Got my new Bilsteins from J Kennedy today. Was reading a post in another forum stating the front shocks had a little play on the tower due to too small bushings.


Anyone who has installed these, have you had the same problem, or is it not something to worry about?


Thanks,


Rich

Easy install, no problems on my 02.


Steve

No problems on mine either. Mine are solid with no play. Is it a possible ESO problem? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif

So how do you guys like the ride with those new Bilsteins ? ? ? Does it relax the shudder on the highway's.

No problem on the install on my 01, just tighten down the top nut until you see the rubber bushing bulge out.


Lightning -- Yes they do relax the shuddering. World of difference from the OME shocks. The OME"s are junk, if you pull one off you will see what I am talking about.

After waiting two months mine shipped yesterday. I'll be installing them this weekend (or sooner)

I've had mine for @ 10,000 miles - great improvement over the stock shocks!

Have had mine on for approx. 30,000 miles. Seem as good today as they were right after being installed. I think the ride is better but they are not a miracle cure. Best change I made to my 3500 was to take out the longest removable rear springs and add Air Lift Air Bags w/ onboard compressor .... Jim

The person that had the problem stated he had a 1500HD. Maybe he just used the wrong shock. Will install them this weekend.


Thanks for the feedback,


Rich

No problem on mine. Love the shocks, smooth the highway pogo stick

No problems with mine, but I did drive them a day and then snug the nuts down again to make sure they were tight. My stock shocks were junk in 5K front and back. The new shocks were a great improvement and well worth the money.

Installed the Bilsteins today. I can't believe at 21K miles how shot the OEM shocks were. The truck seems to ride a little higher and doesn't seem to drift in the turns as before.


I tightened the front shocks once the truck was off the jacks and the tires back on. Seems like a tight fit to me.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

btt,


Question for those who've installed them: It's my impression that the biggest gain from the Bilsteins would come from subduing the front. I'm wondering what you noticed as a gain in the rear, and if there rear made any difference - is it worth it to do the rear shocks too? Thanks.

YES


Doing just one end of the truck is not a good idea to start out with as you end up with an unbalanced suspensension. But the shocks in the rear drastically cuts down on the pogo stick effect on the highway speed expansion strips.

Thanks Firstdiesel,
While I'm not sure I agree with your first statement about unbalanced suspension, I'll value the second portion. I wanted to know if you could feel an improvement in the rear, where the stiff springs seem to rule.


From what I feel in my stock suspension, it already feels very unbalanced due to the weight of the Duramax/Allison, although the "green keys" improved it. Also, in more than one arena of motorsports, it's not uncommon to have unmatching front/rear shocks.


Thanks.

But not stock vs aftermarket.


And trust me you will be AMAZED when you remove the stock shocks how bad they are. I replaced mine at 7.5k and I could almost move them in and out by hand with no resistance.

Ok, once the wfie stops giving me dirty looks for the Edge/Attitude I just bought, the shocks are next.

my stockers were blown also at 10k... bilsteins don't hop (like a washboard) the truck like the stockers did!

But not stock vs aftermarket.


By the way, good point!

But not stock vs aftermarket.


By the way, good point!








Actually I should have really sad worn out stock vs aftermarket!! :)


Trust me you would never want to match a new Bilstein with those POS shocks GM installs stock!Edited by: FirstDiesel

Hey Joe E!


Did you get it at the get together at dmaxalliTech's? Got a refurbed Juice there and am lovin the thing! What a difference! My wife even likes it!


John

anyone know where to find the bilstiens without waiting? need something to help really bad.

Have you contacted Kennedy to see if he has any??





I got mine from this place before Kennedy was selling them, might want to try them too.


http://www.offroadwarehouse.com/

Chevmeister,

I got my Bilsteins at pickuptruck.com. I was lucky enough to find them on sale for $46 ea. Their everyday price is $58, I believe. I received them 3 or 4 days after ordering. They won't make the truck ride like a Cadillac, but they transformed it from a wallowing pig into a well-controlled pleasure to drive.

TC

Chevmeister,

I got my Bilsteins at pickuptruck.com. I was lucky enough to find them on sale for $46 ea. Their everyday price is $58, I believe. I received them 3 or 4 days after ordering. They won't make the truck ride like a Cadillac, but they transformed it from a wallowing pig into a well-controlled pleasure to drive.

TC





Do you have the part #'s from yours? I put on the Bilsteins and was not too impressed, it still kicks like hell.

Lightning,

Sorry for the delayed response. The model shocks I installed are BE5-6081HO and BE5-6082HO. The rear axle still kicks hard on expansion joints, but the tires stay on the ground a lot better than with stock shocks. I don't think we can really smooth out the ride of what is, essentially, a one-ton truck. The part of the shocks' performance that I like the best is the way they keep the body from plunging up and down over relatively modest heaves in the pavement. The ride is controlled much better now and the rear end doesn't try to step out so much when going around bumpy corners.
TC

kennedy has none and the rear for my truck uses be5-6501-h1 as far as i can tell.

Since there's a couple Bilstein threads, I'll put this post in both for search purposes:


Well, I got the shocks in on Friday. Put the fronts in Sat morning, and went for a long drive to see what the impact of front only. Front was much more controlled, and less "2nd" bounce form hitting the bumps, as stated from guys above.


But, as was suggested by FirstDiesel http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif, the rear felt REALLY squirly. The boucyness in the back was very pronounced, since it lacked the same control that the front now had. So, this made me feel very good that I got all 4.


Next, pulled the rears, only to find that one of them was wasted. So, this explained the REALLY significant difference noted, but still justified the new rears. Put them in, and went driving around again - very noticeable improvement from the rear.


I think ride is a little stiffer, but this is partly from the lack of "wallowing" that exists with the stock shocks. Overall, big improvement as everyone else has stated. I would have to recommend that anyone replacing the stock shocks, do all 4, as was recommended by others.

Glad you got the shocks and glad you like the result.





I knew your shocks would be shot. I only had 7.5k on mine and they were jusat about totally worn out. None were blown out but they were so worn you could move them at will with no effort.