Another Bilstein Question

[Schludwiller]

Originally posted by ScottG


I wondered the same thing. I think they would probably work fine.

I read on one of the other boards where some people are not recomending the use of the front shocks rated for the extra weight of an ARB. The theory is that they ride rougher and do not prevent bottoming out any more than the Xterra specific shocks.

That's probably one that will be answered at GoX. Although it's going to be tough to find people with the exact Xterra setup except for shocks.

[gothamist]

Originally posted by ScottG
I read on one of the other boards where some people are not recomending the use of the front shocks rated for the extra weight of an ARB. The theory is that they ride rougher and do not prevent bottoming out any more than the Xterra specific shocks.

I know I went with the 10% stiffer ones instead of the 20% stiffer ones (H2 instead of H0 part #) because with the AC lift I just installed, my torsion bars (the Sway-A-Way ones, which are stiffer than stock) are cranked up a whole bunch, so they have a good bit of preload on them. Shane @ Bilstein really strongly advised me to go w/ the H2's, and so far (I received them in the mail today, they've been installed a whopping two hours) they seem nice. I will be testing them offroad this weekend, but I noticed less body roll and more control over bumps immediately (I just went on a slaloming test run through an abandoned industrial complex...).

The body roll seems to have been reduced to the amount I had before installing the body & suspension lifts (note that my front swaybar is connected right now.)

[Chris_McCracken]

How well do the Bilstein's work with the AC susp lift? I talked with AC yesterday about using Bilsteins with their lift, and they strongly discouraged it. They said the shocks they use have a greater length and allow more suspension travel. Also she said that they don't feel the Bilsteins provided very good on and off-road performance with their lift. I have the extra-large Bilsteins in the rear with my SLR shackles, and think they do a wonderful job. I will be purchasing the AC lift before too long, and am not sure which shocks to use.

[gothamist]

Well, so far, I think I'm the only one who has Bilsteins and the AC lift installed (??), and I only installed my shocks late last night, so I can't tell you everything, but I do know this (this is where I have to stop being quite so nice to AC...)

AC is using Rancho 9188's with their lift kit...Rancho recommends 9156's with theirs. Both of these shocks have an extended length of 12.45" IIRC...(stock shocks are 11.5" long extended.) The Bilsteins are 12.46 or 12.48" long (can't remember right now), so in other words, they are the same length as the shocks that Rancho and AC recommend with their lift kits. I honestly think the reason AC isn't recommending them is they don't know the specs of the Bilstein product.

I also measured the distance from eye to eye with my a-arm at full droop (resting on the bumpstop w/ no shock installed) when I was putting it in, and it looked like the a-arms got me another inch at the bumpstop, so I think it all adds up well...one inch more travel at the bumpstop == roughly one inch more travel at the shock == (approx) a little more than two inches of additional downtravel.

Mosi might be able to chime in on this issue as well.

[Chris_McCracken]

That's about exactly what I was hoping for (and suspected).

[rrdstarr]

I just got done doing my schock replacement using the 20% heavier duty Bilsteins! It takes about two hours by your self. No knunckles busted, but takes a lot of grunting and groaning to compress the shock!!! I used my 1/2" air ratchet on most all the bolts size 14mm and 17mm. You will also need a 5mm allen wrench to tighten the front shock tower. I also removed my rear sway bar and haven't noticed any difference.

[Whistler!]

Just got back from a Mt. St Helens Xcursion...The bilstein shocks are great.
Got to fly over pot holes & do some articulation tests. The bilstein shocks are very durable and gave me an extremely smoth ride.

I recommend them to anyone who would like more control on & off-roading:smoka:

[Lugnut]

Chris' earlier question about AC & Bilstein shocks is the same thing I experienced. Called last week and was just about to order the AC lift and also asked about the Bilsteins and was told that Bilstein wasn't offering support (?) or backing their shock with the Xterra application and hence AC wasn't recommending them...yet AC is looking into possibly carrying them. Also, if you break out the pricing on the AC kit, you're pretty much getting a shock for free if you buy the packaged kit.

Regardless of the issue with AC's claim about Bilstein (which me thinks boils down to them simply not carrying the product). But are we splitting hairs between which is better (Rancho/Bilstein)...or can anyone say just yet if there's a definite advantage with either one?

I'm thinking of making my lift purchase pretty soon but hate to do it only to find out I should've went with the other shocks.

Lug

[gothamist]

I've ridden and driven FSRBiker's truck with the Rancho 9000's in the front, and I much prefer the feel of my truck which has the H2 Bilsteins in it. The one thing I did notice is that when he sets his front shocks on 5, they seem to dampen out the ride quite well--slightly less body roll and more composure, but at the expense of being very stiff (uncomfortably so IMHO, esp. over small bumps at speed.) I had to ask him over the CB (he was driving my truck) if his front swaybar was connected or not, I couldn't tell (it wasn't.)

Now that I've had them, wheeled them, and driven long distances with them, I think I made the right decision in combining the AC lift kit w/ the Bilstein shocks. I do realize I probably paid more overall (esp. since I did it in so many stages), but oh well...having put together exactly what I wanted and being happy with the results has made it worth the money.

Lastly, I think Shane @ Bilstein was right in steering me towards the H2 shocks instead of the H0's--everyone who rode in or drove my truck last weekend (MT, FSR, Pikachu, etc.) seemed kinda surprised at how well the whole truck handled onroad and off, and how damn difficult it was to make the thing bottom out (only managed once the whole weekend.)

So, to make a (very) long story short--I would buy the H2 Bilsteins. They work really, really well w/ the AC kit...I've been exchanging e-mails with Nissan Mike @ AC, and I think he's finally starting to agree with me.

p.s. The one good point AC has against the Bilsteins is that Bilstein won't warranty the shocks since they're being used in a modified suspension, but honestly...at this point...the warranty on my $120 shocks is the least of my concerns.

p.p.s. Just wanted to add one more thing--the truck seems solid and stable enough that I still haven't gotten around to reconnecting my front swaybar from the last wheeling trip, and it feels like there is less body roll than there used to be when disconnected at stock height w/ an all stock front-end. I do plan to reconnect my front swaybar eventually, but I've been busy and it's been rainy. And the Beltway isn't even that scary this way...

[Lugnut]

Excellent info. Gothamist...thanks for the detailed write-up.

Lug

[FSRBIKER]

I am really interested in seeing if I can run my front RS9000's at anything other than 4 or 5 with the new torsion bars(going in this weekend). The shocks on 5 compensate well for no swaybar but doing this everyday will wear your shocks out faster...hopefully the new torsion bars allow me to extend the adjustement range to at least 3-5 but for now they blow through the travel too fast and I would recommend the Billsteins...more to come after the torsion bar install....

[Matt Peckham]

Stormy (you know him from XOC) has the bilsteins and the AC lift installed. he got the 20% HOs, not the 10%. I'll have to take a spin in his truck.... I also got the HOs, as I'll be getting a bumper real soon, and I'm gonna do a whole bunch of dirt and gravel roads in the coming weeks (600+ miles) on my trip to Canada.

At some point after the baby is born, the AC or possibly a pieced out Calmini lift will go on the front.

[gothamist]

At the time I wrote that earlier post, I hadn't seen stormy and his posts about the AC kit on XOC. Glad to know others are experimenting as well.