I picked up my Bilsteins from eshocks.com
$259 shipped to my door. They had them in stock,and I've purchased from those guys several times over the years-they're a good bunch to deal with.
Took all of about 1.5 hrs to change all 4 on the Navigator.
JL

 

I try to shop on here whenever i can.

 

I just bit the bullet and ordered the Bilsteins from Tire Rack. $320.00 including tax and shipping.

Amazing considering that NTB, owed by the same company, didn't offer the Bilsteins, and wanted $99.00 per shock for Monroe Reflex shocks.

 

I didn't even know that tirerack.com sold Bilstein, but that's good to know. Can't remember what I paid at my local 4wd shop, but at the same time I also finked-out and had them do the install

I've run Bilsteins for years in old bmws and had really good luck with them, so when my Expy needed shocks and I found out they had truck applications, it was an easy choice.

Let us know how you like them.

Cheers,
Tim G.

 

I didn't have time to get them here and installed before I hit the road tomorrow, so I will drive from Virginia to Utah (where they are being shipped), and have them put on by somebody out there. I will have a very solid 2000 miles to evaulate them on the way back.

 

You will be really happy im sure. My wife even noticed how well our Expy drove with the Bilsteins. Thats saying something big!!! good luck

 

Well I now have 2500 hundred miles on the new Bilsteins. They are a little firm, but still so much nicer than having original shocks with more than 100k on them!!!

 

Mine did the same thing at first. Three years later, and 45000 miles, these things are stil the best thing. Did you notice the Expy sway on the highway go away?

 

Mine did the same thing at first. Three years later, and 45000 miles, these things are stil the best thing. They do soften up a little bit. Did you notice the Expy sway on the highway go away?

 

Yes, I don't feel like the truck is moving around on its own nearly as much.

 

Isn't that a bit stretching the issue there...?

 

I put Bilsteins on 1 year ago, along wiht a Helwig rear sway bar, and it was night and day. My 98 Expy no longer felt like it was going to roll over in turns, and it tightened it up quite a bit. They were stiff, to the point I was thinking it was to stiff, but within a few months that went away, and now they are great. Would spend that $250.00 again. And they even look cool. Blue with the yellow boots. Cool.

 

Yeah^. I got my Bilsteins and my 98 was a different truck, no more dive and squat. I've said it before and i'll say it again, I think Bilsteins are the best upgrade for our trucks.

BTW I got mine on Ebay for $238 shipped, can't beat that with a stick.

 

I ordered a set of Bilsteins from www.shox.com a week ago Monday and they were on my doorstep when I got home from work on Friday. Just in time for a buddy and I to install them last Saturday. Price was $249 for the set including shipping. I originally placed my order with one of the advertisers here, but they had trouble processing my order and kinda left me hanging.

In spite of everything I read on here, the rears were pretty easy. A 1/2" drive impact wrench and enough extensions to get over the top of the fuel tank pretty well handled the left side upper mount and the impact wrench made quick work of the rest of the fasteners. We had the rears done in about an hour of slow, careful work in my buddy's garage without a lift.

The fronts were another matter. Both lower bolts were pretty well seized in shock bushings. We fought with the right side for quite a while and finally got it out. The left side did us in. We managed to tear the steel sleeve away from the rubber part of the bushing, but there was no getting that bolt out of the sleeve. By this time, we had about 4 hours in the project and gave up. We took the Expy to a Midas shop and they got the bolt out. Hated to have to take that approach, but we weren't getting anywhere on our own.

Frankly, the difference in ride quality over the stock shocks (w/ 62k miles on them) is pretty subtle. I definitely feel that there's more control, especially in rebound. And it's a little more "jiggly"...kinda like there's too much air in the tires. Nonetheless, I'm happy with the change and confident the shocks will last for as long as I plan to keep the vehicle.

Now, that Hellwig rear sway bar has caught my eye, too. A stiffer rear bar should reduce the understeer and should help the body lean in corners. On the other hand, I have to keep telling myself "this ain't no sports car".

Thanks, again, to everyone who has offered their advice here.

Bob...

 

I know that the Billstiens are the best one just from the research i have done on them and from the comments on this forum. Now not everyone is able to spend that kind of money on shocks. So I want to know which ones would you recommend as a GOOD step down????