If I remove the top nut, the A-arm drops at-least a couple inches. Am I getting gipped here or is that normal ?

I have found 2" extensions for this , should I go ahead and install them ?

 

jbrew, just so I'm clear, you're saying when you take the top of the shock completely loose, the suspension drops that far?? I'd say that's OK because Bilstein actually designed this shock to be the travel limit instead of the a-arm going full to the stop. I don't know why they do this. My shocks don't. But do I think it hurts anything?? No, you're OK. You know you have the right part number for the front?

 

Jbrew is that your truck? It is very clean for a 98! just wondering.

 

Then they are okay then ... Yea they are the right part number. I was going to crank the bars, but I guess that's out unless I install the extensions. I didn't know they made extensions until I seen them.

I wanted the other series Bilstein offers (there silver in color) , but they only offer them for lifted trucks.

Just changed the bushings AGAIN... These shocks sure go thru them. - This time I bumped up the bolts in the bottom. I went to 1/2" grade 8 instead of the tiny stock bolts. I had to drill out the bottom shock bolt holder to take the right size bolts for the shocks. I think that's why I went thru bushings and I got a bobble when hitting bumps..

The bottom bolt should fit the shock right?

 

Yea , that's my 98. I have a 01 4 door as well. The 98 has over a quarter million miles on it - my favorite.

The 01 has 60k on it. The 98 IS cleaner, the faster of the two(both are 5fours), a fun truck. I leave the 01 home for an emergency vehicle for the kids when I travel for work. I haven't did anything to the 01 besides plugs and the Normal stuff. That truck was left here for storage for a few years, guy ran into trouble and needed cash - Gave him 6 grand for the title about 8 months ago. couldn't pass it up. I really don't like the truck, that makes it hard to work on for me - I'm into 4WD's..I'll prolly sell it soon.

 

Yea , on the far right is were I had to drill the arm and install the new bolt to take out the slop. I don't know why Ford made these bolts so small to begin with. Anyway the new bolt now matches the shock bushing size.



This truck is being gone thru, it has to go to Texas in February most likley. So it has to be ready for the trip soon. Carquest Blues fell apart in the front/ changed those. Getting tuned as soon as I get the engine back together

Well, hopefully all this will get the front end sound and braking where it's suppose to be.

 

Galaxy, how did your bottom shock bolt match up with the Bilstein bushings? Do you remember by chance ? Like I said , I had to drill out the lower arm to receive the 4" x1/2" grade #8 bolt. This bolt perfectly matched the bushing sleeve. There was NO metric match for the Bilstein sleeve. The old bushings were wore after only 15,000 miles - oblonged and torn. This is where I believe the bobble after hitting just small bumps in the road came from.

Anyone else have any info ? I singled out Galaxy because he has been the only one to help with this issue before. I just don't want to have to take it apart again

 

Ahaa, found my answer on another Ford forum that's a little more into it, I guess.

Yes the older OEM lower assemblies HAVE to be drilled out to run the proper Bilstein bolts which ARE indeed 1/2". That was my problem all along. Thanks anyway fellas - hope this helps others.

This most likely caused my front pads to come apart as well. That wasn't fun, I was pulling 3500 lbs when I needed to hit the brakes hard on the e-way, daughter was with me and we had to take the median..

Their nice and tight now, brakes/lines everything has been replaced. this shouldn't happen again

 

That's wierd...I've had zero problems with shock bushings wearing out. My bolts also fit the lower shock bushings perfectly. There's no slop in the bushings/lower mount at all. But, I don't have bilstein shocks.

 

I just looked at those shocks of yours. Nice set up!! Those must have been expensive. They remind me of the FOX set up. That truck of yours has me wanting that year/model. Chicks not bad either

Nice job on the truck!!