Bilstein shocks question
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From: Manhattan, KS
http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/i...Absorbers.html
this is a technical article and the guy replaced his stock shocks with bilsteins. he said he contacted bilstein about the shock being to short while installing the fronts and they said he just had to compress the bushings and they would fit. he doesnt say what year his truck is but im guessing its a 97-03 f150 4wd, because of the absence of coilovers.
this is a technical article and the guy replaced his stock shocks with bilsteins. he said he contacted bilstein about the shock being to short while installing the fronts and they said he just had to compress the bushings and they would fit. he doesnt say what year his truck is but im guessing its a 97-03 f150 4wd, because of the absence of coilovers.
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From: Fayetteville, NC
Thanks for the link scoty. Looks like the rears are gonna be a pain in the ****. Don't understand the compressing of the bushings making them longer though. But I also don't know what that means. 
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From: Manhattan, KS
maybe they use a different material bushing? example urethane vs rubber, that doesnt compress as easily, or thicker washers. im just throwing out ideas.
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From: Fayetteville, NC
huh, for some reason I can't see any of the pics. 
Scoty, what I meant about bushings, and not understanding, is that I have no idea what the bushing is. My gut tells me it is the rubber in the hole at the top of the shock, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Scoty, what I meant about bushings, and not understanding, is that I have no idea what the bushing is. My gut tells me it is the rubber in the hole at the top of the shock, but I wouldn't bet on it.
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From: Salina,KS
The bushing that they are referring to is on the threaded shaft on the top of the shock. The bottom end of the shock that mounts to the A arm is a bolt that goes thru the donut shaped end(boot end) of the shock(sorry for the 1st grade descriptions...just tryin to paint the pic)In the pic its the black things in the center and the metal piece goes on too, they go on the shaft
The only trouble I had installin mine had nothing to do with the length of the shocks just the bushing on top. Had to use a jack to compress it by lifting under the A-arm a bit to get the threads thru the hole far enought to get the nut on. Other than that no probs.
JNC yeah the rears aren't much fun to put on. All you have for access to the nut is a small hole in the frame. So it takes a bit to get the nut off.
The only trouble I had installin mine had nothing to do with the length of the shocks just the bushing on top. Had to use a jack to compress it by lifting under the A-arm a bit to get the threads thru the hole far enought to get the nut on. Other than that no probs.
JNC yeah the rears aren't much fun to put on. All you have for access to the nut is a small hole in the frame. So it takes a bit to get the nut off.
Last edited by jdlowesracer; Mar 21, 2009 at 03:05 AM.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Manhattan, KS
but the bushings are the pieces of rubber that are around the top of the shock and inside the bolt hole at the bottom of the shock. i think their purpose is to reduce vibrations.
The bushing that they are referring to is on the threaded shaft on the top of the shock. The bottom end of the shock that mounts to the A arm is a bolt that goes thru the donut shaped end(boot end) of the shock(sorry for the 1st grade descriptions...just tryin to paint the pic)In the pic its the black things in the center and the metal piece goes on too, they go on the shaft
The only trouble I had installin mine had nothing to do with the length of the shocks just the bushing on top. Had to use a jack to compress it by lifting under the A-arm a bit to get the threads thru the hole far enought to get the nut on. Other than that no probs.
The only trouble I had installin mine had nothing to do with the length of the shocks just the bushing on top. Had to use a jack to compress it by lifting under the A-arm a bit to get the threads thru the hole far enought to get the nut on. Other than that no probs.
Last edited by scotyg; Mar 21, 2009 at 10:33 AM.
