I installed a set of bilsteins on my 2001 SCREW a little more than a year ago. Replacing stock shocks at about 75K miles. The front left has already dropped its oil load on the driveway and the back pair shimmy like a bowl of jello at the slightest ripple in the road.

So I am gonna bite the bullet and replace the over-priced under performing billys

I am not interested in lift I just want a reasonably smooth ride with good handling characteristics. Does anybody have any suggestions? I am seriously thinking of going back to a set of Ford OEM shocks.

Thanks

 

i used to have bilsteins also and thought they were junk. i replaced mine with the skyjacker shocks and never had a problem.

 

This is interesting, as I was getting ready to order Bilstiens.

 

They suck? I was considering them also... as a way of leveling the front end.

 

This is the first negative post I've ever seen on the Bilstiens.

 

I put Rancho 5000's on my former truck a '99 F-250 Crew Cab deisel when I installed a 2.5" leveling kit. The Ranchos initially rode very stiff in front(probably due in part to the extra leaf) but after 7000 miles the truck rode and handled great. When I sold the truck I had about 30,000 miles on the shocks and they still rode as good as ever. Hope this helps.

HYPO

 

I've been running these Gabriels for about 6k miles and noticed a difference rolling out of the garage. Bought them at AutoZone for $29 ea. :

 

I've always been a bigger fan of the Rancho 9000's because you can change the stiffness whereas the Bilsteins are always stiff. Never heard of them leaking that soon though.

 

I always loved Hi pressure KYB, until they became harder to get, Now I run only Gabriel MaxControl shocks. I hated both Gabriel and Monroe for years working at a real mom and pop auto parts store. They were always soft dog poop shocks, but these MaxControls are a real monotube shock and work well.


Lowflyingbird

 

yeah i have the kyb. too stiff if you ask me. i was lookin at the bill's also.

my friend just put the rancho 9000's on his titan. i drove the truck before and after and it is a world of diff. set at 5. we turned them up to 10 and they were perfect. i think i will be looking into those next

 

I've been wanting to give my 2c on this subject for awhile but IMO the Edelbrock
shocks have been one upgrade that actually exceeded my expectations. They felt kind of strange at first like the truck was going to tip over but after about a week you wonder how you ever drove the with out them. I tried the Gabriel's
posted here and that was a mistake so I bit the bullet and bought these. After spending $700 on a new brake/rotor combo that I'm ready to trash, I can at least brag about these.........Good Luck

 

Edelbrock IAS or KYB would be my only other suggestions. If you want a softer ride stick with a non gas charged shock.

 

The Blistens are the best maby you had the wrong one for your vehicle

 

Everyone has their own preference. Personally, I've been running Bilsteins for a couple of years now on 2 different vehicles and love them. My Dad has them also on his Avalanche and loves them as well.

Sorry they didn't work out for you guys. I'm with Wandell, this is the first negative thing I've heard about them. My experience has been nothing but great.

 

mine never leaked but they broke at the welds. the truck was never off road or anything only driven on the road and they kept breaking. this happened to 2 of the six that i had. for $200 per shock x 6 i had $1200 worth of shocks on the truck. i replaced them with the skyjackers for about $300 and they rode better and never broke or caused any problems. they just are not worth the extra money that you could spend on other parts.

300hb what brake/rotor combo did you get and what is wrong with it so i know not to buy the same.