Problem with newly installed Bilstein 5100's
 

Hey guys,

I just picked up my 05 f-150 4x4 from my local mechanic. He installed my front bilstein 5100's on the 2" setting. He called me before I came to pick it up and said the ride is really stiff.. I said yeah I read they're suppose to make the ride stiffer.

I pick it up and start driving it home and I am very unhappy with the ride quality. It is very stiff and feels like a low rider. After I hit any sort of bump it bounces around like a low rider with cut springs.

I checked his installation and everything looks good from what I can see. Both shocks are mounted on the 2" setting(the uppermost ring) and it appears the coil is sitting right in the bucket.

Can you guys post some pics of your 5100s and how they sit in the coil buckets. also some shots of your uca's and cv angles so I can make sure he installed these corectly?

Thank you!!!!

Tom

Why don't you post pics of your setup? Maybe those of us that have installed the Bilsteins can see something that doesn't look right. Also, what tire pressure are you running?

Heres some pics I can get some better pics during the day if needed. I'm running about 45 psi in all four tires

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They look like they're installed fine, although your CV angle seems slightly more severe than I remember mine were. Hopefully someone else will post an installed pic of their setup as I never took pics!

One thing: the part # for my fronts were F4-BE5-C298-H0. By your part number, did you buy them from TopGunz Customs? If so, you may want to give them a call as there was a post on here that their 5100's were part of some lift kit. They should be able to confirm and tell you whether they're valved differently.

Also, I bought mine used from PimpRohr and they were awesome shocks and definitely not too stiff. I wonder if, in time, yours will ride less harsh.

Finally, is your PSI. When gas was 4$ a gallon, I used to run from 45 to 48psi and my truck would bounce all over the place. It rode stiff as hell. I have since lowered them to around 32-38psi and my truck rides much less harsh. Maybe give that a shot as well.

I hope you get this ironed out as I loved my Bilsteins. I sold them recently and have my OEM FX4 shocks on there while I wait for my Rancho lift and 9000xl shocks to be installed.

The cv angles have nothing to do with the ride(but I know what you are getting at). Also you bought your used(but Im sure in good condition), but they were already broken in. I dont personally own these but I would give them a week or two before I made any rash descions!
Also the top gun customz and the other part number are valved the exact same the only difference is one has 2(0" and 2" lift) grooves and one has 3(0", 1", 2" lift), I confirmed this yesterday with John at Bilstein!

I too was wondering how much they'd break-in. Thanks also for the clarification regarding TopGunz...was wondering what the final word was regarding the difference in part numbers. I think break-in plus reducing air pressure will get the OP where he wants to be.

I don't have the shocks but from what others have posted the ride is a little bit stiffer but the truck handles alot better when going around corners. I am still debating on getting these so please keep us posted if the air pressure was the problem or not.

I'd drop the tire's air pressure down to 40 psi for daily driving.

After the installation of the shocks did you have the front end aligned.

If you leave it on the stock setting none is required, but if you raise it you need an alignment, but this aswell has nothing to do with how it rides( as far as stiffness)

Yeah these are the ones from top gun customz.

Do you guys think there's a leveling spacer, or is that how big the upper coil bushing is?

Right now I'm thinking theres a leveling spacer in there + the 2" higher struts causing it to ride this bad. It's bad.....really bad.

Could some of you that have the bilsteins post up some pics, please??

Thank you,

Tom

Also,

My mechanic said they could not align it beccause theres play in the lower ball joints. I've been going to him for six months now and never had a problem so far....

I'm wondering the same thing. As was already mentioned, those angles do look extreme compared to other pics I've seen of 2" spacer/5100 setups.