New Shocks

TopRunner

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I want to replace my OE shox.

I like the Bilstien HD. So far the best price I have found is on Tirerack.com

77 for the fronts
?? can't remember the rears off the top of my head

anyone have good sites they've used befor?

I went to the local after market parts dealer and they wanted 125 and change plus tax. I sarcasticly asked if that included install. They said NO and I left.
 
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Sounds about right for the fronts. I think the rears should be in high 50s low 60s. I bought a set of 4 off ebay for $270 in '06 and I was definitely shopping around. Pretty much everybody was asking the same price because they can get it with Bilstein. Where is this guy getting $125? For one front or the front set?
 
004Gunner said:
Sounds about right for the fronts. I think the rears should be in high 50s low 60s. I bought a set of 4 off ebay for $270 in '06 and I was definitely shopping around. Pretty much everybody was asking the same price because they can get it with Bilstein. Where is this guy getting $125? For one front or the front set?

The local shop here wants 125 for one. Go figure.

How do you like the HD's? What kind of use does your 4r get?
 
I like the HDs because I have never been a fan of the squishy feeling ride like you get with Fords. With the high center of gravity and narrow body it really helps eliminate most of the body roll and gives a solid feel but not jarring. The major difference between the Bils and the stock is the recovery feels faster in the Bils with a more pronounced stiffness in the corners. I have done almost no off roading with these unfortunately, but hope to really put them to work this summer and have no doubts they will live up to the name. I also have the Firestone air springs for more suspension control in the rear.
 
just bought the bilstien HD from eshocks. I hope they get here befor the weekend so I can put them in.

While I was at the eshocks web site I wanted to look at some springs too. I took one look at the spring rate calc and my brain made a "squish" noise:confused:

I figured while I was under there doing the shox it'd be a good time to do the coil's too.
 
sways or Billsteins??

Ok so I was going to swap out my sway to get rid of the pesky body roll in corners. Would it be better to swap out the sways or replace shocks with Billsteins???
 
I havn't done any work to my sways or replaced any of the factory bushings so I can't say if doing so will further reduce body roll. Maybe someone on here has swapped out just the sways and would know. I should also mention I have the Firestone air springs in the rear too and all my springs are factory.
 
Re: sways or Billsteins??

NITO97Limited said:
Ok so I was going to swap out my sway to get rid of the pesky body roll in corners. Would it be better to swap out the sways or replace shocks with Billsteins???

I'll let you know what the ride is like with the bils' in it next week. As of right now it's slop.
 
sways or Bilsteins??

I]I'll let you know what the ride is like with the bils' in it next week. As of right now it's slop.[/I]

Hey cool thanks. Mine rides pretty smooth but I hate the roll in turns. Just traded from a lowered sports car with no body roll and I can't stand it anymore. Gotta do something soon. Will look forward to hearing the results.

L8R
 
Re: shocks or sways???

NITO97Limited said:
Jrs2 thanks for FYI Had you considered replacing the sways before hand??? Did you look into other brands, if so what??

Had not considered replacing the sway bars at the time, was getting shocks, tires and alignment, that was enough $$$ at one time.

Looked into KYB and Rancho. Everything I read about the Bilsteins (alot right here) convinced me to get them.
 
Wow! replacing the rear shocks is not easy.

I had to use a combination, pipe wrench/ratchet to get the top 14mm nut off. Then to put the new ones on, the Bils have a hex hole on the top of the piston, so once the bottom was secured, I raised the axle to compress the shock and used a ratchet w/allen bit and box end wrench.

Major PITA!

I hope the fronts are a lot easier.

Even with just the rear done, I can feel a big difference. It feels great. One thing to consider, I am coming from a factory shock with 206K miles on it. So even an OEM replacement would have been good.
 
Th
Had not considered replacing the sway bars at the time, was getting shocks, tires and alignment, that was enough $$$ at one time.

Thanks jrs2
did you lift your ride or planning on it?? Did the Bils lift it?? My ride is street driven so I'm not lifting it or looking for major suspension change.
 
Re: sways or Billsteins??

NITO97Limited said:
Ok so I was going to swap out my sway to get rid of the pesky body roll in corners. Would it be better to swap out the sways or replace shocks with Billsteins???

I have both Addco sway bars with carbon graphite bushings and the Bilstein HD shocks.

The Bilsteins are more road sensitive - you will feel every bump in the road. They will allow you to corner a little better, but will not eliminate much body roll.

The Addco sway bars are what you want if you are looking to reduce body roll.

More info on the Addco bars:

http://www.top4runners.com/ja/addco.html

Make sure you install the aluminum seats on the Bilsteins correctly. Flat side DOWN. Otherwise, you'll have a front end sitting one inch higher than the rear.

Correct setup:

http://www.top4runners.com/cgi-bin/image.pl?/ja/handling/bils/bils_front_driver_seat.jpg

Incorrect setup:

http://www.yotatech.com/f2/2001-t4r-new-bilstein-hds-installed-but-rear-sagging-115512/

Install writeup:

http://www.top4runners.com/ja/bils.html
 
ToprRunner - I was going to do the shocks myself but the shop that was doing my tires only charged me $60 for installing the 4 shocks. It looked like it could be a real pain, so I figured, for $60 WTF. 206K on original factory shocks!? Wow, that must have been one mushy ride.

NITO97Limited - My suspension is all factory except the shocks and a couple ball joints. No lift or anything. The Bils don't lift it, they fit the same as the OEM shocks, they just make it ride a lot firmer. I drive on the street 99% of the time.

I've been reading about rear end sag in 2nd Gens, how do I tell if I have it? After almost 18 years should I replace the rear springs?

QSVeilside - The Bils are definitely more road sensitive, give a firmer feeling, more controllable. I never liked that mushy 'Cadillac' feel. I'll take the bumps anyday. I've read where some people call it 'harsh', but I don't think so, even my wife thought the Bils felt better. Now, my MR2 with KYBs, that's slightly harsh, but I like it, OK I'm weird.

I don't think any shock will do much for body roll. Do you have the Addco sway bars? How much were they? Carbon graphite bushings? Never heard of that.
 

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