Problem with Bilsteins possibly?

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TNTEMPEST

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I have just finished the installation of Bilstein part # F4BE5-2450-hd on the front of my 2002 Limited 4x4 with 85,000 miles. Factory Tokico part # was 48510-35100. My question is to those of you who have done this installation did you notice the following.

1. Needed spring compressor to take old strut apart but didn't need it to assemble it with Bilstiens?

2. Now car seems looser and dives more during braking.

3. Which way did you install spring cup? If you hold next to old strut it should drop lower than snap ring, however it seems if you reversed it I would have to use spring compressor and gain whatever spring tension I seemed to have lost.

I did a search and noticed someone else complained about this.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?threadid=10951&highlight=bilstein

Anybody?
 
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Nobody has anything to add about when they installed their bilsteins? Did you notice a difference in length?

I am thinking aout buying 99 coils or the pp 1" lift springs, I think this will make all the difference.

Either that or my new bilsteins were bad from the factory
 
Hope this helps

What's up man, I will be changing out my stock shocks with Bilsteins as well. Supposedly, the ride should be stiffer. I am adding Bilsteins and Addco anti-sway bars to improve the ride and handling. My stock shocks have 120K on them so I think it is time to change them out. Please go to this website, this guy did the Bilstein installation himself and has special instructions that might help. Hope it helps.


http://www.top4runners.com/ja/bils.html
 
I posted my findings on Yotatech ,
I found that the Bilsteins are 2" longer than factory Tokico's. Thus not putting the same amount of pretension on the factory spring. However this does allow the tire to droop another 2" for better articulation. I just swapped to 99 coils and now all is fine. The Bilsteins seem to be for 96-99 higher coils. In fact if you go to their site it lists 96-99, but then if you put in an 00-02 it says it will fit. It does but your truck will float like a caddy in the front.

http://www.yotatech.com/f2/2002-99-spring-install-123725/
 
Thanks so much for the insight. However, I am a little confused and I was wondering if you could clarify...since I have a 2000 Limited, not only do I have to get Bilstein shocks, but I have to get the springs from a 1999 Limited model. After reading the link, I am not sure if I want Bilsteins anymore. What I am looking for is a better ride on the pavement. Supposedly, the ride will become really stiff. I know the 3rd gen ride is the harshest of them all but I just want a more softer ride. Thanks iin advance for the explanation. Sweet rig by the way!!!
 
Problem with Bilstein Shocks + 2001 Coil Springs - Ride still "Bouncing"

Hello,

I just had new 2001 Toyota OEM coil springs (front and rear) + sway bar and end link bushings (front and rear) replaced to try and resolve "residual bouncing" issue. This helped a bit in "tightness of feel" of certain aspects of ride, but "residual bouncing" (rocking side-to-side) issue still remains. (Shocks are Bilstein Front and Rear shocks BE5-2451-H0 + BE5-F332-H0)

I found this thread on the same issue, and one other thread showing photos of the Bilstein shocks versus stock Toyota OEM shocks. User and photos show Bilsteins Front shocks are 2" longer than Toyota OEM, with the "not enough pretension on the factory spring" problem. This problem may further be exacerbated by spring seat installed in reverse, increasing height by another 1.5". (Total would then = 3.5" difference)

I can also provide link or send you photos of the coil springs (if interested), from the other posting on YotaTech Forum.

Looks like I have two options:

1. "Check the aluminum seat of the spring of the front shocks. Make sure the front strut spring seat is installed correctly, the rounded part faces upward. The seat can be installed in reverse resulting in exactly a 1.5" lift in the front. Flat end of the spring seat should be on the bottom. Curved side up." If this was not done properly for the shocks (previously), this would eliminate additional 1.5" lift, and perhaps reduce the bounce enough (going from the total 3.5" to 2" difference from factory shocks).

OR

2. Remove the Bilsteins and install Toyota OEM shocks

Thanks for your insights on the above.
 
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I just did 99 springs and bilstein HD's, I also have the sway bar polyurethane bushings and endlink bushings

I agree, mine feels worse, the diving is awful! :wtf:

I thought bilstein made good stuff! I'm disappointed though and after spending 250 on these shocks, I can't just afford to buy another set.

I have the struts correctly assembled and the thing DIVEBOMBS like there's no tomorrow, I'm getting body roll like a Ford Exploder.

You're not the only one... They're not amazingly comfortable either, so in this case I'd rather have the stiffer ride...

What other shocks can I use that will suit me? I want less body roll, less brake dive (none at all if I can help it) and I want a more solid ride.

I feel less in control with these shocks.
 
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Core Issue with Bilstein HD Shocks and 2001 4Runner

It seems you have the right combination 1999 Toyota OEM Coils + Bilstein HD Shocks. Although, I have the same "residual bounce" (side-to-side) and "lack of control" /"jerking" of vehicle over heavy bumps/potholes. Additionally, I can do two things that simulate my problem: (1) shake the 4Runner relatively easily by pushing on the top of the drivers side door to rock the vehicle, and (2) step on and push down the rear bumper and have it bounce modestly 1-2 times.

The issue seems to be installing Bilstein HD on 2000-2002 4Runners, where the coil springs on these years are "shorter" than 1999 (and perhaps earlier) 4Runners. So, according to other postings, this causes a "pretension" issue with the 2001 shorter coil.

At this point, I've invested in new Toyota OEM coil springs, OEM Sway Bar and End-Link Bushings, plus Bilstein HD shocks. So, if the above is the real problem (and it's not the reversed aluminum seat of spring / shock), then I'll have to swap out the Bilsteins (front+rear) and just purchase Toyota OEM shocks. (Then sell the Bilsteins to recover some cost...they only have 10,000 miles on them. I will also contact the Bilstein dealer I purchased the shocks about this problem.)

Additionally, I also read from another posting to confirm that OEM shock will also match the tire size. (I was informed there are different shocks used depending on tire size.)

(Also, I did not go poly for bushings.)

Good luck on a reasonable solution to your issue.

Does anyone have further insights into this combination 1999 or 2001 OEM coil springs + Bilstein HD shocks?

Thanks for your insights.

Glen
 
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Hey guys sorry to hear you are having problems with the Bils. I've had mine on with factory springs for over 80k miles now and the ride is waaayyyy better than the stock ride imo. There is a difference between the 4WD and 2WD applications though. Mine matches the 4WD product numbers. If you're not sure of the product number then you can check the label on the shock itself.

I pulled this right off the application guide on Bilstein's US website:

96-02 4wd HD F4-BE5-2450-H0 F4-BE5-2451-H0

96-02 2wd HD F4-BE5-2482-H0 F4-BE5-2451-H0

F4-BE5-2451-H0 are the rear shocks and they are the same regardless of 4WD or 2WD
 
Coil Spring Height Difference + Bilstein HD Shock

I see you are very satisfied with 2000 4Runner stock coil springs + Bilstein HD shocks. Do you know if the 2000 4Runner coil springs are exactly the same height/length as 1999? If so, then your application would be a match.

My issue is the 2001 4Runner coil springs are 2" shorter than the 1999 4Runner coil springs, which these Bilstein HD shocks are designed for. This is evident with photos (from another posting) showing the Toyota OEM shocks for 2001 4Runner are similarly 2" shorter than the Bilstein HDs.

I believe this mis-match of longer Bilstein HD shock and shorter 2001 coil spring, is causing the "floating"/"rocking"/"loss of control" feeling over potholes/uneven road surface.

I have the 4WD part #s you quoted. When I ordered in April 2008, the part numbers were labeled "1996-1999", and dealer stated they would work for 2001 4Runner. Although, it doesn't seem to be a proper application for 2001, given the coil spring height difference.
 
Everything I've read says that the '00 springs are shorter than the '99s, but I don't have the problems that are described here
 
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