Problem with a Bilstein Shock, what is step up in quality

[ron in sc]

Problem resolved with a Bilstein Shock, what is step up in quality

Was going to get Bilstein HD 5100s for my wandering SR5. But the failure on one of my Bilsteins on 1999 ML 320 has given me cause to reconsider.

So what would be a step up in quality of the same type of shock that the Bilstein represents?

 

[philsey]

fftopic: but have you had the caster changed yet?

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

This is also off topic...I was under the impression that the Bilsteins had a life time warranty. Would the above failure be covered under something like that?

 

[ron in sc]

This is also off topic...I was under the impression that the Bilsteins had a life time warranty. Would the above failure be covered under something like that?

They do. You have to produce your original sale receipt, I got lucky and found my 14 year old receipt. So they will review my submissions and shock which I must send back at my expense and decide what credit I might be entitled to. Even if they do give me something it's not going to be two new shocks even though they say you are to replace in pairs. I'm not going to fight with them it's not worth the effort.


And no I have not had caster changed yet, I need to get my friend who owns an MB shop if he will align my truck, don't know if this machine is set up for only MB vehicles.

 

[eddiebx]

Not a Bilstein fanboy here by any means but...14 years before failure seems pretty good no? I think it might be difficult for you to find a more durable shock unless you're thinking about stepping up to maybe ICON coilovers/shocks with the way beefier bodies? Even then, there's still failures...IMO just get the 5100s and don't loose sleep, it's not as if you hear everyone on here snapping them left and right? (knocks on wood cuz I just installed a set pf 5100s all around too, lol)

I think all in all they are a pretty proven shock to go with

PS: the 5100s supposedly have better corrosion resistance too, and it seems like corrosion may or may not played a part in the failure depicted above. Just food for thought.

 

[adam2562]

The problem is that MB has a design flaw causing the shock to be stressed.. they're junk lol i kid i kid.. but i really do personally think they're junk for long term ownage

 

[philsey]

Was going to get Bilstein HD 5100s for my wandering SR5. But the failure on one of my Bilsteins on 1999 ML 320 has given me cause to reconsider.

So what would be a step up in quality of the same type of shock that the Bilstein represents?

That's obviously abuse ... too fast over the mall speed bumps?

 

[ron in sc]

PS: the 5100s supposedly have better corrosion resistance too, and it seems like corrosion may or may not played a part in the failure depicted above. Just food for thought.

I would agree that corrosion may have played a part, however, it did not effect the other shock and besides they are made to be exposed to moisture. I might add car almost never saw snow or salt on roads as I like in Charleston, sc.

 

[ron in sc]

That's obviously abuse ... too fast over the mall speed bumps?

That's my wife's car and she does do a lot of shopping, and a heavy foot. We also have speed humps on lots of the roads in the city.

Sounds like if you live in Charleston you need a vehicle with a real stout suspension. No wander I see so many G wagons, and other suv type MBs and Range Rovers and I ton of 4Runners, there everywhere.

 

[BobsTrail]

Bilsteins

I have been rough on them the past year and my wife beat the crap out of them on a washboard road for an hour and I was not aired down. She drove it like a 4Runner that day and hit a few rocks too.

I tired to give her gentle suggestions about picking a line. The Bilsteins took it and only got a little warm. I will make her stop and air down next time though.
:zoom:

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

They do. You have to produce your original sale receipt, I got lucky and found my 14 year old receipt. So they will review my submissions and shock which I must send back at my expense and decide what credit I might be entitled to. Even if they do give me something it's not going to be two new shocks even though they say you are to replace in pairs. I'm not going to fight with them it's not worth the effort.


And no I have not had caster changed yet, I need to get my friend who owns an MB shop if he will align my truck, don't know if this machine is set up for only MB vehicles.

Well that sounds like a huge PITA. I would agree that it's not worth the effort.

 

[Jono.ful]

...IMO just get the 5100s and don't loose sleep, it's not as if you hear everyone on here snapping them left and right? (knocks on wood cuz I just installed a set pf 5100s all around too, lol)

I broke one, with predominantly highway driving. Snapped the threaded rod right off the top of one of the rear 5160's. Sent it in for warranty and never heard anything about it ever again. I'm planning to upgrade to Radflo's soon.

 

[homeyclaus]

That's my wife's car and she does do a lot of shopping, and a heavy foot. We also have speed humps on lots of the roads in the city.

Sounds like if you live in Charleston you need a vehicle with a real stout suspension. No wander I see so many G wagons, and other suv type MBs and Range Rovers and I ton of 4Runners, there everywhere.

Not sure why you're complaining if the Bilsteins lasted 14 years with that sort of use. Off-roading is actually gentler on shocks than mall-by-fouring and city use. After all, when off-roading you usually slow down for bumps.

I broke one, with predominantly highway driving. Snapped the threaded rod right off the top of one of the rear 5160's. Sent it in for warranty and never heard anything about it ever again. I'm planning to upgrade to Radflo's soon.

All suspension component manufacturers are like that. Especially when their product has been installed for more than a year.

 

[ron in sc]

Not sure why you're complaining if the Bilsteins lasted 14 years with that sort of use. Off-roading is actually gentler on shocks than mall-by-fouring and city use. After all, when off-roading you usually slow down for bumps.

The shocks did not last 14 years. Let me clarify. The Bilsteins were purchased on 1-24-2005 when the ML had 104,711 miles on it. The ML now has about 177K on it. So I got about 73K miles out of them before one of them literally came apart.

When the Bilsteins performance dropped off I don't know, other than it was at some point during the 77K miles I ran them.

I did compare compression and rebound of the Monroes against the Bilsteins and found both took the same amount of compression effort to compress. As for rebound the Monroes took 2x as long to rebound as the Bilstein.

Since I was going to get the HD 5100s for my 2012 4runner I a little hesitant to spend the money on the Bilstein if they are not that much better than a lower priced shock.

 

[homeyclaus]

The shocks did not last 14 years. Let me clarify. The Bilsteins were purchased on 1-24-2005 when the ML had 104,711 miles on it. The ML now has about 177K on it. So I got about 73K miles out of them before one of them literally came apart.

When the Bilsteins performance dropped off I don't know, other than it was at some point during the 77K miles I ran them.

I did compare compression and rebound of the Monroes against the Bilsteins and found both took the same amount of compression effort to compress. As for rebound the Monroes took 2x as long to rebound as the Bilstein.

Since I was going to get the HD 5100s for my 2012 4runner I a little hesitant to spend the money on the Bilstein if they are not that much better than a lower priced shock.

Beating the stuffing out of shocks for 70,000 miles is pretty darn good. The Monroe hd gas shocks (which were actually hd shocks for a half ton truck) in my '88 Chevy Caprice Interceptor lasted 80,000 kilometers. That's 50,000 miles.

Ultimately they're attached by two bolts, and exposed to mud, dust, salt, water, and as the name would suggest, shocks. They're filled with oil and high pressure gas, and really only have a couple of neoprene or other types of seals on there to hold all that stuff in. They're easy to change. Think of them as service items, not the same as you'd think of an engine, transmission, or differential.

 

[Jono.ful]

All suspension component manufacturers are like that. Especially when their product has been installed for more than a year.

4 months, tops.

 

[ron in sc]

I contacted ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America, the motorsport division in Charlotte, NC and spoke with the person who I felt could best handle this shock failure.

Bilstein was aware of a number of shocks one of which were mine that were produced when mine was and were determined to be defective. As I contended a shock should not fail in the manner mine did unless there is a defect in manuf. material, or design. Under normal use of course.

So Bilstein is sending me two new shocks with mountings. The new shocks are the updated and improved version. The cost to me is zero dollars and includes overnight shipping. I should have them tomorrow.

So Bilstein does honor their warranty and certainly has taken good care of me.

Happy for me and for others who have one more reason to buy Bilstein.

 

[Speedy Gomez]

Not a Bilstein fanboy here by any means but...14 years before failure seems pretty good no? I think it might be difficult for you to find a more durable shock.

I second that.

 

[Speedy Gomez]

So Bilstein is sending me two new shocks with mountings. The new shocks are the updated and improved version. The cost to me is zero dollars and includes overnight shipping. I should have them tomorrow.

So Bilstein does honor their warranty and certainly has taken good care of me.

Happy for me and for others who have one more reason to buy Bilstein.

Man that is cool! I am thinking of getting 5100 series shock for the front to level out the 4runner.

 

[ron in sc]

The new ones are installed and vehicle has been test driven; of course it handles superbly. Wish my 2012 Toyota could be made to handle more like the 1999 ml 320. No nosedive with the Bilsteins just a slight dip even when pressing brake hard enough to activate the ABS pump.

Attached is photo with shocks installed but prior to replacement of fender liners and prior to putting tires on and lowering to floor so bolts could be properly torqued to spec.

Note this vehicle does not even have springs up front.