Author Topic: Little bit annoyed with Bilstein (Read 3734 times)

brads70 · « **on:** November 13, 2010 - 04:47:19 PM »

Finally getting around to installing the new suspension parts...like $2500 worth sitting in a pile!

( mostly Hotchkis stuff)
Just installed the rear Bilstein RCD shocks. They look nice and are stiffer when I try and bounce the car! I hope the plastic shield stands up to the exhaust pipe about an inch away?
I was a little annoyed that they didn't include the steel tube that goes in the upper mount. Wasn't a big deal for me as I just made them on my lathe. It's annoying that I just spent $400 for these shocks and they can't include a 50 cent part??

The cheap shocks I replaced them with came with them???I tried for a minute to get the ones out of the old shocks but it was easier to just make new ones, figured I'd mangle them trying to get them out of the old shocks.
Ya would think that when you spend big bucks for premium products that they wouldn't be so cheap!

Phew...feel better now! Thanks for listening to my rant

67vertman · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2010 - 06:56:06 PM »

Brad,

It is amazing sometimes that they leave out the little parts, and don't tell you thy are not included. I am glad you had the tools and knowledge to fix them and get them in though.

dodj · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2010 - 08:06:44 PM »

If the plastic is on the upper half of the shock near the exhaust pipe, are you sure you don't have them upside down? The plastic shield on mine are on the bottom half away from the exhaust.

brads70 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2010 - 08:29:42 PM »

Quote from: dodj on November 13, 2010 - 08:06:44 PM

If the plastic is on the upper half of the shock near the exhaust pipe, are you sure you don't have them upside down? The plastic shield on mine are on the bottom half away from the exhaust.

Do you have the RCD shocks too? I assumed the cover went up just like the shocks I took off? If the covers were on the bottom they would fill up with water , gravel, dirt, etc...? There would be no where for the stuff to go, it would be trapped in there?

dodj · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2010 - 11:57:55 PM »

Sorry, no I don't have the RCD's, I have Edelbrock IAS. When you mentioned the plastic shield I was thinking of the collapsible style 'accordion' plastic cover. If the RCD's have the traditional style cover then ya, they need to be installed up.

HP2 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 14, 2010 - 12:04:59 PM »

My Varishocks didn't have this bushing either. I just picked them up from McMaster-Carr in a steel/oilite mixture for a few bucks.

MEK-Dangerfield · « **Reply #6 on:** November 14, 2010 - 01:23:32 PM »

Brad,

Not to hi-jack, but maybe my car is "special".

I replaced the stock shocks with KYB's earlier this year. Each shock had one of those steel sleeves in it, but I had to trim them down about 1/8" to get them up in the shock towers... So two totally different brand of shocks, but the same problem. Maybe my shock towers are underdeveloped.

brads70 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 14, 2010 - 01:40:43 PM »

Quote from: MEK-Dangerfield on November 14, 2010 - 01:23:32 PM

Brad,

Not to hi-jack, but maybe my car is "special".

I replaced the stock shocks with KYB's earlier this year. Each shock had one of those steel sleeves in it, but I had to trim them down about 1/8" to get them up in the shock towers... So two totally different brand of shocks, but the same problem. Maybe my shock towers are underdeveloped.

Seems like never a dull moment with these cars Huh?

femtnmax · « **Reply #8 on:** November 18, 2010 - 07:59:07 PM »

Hope your Bilstein's hold up better than the ones that came new on a truck I bought 8 years ago. Those shocks did not last 20,000 miles, by then fluid was leaking all over, bouncey ride, and the plastic covers had all fallen to the bottom and were basically useless.
I replaced them with Monroes, not because they are any good, but 65,000 miles later they are still working fine for street use. I realize your looking for handling quality.

thedodgeboys · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2010 - 06:10:20 AM »

Similar thing with my QA1s only the sleeve was only as long as the bushings not like the take offs that fit Into the frame mount. At fist I was going to swap them out but after a little struggle to remove the old ones I wondered what would stop the new shock from slyding back and forth on the sleeve, so I found some extra thick washers to hold the shock bushings tight in the mount.

Brad do your shocks bushings fit snug into the upper mount?

brads70 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2010 - 07:25:30 AM »

Quote from: thedodgeboys on November 19, 2010 - 06:10:20 AM

Brad do your shocks bushings fit snug into the upper mount?

I just have the rears in so far and yep they fit snug up there. That's the part I had to make so it fits good!

The rubber bushings on the Bilstein 's are almost as thick/wide as the steel tube I had to make ( almost as wide as the mount)

brads70 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2010 - 12:44:53 AM »

Quote from: StRoKer on November 19, 2010 - 09:45:52 PM

I really like the speherical bearing style! This is what I have now (AFCO double adjustables) I hope lurker don dont see this post!

I have that style of set up in my 55 Belair. You must have used spacers to limit side to side movement?

Author Topic: Little bit annoyed with Bilstein (Read 3734 times)

brads70

Little bit annoyed with Bilstein

67vertman

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dodj

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brads70

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dodj

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HP2

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MEK-Dangerfield

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brads70

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femtnmax

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thedodgeboys

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brads70

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brads70

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