Sorry guys, I bet if you searched you would find about 100 threads from me about my Bilstein shocks.

I got an appointment at a shop (its a goodyear place where my parents live and they take their cars there alot).

So my question is - most people aren't familiar with the idea of shocks giving any kind of lift. How do I explain to these guys at the shop that these are lift shocks, and how should they install them to give the 2" of lift? Its possible that I am completely stupid, and dont know what I am looking at when I look at the strut, and maybe they will know what to do the second they see it.

I know that these shocks have different spring seat height settings, but honestly I dont know where that is when I look at the strut. Can someone give me a quick "Shocks/struts for Dummies lesson"

Also, once these are installed, can you adjust the height someway? Or do you have to remove everything again to change the lift amount?

Thanks guys!

 

. . didn't they come with instructions?

But, the lift is achieved by placing the coil on the strut in different spots. There are little snap rings that achieve the coil height. The height cannot be adjusted once its all assembled, you'll have to take everything apart again. I'm not 100% sure but it makes sense to me that if you set the snap ring at heighest setting, towards the top of the strut, that'd give you 2" of lift and setting it at the lowest setting would give you zero lift.

 

yup, nailed the pin on the donkey there.... unless the 2" lift bilsteins are only setup with to lift 2" with no option for say 1" or stock, lowering shocks work the same way but in reverse

 

Cool, I think I got it.

 

So is the coil compressed when the shock seat ring is adjusted for 2" of ride height? If so wouldnt this result in a rougher ride?

 

it just adds more preload, it wont change the spring rate.

 

Huh? Are the yellow Bilstiens adjustable also or are you talking about the grey or silver Bilstiens? The reason I ask is because about 2 weeks ago I lowered my truck w/ a 2/4 drop and switched to Bilstien (yellow) shocks, but only got about an inch drop. I've heard the grey shocks were adjustable, but not the yellows? Any of this make any sense?

 

Yellow bilsteins are not adjustable - only the silver ones. The silver ones give you 0-2" of lift. The yellow/blue ones should be the same size as the stock shocks - just better performance.

 

Thank you. Good news is I dont need to take them out and apart. Bad news is that I only got an inch of drop from the front springs that were suppose to drop it 2 inches.

 

I dont know anything about lowering kits, but is there any possibility that the springs will "settle" and you will get your extra inch?

 

I really dont know. I've heard people mention about the springs settling, so maybe, but I'm not holding my breathe waiting for it to happen.

 

edit......

 

on the rears the does the shock boot go to the bottom or to the top

 

shock boots go on the bottom. at least the yellow ones do.

 

check yourself on the print out of the after alignment. If the specs arent perfectly centered between the green bars, then make them go back and re do. I got screwed, b.c they put my marks just barely inside the green area, but isnt centered like it should be. Centered is factory ford specs, and the green area is the area where good year says it should be okay and within "tolerances"
-Patrick