New Shocks Install
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FTE NC Chapter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,974
Likes: 68
From: Coastal NC
New Shocks Install
Put new Bilstein shocks on my girl last weekend. It took me about two hours to remove and install all four corners. Not a hard process but you need a good set of different sized socket extensions to get to some bolts. I was lazy and didn't jack up the truck. It helps if the shocks are banded. If not then band them yourself prior to installing.
Got the shocks from Shockwarehouse. Buy three get one free and they honored the FTE discount as well. All four shipped $194.00. Shipping was fast. Would highly reccommend Shockwarehouse to any one thinking of replacing their shocks.
Here's a photo of the done deed:
Got the shocks from Shockwarehouse. Buy three get one free and they honored the FTE discount as well. All four shipped $194.00. Shipping was fast. Would highly reccommend Shockwarehouse to any one thinking of replacing their shocks.
Here's a photo of the done deed:
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,237
Likes: 22
From: Florida
Great job...
I found when I installed my Bilsteins that my towing performance really improved...meaning the number of 'bounces' while towing (comparing same road mind you) went from 2-3 to 1 or less...so the interior ride was much improved with the reduced porpoising...my wife is prone to motion sickness in vehicles and she commented how much nicer the ride was since I had done the shocks...so if she noticed a mechanical improvement I made on the Ex...it must have done something!
One comment on the banding...I did my shocks after I did my RAS...the factory banded length for the Bilsteins on a RAS truck is just a tad short since the RAS raises the rear of the Ex ~1-1.5". So for anyone contemplating doing the RAS and Bilsteins...if you can...do the shocks first...and if you are thinking about doing a Hellwig rear sway bar...do that while doing the shocks since you have to remove the lower shock mounts to do the Hellwig and removal of the shocks from the lower shock mounts makes for easier U-bolt installation in my experience...just a couple of tricks I figured out after I did it a less efficient way...
Joe.
I found when I installed my Bilsteins that my towing performance really improved...meaning the number of 'bounces' while towing (comparing same road mind you) went from 2-3 to 1 or less...so the interior ride was much improved with the reduced porpoising...my wife is prone to motion sickness in vehicles and she commented how much nicer the ride was since I had done the shocks...so if she noticed a mechanical improvement I made on the Ex...it must have done something!
One comment on the banding...I did my shocks after I did my RAS...the factory banded length for the Bilsteins on a RAS truck is just a tad short since the RAS raises the rear of the Ex ~1-1.5". So for anyone contemplating doing the RAS and Bilsteins...if you can...do the shocks first...and if you are thinking about doing a Hellwig rear sway bar...do that while doing the shocks since you have to remove the lower shock mounts to do the Hellwig and removal of the shocks from the lower shock mounts makes for easier U-bolt installation in my experience...just a couple of tricks I figured out after I did it a less efficient way...
Joe.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Greencastle, PA
Just read your post onm the Bilstiens and the Y-pipe. I did both replacements/upgrades and love my X even more. The extra power and performance is awesome. I ad a hard time with stability with the OE shocks but tried to chalk it up to the leaf spring suspension. Was I wrong. Much better drivability. Will consider the Hellwig next.
I wholeheartedly recommend the upgrades to everyone.
I wholeheartedly recommend the upgrades to everyone.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 4
You cut the plastic band off after installation. It's doesn't stay on the shock.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: MA
I ordered a set of Bilsteins 5/29/09 (paid $233 for 4) from shockwarehouse, and got the normal email saying order received & should ship out in 24-48 hrs w/ the normal links for updates.
I didn't think anything of it, until this week when they still had not shown up. I just went online to check the order status, and it is showing as backordered & they expect to ship out July 15th. What's up w/ that???
I was planning to have my front bearings done, and shocks installed at the same time next week. Anywhere else I should consider re-ordering from and cancelling my order w/ SW?
I didn't think anything of it, until this week when they still had not shown up. I just went online to check the order status, and it is showing as backordered & they expect to ship out July 15th. What's up w/ that???
I was planning to have my front bearings done, and shocks installed at the same time next week. Anywhere else I should consider re-ordering from and cancelling my order w/ SW?
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Thread Starter
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FTE NC Chapter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,974
Likes: 68
From: Coastal NC
To further, further compound on the banding: You can band them yourself if they don't come banded. Two of the ones I recently installed were banded and two weren't. You can use heavy duty mono (fishing line) or even kite string doubled up. It isn't necessary to band them, you can manually squash the shock into place but it makes it easier to install them if they are banded.
Sorry to hear about that. They were really good at communicating with me during the ordering process. Shipped very fast.
Maybe I shopuldn't have posted the price as it could have set off an ordering spree and thus ran out of stock. (seriously, I don't think my post made any impact on ordering. Just kidding.)
There are plenty of places that sell bilsteins online. I went with SW because of all the previous positive feedback from other users.
Best of luck with your order and hope you get the situation resolved.
I didn't think anything of it, until this week when they still had not shown up. I just went online to check the order status, and it is showing as backordered & they expect to ship out July 15th. What's up w/ that???
Maybe I shopuldn't have posted the price as it could have set off an ordering spree and thus ran out of stock. (seriously, I don't think my post made any impact on ordering. Just kidding.)
There are plenty of places that sell bilsteins online. I went with SW because of all the previous positive feedback from other users.
Best of luck with your order and hope you get the situation resolved.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: MA
Ah, so it was you who caused the out of stock...
I just called them, and they said they emailed me on the 8th - which I did not receive. They also said they called on the 8th and left a message - which my wife could have easily erased and forgotten - so I can't say on that one.
A little frustrating to be out of stock for over 6 weeks is all. I will hunt around online and see who else has them.
Thanks for the pics - good to know this can be a driveway job if I decide to get my front end worked on before getting the shocks.
I just called them, and they said they emailed me on the 8th - which I did not receive. They also said they called on the 8th and left a message - which my wife could have easily erased and forgotten - so I can't say on that one.
A little frustrating to be out of stock for over 6 weeks is all. I will hunt around online and see who else has them.
Thanks for the pics - good to know this can be a driveway job if I decide to get my front end worked on before getting the shocks.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Put new Bilstein shocks on my girl last weekend. It took me about two hours to remove and install all four corners. Not a hard process but you need a good set of different sized socket extensions to get to some bolts. I was lazy and didn't jack up the truck. It helps if the shocks are banded. If not then band them yourself prior to installing.
Got the shocks from Shockwarehouse. Buy three get one free and they honored the FTE discount as well. All four shipped $194.00. Shipping was fast. Would highly reccommend Shockwarehouse to any one thinking of replacing their shocks.
Here's a photo of the done deed:
Got the shocks from Shockwarehouse. Buy three get one free and they honored the FTE discount as well. All four shipped $194.00. Shipping was fast. Would highly reccommend Shockwarehouse to any one thinking of replacing their shocks.
Here's a photo of the done deed:
What FTE discount?
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