Bilstein Monotube Shocks

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 10.00 votes

Price Paid:  $400.00 from Essex Distributors

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT Diesel

Strengths:
Nice colors, looks strongly constructed, smooth ride on nicely paved highways.

Weaknesses:
Not enough compression and needs much more rebound

Summary:
I made the decision to purchased these Bilstein shocks based on the information they give us about them being so good, but I should of had read the reviews in the first place. To soft! Truck is bouncing when going though wavy spots on the highway or over bridge joints. Not made for Ram 2500! I regret the purchase.

Similar Products Used:
N/A first replacing them

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.57 of 5, 14.00 votes

Price Paid:  $12000.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 Ranger

Strengths:
Handles Great, much better than other shocks on Rangers. Really a good shock for any Ranger.

Summary:
Shocks are getting warn, considering a second set. 104,000km's

Similar Products Used:
Stock Ranger Shocks.

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.55 of 5, 11.00 votes

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

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.82 of 5, 17.00 votes

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
4.64 of 5, 14.00 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.