Bilsteins fitted..don't do this !
Jul 22, 2002 | 04:59 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 0
From: VA
Bilsteins fitted..don't do this !
Spent some quality time this weekend fitting the Bilsteins.
As for "Don't do this !", read on. All I can say is I was clearing up my tools with my GF out in my truck when I found a part that should have been with her:pat:
As for a Do's list, get quality compressors and I will use air tools next time, manually compressing springs is hard work :cry:
Rears took around 90 mins start to finish although I did buy some 12000 lb axle stands as my smaller ones really did not look to good when jacked up waay high.
The real find was using a snap-on-tools 'strap wrench on the old shocks to rotate the shock body. Very straight forward. I also think two days of PB blaster on the nut helped !
The fronts were a little more complicated with the allignment of the end of the spring causing me some problems. Once I had it figured, it really was fairly quick. (the problem was that you can line the top plate and lower fitting up and as you release the spring compressors, it all moves !)
The problem came when I found a washer that should go between the top of the front Bilstein and the rubber bushing. Without it, the top of the shock could ride up into the upper bearing.
Anyway, quick call to the GF and I had the truck back on the drive. Without word of a lie, including lifting the truck and removing the wheel, I had the strut out in around 8 mins, a few mins with the compressors and I had the top apart and the washer in place. The truck was out again 28 mins after it arrived ...not too shabby
Report to follow on ride which so far feels very similar...hmmmmmmm :rolleyes:
As for "Don't do this !", read on. All I can say is I was clearing up my tools with my GF out in my truck when I found a part that should have been with her:pat:
As for a Do's list, get quality compressors and I will use air tools next time, manually compressing springs is hard work :cry:
Rears took around 90 mins start to finish although I did buy some 12000 lb axle stands as my smaller ones really did not look to good when jacked up waay high.
The real find was using a snap-on-tools 'strap wrench on the old shocks to rotate the shock body. Very straight forward. I also think two days of PB blaster on the nut helped !
The fronts were a little more complicated with the allignment of the end of the spring causing me some problems. Once I had it figured, it really was fairly quick. (the problem was that you can line the top plate and lower fitting up and as you release the spring compressors, it all moves !)
The problem came when I found a washer that should go between the top of the front Bilstein and the rubber bushing. Without it, the top of the shock could ride up into the upper bearing.
Anyway, quick call to the GF and I had the truck back on the drive. Without word of a lie, including lifting the truck and removing the wheel, I had the strut out in around 8 mins, a few mins with the compressors and I had the top apart and the washer in place. The truck was out again 28 mins after it arrived ...not too shabby
Report to follow on ride which so far feels very similar...hmmmmmmm :rolleyes:
Last edited by nrgetic99; Jul 23, 2002 at 07:06 AM.
Jul 23, 2002 | 04:42 AM
#2
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 0
From: VA
Update on the ride.
Highway ride is completely transformed. I am not prone to "I just dropped big $$$ therefore I am gonna talk up this mod " but it really is so much better.
The truck is calmer on the freeway and to me even feels smoother which is not what you expect from a firmer shock.
Overall, the on highway ride feels no firmer but just works very, very much better (The old shocks had 50k)
Around town and rough roads, I am still undecided. The response of the Bilsteins is so quick that some smaller bumps crash a little but like everything else, I will get used to it.
Its like people hearing the SC whine for the first time and saying "Wow, isn't that annoying ?" and me replying honestly "I don't hear anything !"
Highway ride is completely transformed. I am not prone to "I just dropped big $$$ therefore I am gonna talk up this mod " but it really is so much better.
The truck is calmer on the freeway and to me even feels smoother which is not what you expect from a firmer shock.
Overall, the on highway ride feels no firmer but just works very, very much better (The old shocks had 50k)
Around town and rough roads, I am still undecided. The response of the Bilsteins is so quick that some smaller bumps crash a little but like everything else, I will get used to it.
Its like people hearing the SC whine for the first time and saying "Wow, isn't that annoying ?" and me replying honestly "I don't hear anything !"
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JookUpVandetti
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
10
Sep 30, 2015 08:58 AM
FS[PacNorWest]: 1987 4Runner SAS, 22RE, 5Spd, Dual Cases, etc
toyotasaurus
Vehicles - Trailers (Complete)
0
Sep 24, 2015 03:30 PM
