Hey again all, I got my Bilsteins in today and it was such a beautiful day I decided to install them 5 minutes after getting them from the UPS guy. Installation was super easy, no issues, nothing difficult, straight bolt in.

I took it for a drive afterwards and drove down roads that I normally play dodge ball at trying to miss all the bumps and pot holes. The new shocks ride so much better than the stockers. On the same bumps there is no feeling of the rear end floating around because the shocks aren't rebounding. The new ones planted the rear on the ground. I forgot to add that the floating(cadillac feeling) is gone as well. This is even more amplified when pulling a trailer.

All in all, I like them and I recommend anyone with an HD that has the stock shocks to upgrade to Bilstiens, or whatever your preference. The stock ones just don't cut it and the Bilstiens are the best bang for the buck in my opinion.
Later
B.

Agreed!!

I saw almost no difference except in my wallet.

You gotta be kidding me...I felt the difference with just the rears by the time I drove up my street....

I wish mine would come :( I've had them on order for 11 days now. I guess they must still be on backorder.

actually one of mine was backordered so I waited for that one to arrive before doing any of them period.

I can attest that the ride is better and I look forward to seeing the difference while towing.

i guess i am with pc on this one, maybe from all the hype i was hearing, i was suspecting more out of them, no different than stock for me

Wait, I'm confused, you said in your original post that, "The new ones planted the rear on the ground. I forgot to add that the floating(cadillac feeling) is gone as well. This is even more amplified when pulling a trailer." Yet you followed with:

actually one of mine was backordered so I waited for that one to arrive before doing any of them period.

I can attest that the ride is better and I look forward to seeing the difference while towing.

Wait, I'm confused, you said in your original post that, "The new ones planted the rear on the ground. I forgot to add that the floating(cadillac feeling) is gone as well. This is even more amplified when pulling a trailer." Yet you followed with:
you lost me on this one, but I will make it a bit clearer..

the rear does not jump around like it did before on the same roads and bumps. I drove them this morning with stock shocks and drove the same ones this afternoon with the new shocks.

I do not have the floating feeling as in- the shocks aren't over-rebounding on bumps and inclines. they react to the road/bump and keep the rear planted instead of floating around. If you drive over several bumps you will feel the rear wanting to move with the stock ones.

what I meant was..on the highway you will hit certain areas that are like swells in the road and make you sort of float up and down. this is amplified when towing something. I will find out in the next few days how thes affect that ride quality while towing.

how's that? ;)

mine made a noticable improvement, especially over bumpy stuff..

The guys experiencing NO differance from shock change (hard to believe) what tire are you running,stock pizza cutters?

Hey again all, I got my Bilsteins in today and it was such a beautiful day I decided to install them 5 minutes after getting them from the UPS guy. Installation was super easy, no issues, nothing difficult, straight bolt in.

I took it for a drive afterwards and drove down roads that I normally play dodge ball at trying to miss all the bumps and pot holes. The new shocks ride so much better than the stockers. On the same bumps there is no feeling of the rear end floating around because the shocks aren't rebounding. The new ones planted the rear on the ground. I forgot to add that the floating(cadillac feeling) is gone as well. This is even more amplified when pulling a trailer.

All in all, I like them and I recommend anyone with an HD that has the stock shocks to upgrade to Bilstiens, or whatever your preference. The stock ones just don't cut it and the Bilstiens are the best bang for the buck in my opinion.
Later
B.

Where did you order your Bilsteins?

Thanks - Stephen

The guys experiencing NO differance from shock change (hard to believe) what tire are you running,stock pizza cutters?Your truck looks great! Where did you get the Allison nameplate on your tailgate? Also the front bumper foglight valance? Thanks

Maybe those who noticed no difference were lucky enough to get a batch of real shock absorbers from the factory, instead of empty tubes. The difference between stock and Bilsteins on my truck was dramatic, noticeable the moment I backed out of the driveway. The biggest improvement in my case was the improved control of body motions on undulating freeway surfaces. There were occasions with the stock shocks when at regular highway speeds the body would bound and plunge like a merry-go-round horsey to the full limits of suspension travel. The Bilsteins stopped that immediately.

TC

There were occasions with the stock shocks when at regular highway speeds the body would bound and plunge like a merry-go-round horsey to the full limits of suspension travel. The Bilsteins stopped that immediately.

TC
Exactly!!!

not here boys, i had bfg 285 on before they were installed, they installed the shocks, (i run with an aux tank and tools, usally over the 8000lb mark) , and pull a 10k fifthwheel, i have to say i really did not notice any difference with the weight, my stock shocks never bound and plunged, i put on over 60k a year and do lots of gravel and rought roads, was suspecting leaps and bounds as well, felltas soft as stock, i heard guys running the ranchos are having better luck and a lot cheaper, my two cents

cant speak for the bilsteins, but I can def tell a difference with the ranchos. 9 is stiff and one is comparable to the OEM. all this before and after 315s......

little off topic.

Wondering if the Bilsteins would help reduce the bounce on an unloaded rig. The rear end bounce on the bumpies were driving me nuts until I installed the camper shell & Rack-it lumber rack. The few hundred pounds of added weight in the back helped calm the bounce somewhat, however after unloading river gear (boats & eq.) at the river put-in location, and then having to drive unloaded, up and over the mountain on a rutty dirt road to leave the rig at the take-out point leaves a bit to be desired when comes to the suspension system.

Your truck looks great! Where did you get the Allison nameplate on your tailgate? Also the front bumper foglight valance? Thanks

Thanks


The Allison Nameplate source is here and I'll be digging it up soon as I'm in
the need of one myself.

On Edit: Service Graphics, Inc.
(317-471-8246). The P/N is F20

The front Airdam is Piaa and early Chevy spacific.

Wondering if the Bilsteins would help reduce the bounce on an unloaded rig. The rear end bounce on the bumpies were driving me nuts until I installed the camper shell & Rack-it lumber rack. The few hundred pounds of added weight in the back helped calm the bounce somewhat, however after unloading river gear (boats & eq.) at the river put-in location, and then having to drive unloaded, up and over the mountain on a rutty dirt road to leave the rig at the take-out point leaves a bit to be desired when comes to the suspension system.
yes they do, that is exactly what I mean by "floating". also today I drove on what could be one of Austins worse roads..felt completely different. with the stock shocks the rear woudl be all over the place, but with the Bilsteins today on the same road the rear was planted and absorbed every bump.

Thanks


The Allison Nameplate source is here and I'll be digging it up soon as I'm in
the need of one myself.

On Edit: Service Graphics, Inc.
(317-471-8246). The P/N is F20

The front Airdam is Piaa and early Chevy spacific.
Thanks for the info.

Cheers

:exactly: My 03, 2500HD arived at the dealer with a broken front shock "CHEEP"!
Had Bilsteins on that month, and still love them :) !

Thanks Briano, good to know. . . looks like, yet another upgrade for the new toy!