Bilstein Installed
 

Recently, I've noticed that my front end seemed to be floating and not taking bumps very well. With all the shock threads on yotatech, you would think it would be easy to explain this feeling but it isn't. I just notice that when I would hit a bump, I would have to slightly correct the steering, it wasn't necessarily throwing the truck, but enough to cause a steering correction.

History; Truck is a 1992 toyota pickup, SR5 extended cab, with 132,000 on the 3vze, at 65K I removed the stock shocks and added 4 Rancho 5000. At first I liked them, made a big difference in ride, but as you will find out they don't compare to the bilsteins.

So I order Bilsteins from performanceproducts (not happy with customer service, but they had the best price). When you get these shock you will see a difference, they are build better, heck even the boot is better build compare to the Rancho 5000.

I put them on, torque them down and wow do they make a difference. Now, it doesn't turn the truck into a race car (handling wise), but you will notice a smoother ride and the bumps are absorbed well. (I know a lot mentioned a stiffer ride with the bilsteins, I did not feel that, they feel great)

Torque Specs;
Rear bolts both; 53 ft lbs (17mm)
Front Lower bolt; 101 ft lbs (22mm)
Front Top bolt; Tighten till bushings start to squish (17mm)

Washers Starting from the shock up; Dull black washer (cupped up), bushing, Dull black washer (cupped down), truck bracket, bushing, silver washer cupped down, Nut.

Just one side note; Before I installed the bilsteins I did the famous bounce test, where you push down on the one side of your truck to test the shocks. Now according to this test, the truck should bounce and then rebound and then stop, my truck did this with no problem. (Which would lead you to believe that I didn't need shocks.) Well when I got the rancho's off they were spent, nothing in them, I push the shock all the way in by hand and they did not rebound. So the shock test doesn't really work, I needed shocks.

This weekend I'm adding a addco sway bar to the front, I'll get a seperate review for that install.

Good luck and my recommendation is Bilsteins

What is the cost of the Bilsteins? For a set of 4 front and rear? Just curious. anybody else want to recommend factory Toyota replacement shocks or offer a comparison?

I've had Bilsteins on my truck for about 13 years. They were a remarkable improvement over stock. I highly recommend them. Now if I could just figure out whether they'll work with a 1.5" lift . . . . . and if not then which Bilstein will. On price, they're about $64.95 per shock(B46-1139, B46-1140). But, don't forget . . . I'm still running the same shocks 13 years later and they're still fine (not as tight as new but still fine) except for the rust on the front of the front shock tubes where gravel knocked the paint off.

[Edit] Price

Like I said earlier I got mine from Performance Products, for 64.95 each, but if you buy 4 you get 10% off. For all four plus shipping is cost me 260.45. 22 bucks for shipping.

But they are worth it.

Thanks for the write-up. This is what i will be doing next week. Got the Bil's from the same place, they have 10% off right now.
I have 230,000 on the stockers :scared:

the shocks don't rebound, the springs do. The function of the shock is to dampen the spring. Simply because the shock doesn't rebound dousn't mean that it is spend. Often it is a design difference in the valving. I am not saying that they weren't shot but the shock rebounding isn't the determining factor.

Matt

Thanks for the comments, but I think you are reading too far into what I said. I was just explaining what I saw and felt in the shock, remember I was having an issue with my front end floating and when I compared the old rancho shocks to the new bilsteins there was a big difference. Thanks for explaining how shocks work but this thread is to help others determine if they need shocks and which ones to buy. So these are just my comments...

Todd

I think you'll be happy with the bilsteins. Especially since you still have the stock ones on.. As a note the front may spin on you, I had to cut the front right side off with an angle grinder. Stripped the top and it kept spinning on me, so got the grinder out. lol

osr436

Thats a big 10-4 :great:
Thanks.