Bilstein Monotube Shocks

Price Paid:  $250.00 from ProAm

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 Silverado 1500

Weaknesses:
too soft

Summary:
I purchased the Bilsteins in an attempt to get a firmer ride and less bounce for my truck. Immediately after receiving the shocks I noticed them to be more giving than the KYB Monomax shocks that I have. After installation, the truck rides softer and wobbles more than before. I bought the Bilsteins because others stated them to be firm but now I regret my decision to replace my shocks.

Similar Products Used:
KYB MonoMax

Price Paid:  $280.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 Ford f250 SD

Strengths:
smooth, consistent, frees up suspension travel, good for off road.

Weaknesses:
a bit wallowy and divy. Truck sways and bounces more with these especially when the truck is loaded up.

Summary:
After one of the stock shocks failed I purchesed these for the truck thinking that they would ride like the Bilsteins I bought in the 80's for a Volvo and Ford Rainger. I am quite disapointed in them as they are not as firm as they used to be. Bilsteins used to be known as very firm shocks for a super solid and controlled street ride, but the newer generations of these shocks are a rather a bit softer. They are actually a lot softer than the stock shocks that come on the 2wd F250. I talked to Steve B. at Bilstein Ca. and he admitted (but only after much cajoling) that Bilsteins are not the Euro type shocks or yore. So, if your current shocks are softish or shot the Bilsteins will probably work just fine but, if you are looking for top street performance gains out of a damper I'd look elswhere.

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $225.00 from AjUSA

Year / Model Reviewed:
1985 '81 Bronco

Strengths:
Handle rough roads well.

Weaknesses:
They don't have a very positive response at the upper end of their travel. Maybe they are better suited for a lighter vehicle.

Summary:
I went with these because KYB and Edelbrock do not make rears that fit my rig, in their higher end shocks, and I can't say that I am all that impressed with them. Based on the other reviews here I expected a much stiffer ride. They always feel that they are giving way too much in their initial travel and then they recover with a good firm dampening action. The end result, for my vehicle, is a rather strange combination of handling characteristics consisting of a springy ride on light bumps, soft on the highway and a good predictable feel under harsh use. It seems that I am never really sure how they are going to react in a given situation... but, maybe they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do and I just have to get used to the beast riding like it never has before.

Similar Products Used:
Rancho 500's - very positive firm feel, took them off thinking they were bad...turned out to be the springs and now they don't make them anymore.
Gabriel LT's - Just ok and they don't last long.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $300.00 from shocksonline

Year / Model Reviewed:
1998 Ford E-350

Strengths:
Reduce sway on my top heavy van.

Weaknesses:
Most expensive shocks money can buy and darned well worth the cost.

Summary:
I recently purchased a 1998 Ford E-350 van with a Telsta boom/bucket that goes up to 34 feet off the ground. I am a photographer and this boom/van is a perfect combo for my business.
The van rode like a lumbering/drunk elephant until I installed the Bilstiens. With the top heavy van, it would sway from side to side and chuck holes made me thing I was driving a covered wagon across the Texas Prairie. The ride was terrible. Now, with my new Bilstiens, this van is enjoyable to ride in and the sway is not nearly noticeable. I can take corners with more confidence and my camera equipment no longer gets bounced around in the back. The shocks cost a little over $300 and installation at my local garage set me back another $80.00. My mechanic said these were the hardest shocks he ever installed, but they make for the best ride ai can imagine in this beast I drive.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
1998 Toyota T100

Strengths:
Much larger diameter than my stock shocks and slightly stiffer. Lifetime warranty.

Summary:
I've put over 140,000 miles on my toyota T100 and was starting to question whether I wanted to trade it in for a car because the ride was not inspiring any confidence or fun any more. The ride on the original shocks at 140,000 miles was pretty uninspiring. The ride was bouncy and felt unstable at high highway speeds when making quick direction changes.
Enter the new bilstiens. I bought them online for about $65 a piece and had them put on with a new set of michelins. Wow! All I can say is that I actually enjoy driving my truck again. The new shocks really eat up the big bumps and give me confidence in my vehicle that I was lacking a with the stock worn out shocks. The ride is stiffer but in no way too stiff. I'm glad a spent a little extra to get these premium shocks. I think these are the same shocks toyota uses on its trd line of trucks.