mention...and actually sometimes I think the shocks are to stiff. Now at about 5000 miles...they are actually starting to break-in...and make the truck drive and handle better...IMO.
Good luck with yours...
biz
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,844
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From: Albuquerque
Originally Posted by krewat
I consider a "good" shock one that let's me keep control of the vehicle when going over bumpy roads.
Any Bilstein owners care to comment?
Any Bilstein owners care to comment?
biz
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by krewat
I consider a "good" shock one that let's me keep control of the vehicle when going over bumpy roads.
My Rancho 9000x's do this to an extreme. The stockers on my '01 stank - literally making the truck go into the next lane if it's around a curve.
Any Bilstein owners care to comment?
My Rancho 9000x's do this to an extreme. The stockers on my '01 stank - literally making the truck go into the next lane if it's around a curve.
Any Bilstein owners care to comment?
Oh and where did you guys see that thing on installing the 5100's upside down like that. I have the black boot facing down like the instructions said to when I got them. Should I change this or does it really matter. They are working fine.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Upstate, NY
Originally Posted by biz4two
Which bilstein shocks do you have? The 5100's or HD's?
If you have the HD's...did you make sure to install them correctly? The correct way...is to have the blue boot in the down position.
If the 5100's, then the black boot in the up position.
If you have the HD's...did you make sure to install them correctly? The correct way...is to have the blue boot in the down position.
If the 5100's, then the black boot in the up position.
My 05 with 103K had the original shocks on it. None were leaking, all 4 had pressure and would extend on their own when I removed them. The difference in the ride was significant when I switched to the HDs. Even my wife, who is truck-clueless, thought the ride was much improved.
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From: Upstate, NY
Originally Posted by SLAYER1
I have the HD's mounted boot down on all four corners.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Albuquerque
Originally Posted by Biggziff
Not true. I asked Bilstein about this. These shocks are monotubes and as such can be mounted either way. The 05 and newer HD shocks HAVE to be mounted with the blue cover (it's not a boot on these, just an open ended cover) up. If you mounted them with the cover down, it would fill with crap, mud, debris in no time and cause a failure.
Well if that is true, then Bilstein should re-print all the instructions...and stop putting the arrow on the shock casing. Don't you think?
Here is the problem with installing the HD's in the "wrong" direction. The internal valve is directional and does not open and close properly when in the wrong direction. This will cause the shock to bounce more and not have as much control.
IMHO...just follow the instructions that come with the shocks!
biz
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
I was a little confused after search around on the net the last time I put Bilstiens on so I called one of their techs and asked about which direction (boot up v. boot down). He said "that with a mono tube shock it doesn't matter. But, (he added) you mount Bilstiens so you can read the label when they are installed." I had a 2004--the boots went down on all four corners and I could read all four labels. I haven't received the Bilsteins for my 2005 yet, but it looks like at least the front set goes in blue rubber stuff up. I'll let you on Wednesday or Thursday. Oh yeah--I didn't see any directions on the boxes...That's why I called Bilstien; I'm not really mechanical (shocks, oil, filters, air..that's about it).
Last edited by dougc; Aug 21, 2007 at 11:02 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 772
Likes: 3
From: Mount Airy, MD
I also called Bilstein directly before I installed my 5100's because there were no instructions indicating what end of the shock went on top. I was told the same thing as dougc, they get installed so you can read the label. In the case of the 5100's, the boot goes down. As far as water and debris getting into them goes, as long as you keep the zip-ties good and tight on the boot, debris won't get in. Actually, boot down is better in my opinion because if water somehow finds it's way in under the boot, then it will easily drain through the drain holes in the end of the boot. That wouldn't happen if the shock was in the other direction. If water got in then it would have nowhere to go, provided the zip-tie on the boot was tight. That happened to the Rancho shocks I took off when I installed my lift. The end of the shock under the boot was severly corroded.
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From: Upstate, NY
Originally Posted by kenneBF250V10
I also called Bilstein directly before I installed my 5100's because there were no instructions indicating what end of the shock went on top. I was told the same thing as dougc, they get installed so you can read the label. In the case of the 5100's, the boot goes down. As far as water and debris getting into them goes, as long as you keep the zip-ties good and tight on the boot, debris won't get in. Actually, boot down is better in my opinion because if water somehow finds it's way in under the boot, then it will easily drain through the drain holes in the end of the boot. That wouldn't happen if the shock was in the other direction. If water got in then it would have nowhere to go, provided the zip-tie on the boot was tight. That happened to the Rancho shocks I took off when I installed my lift. The end of the shock under the boot was severly corroded.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Upstate, NY
Originally Posted by biz4two
*** Speaking of the '99-'04 SD only ***
Well if that is true, then Bilstein should re-print all the instructions...and stop putting the arrow on the shock casing. Don't you think?
Here is the problem with installing the HD's in the "wrong" direction. The internal valve is directional and does not open and close properly when in the wrong direction. This will cause the shock to bounce more and not have as much control.
IMHO...just follow the instructions that come with the shocks!
biz
Well if that is true, then Bilstein should re-print all the instructions...and stop putting the arrow on the shock casing. Don't you think?
Here is the problem with installing the HD's in the "wrong" direction. The internal valve is directional and does not open and close properly when in the wrong direction. This will cause the shock to bounce more and not have as much control.
IMHO...just follow the instructions that come with the shocks!
biz