shocks question
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,686
Likes: 21
From: South Georgia/East Florida
I know the consensus is that Bilsteins are the best, probably followed by Rancho. I have had one set of Bilstein shocks in my life, on a Furd 4x4 that I primarily used to tow my bass boat to tournaments with and for hunting.
Blew a shock while hog hunting, no hard core off-roading, but just riding off-road to get to where I wanted to be. About 8 month old shock with maybe 6,000 miles on it. I figure "no big deal", I've blown a shock before, plus any manufacturer can have an odd shock come off the line with a so-so seal or whatever.
Dealer who sold it to me refused warranty because I installed it myself and it wasn't "professionally" installed. That kinda ticked me off, so I contacted Bilstein myself, receipt copied and everything. I figured "no problem" Bilstein would ship me a new shock, no question.
I get a response from Bilstein, that they wanted me to ship them the shock for evaluation and they said that there shocks were not guaranteed for off-road or towing use! I'm like WTF? A truck shock, marketed heavily in EVERY off-road magazine and it's NOT warranted for off-road or towing???
I said f*ck them, yanked the other three off, tossed all four in the trash and put a set of Ranchos on. That was in the early '90s and I won't do Bilstein ever again. Not because of the product, but because of **** poor customer service...
Blew a shock while hog hunting, no hard core off-roading, but just riding off-road to get to where I wanted to be. About 8 month old shock with maybe 6,000 miles on it. I figure "no big deal", I've blown a shock before, plus any manufacturer can have an odd shock come off the line with a so-so seal or whatever.
Dealer who sold it to me refused warranty because I installed it myself and it wasn't "professionally" installed. That kinda ticked me off, so I contacted Bilstein myself, receipt copied and everything. I figured "no problem" Bilstein would ship me a new shock, no question.
I get a response from Bilstein, that they wanted me to ship them the shock for evaluation and they said that there shocks were not guaranteed for off-road or towing use! I'm like WTF? A truck shock, marketed heavily in EVERY off-road magazine and it's NOT warranted for off-road or towing???
I said f*ck them, yanked the other three off, tossed all four in the trash and put a set of Ranchos on. That was in the early '90s and I won't do Bilstein ever again. Not because of the product, but because of **** poor customer service...
Last edited by HammerZ71; Apr 20, 2011 at 08:39 AM.
Champion
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 1
From: North Eastern England
I know the consensus is that Bilsteins are the best, probably followed by Rancho. I have had one set of Bilstein shocks in my life, on a Furd 4x4 that I primarily used to tow my bass boat to tournaments with and for hunting.
Blew a shock while hog hunting, no hard core off-roading, but just riding off-road to get to where I wanted to be. About 8 month old shock with maybe 6,000 miles on it. I figure "no big deal", I've blown a shock before, plus any manufacturer can have an odd shock come off the line with a so-so seal or whatever.
Dealer who sold it to me refused warranty because I installed it myself and it wasn't "professionally" installed. That kinda ticked me off, so I contacted Bilstein myself, receipt copied and everything. I figured "no problem" Bilstein would ship me a new shock, no question.
I get a response from Bilstein, that they wanted me to ship them the shock for evaluation and they said that there shocks were not guaranteed for off-road or towing use! I'm like WTF? A truck shock, marketed heavily in EVERY off-road magazine and it's NOT warranted for off-road or towing???
I said f*ck them, yanked the other three off, tossed all four in the trash and put a set of Ranchos on. That was in the early '90s and I won't do Bilstein ever again. Not because of the product, but because of **** poor customer service...
Blew a shock while hog hunting, no hard core off-roading, but just riding off-road to get to where I wanted to be. About 8 month old shock with maybe 6,000 miles on it. I figure "no big deal", I've blown a shock before, plus any manufacturer can have an odd shock come off the line with a so-so seal or whatever.
Dealer who sold it to me refused warranty because I installed it myself and it wasn't "professionally" installed. That kinda ticked me off, so I contacted Bilstein myself, receipt copied and everything. I figured "no problem" Bilstein would ship me a new shock, no question.
I get a response from Bilstein, that they wanted me to ship them the shock for evaluation and they said that there shocks were not guaranteed for off-road or towing use! I'm like WTF? A truck shock, marketed heavily in EVERY off-road magazine and it's NOT warranted for off-road or towing???
I said f*ck them, yanked the other three off, tossed all four in the trash and put a set of Ranchos on. That was in the early '90s and I won't do Bilstein ever again. Not because of the product, but because of **** poor customer service...
I will give a manufacturer every reasonable chance to make things right and not try to be aggressive or as we say here in the UK......"arsey".
But, if they don't help.....they're outta' there and no matter what.....I will not buy anything from them again. Even though sometimes it might be cutting my nose off to spite my face lol.
You can't beat consumer power
Al.
Last edited by abarmby; Apr 20, 2011 at 09:51 AM.
Champion
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,210
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From: Shreveport, LA
I had bilstiens on my ford. A little rough for me. I put monroes on my truck after my last lift, and now ranchos. So much better than stock or monroes. But at $90ish each somewhat pricy
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Hall Of Fame
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,168
Likes: 23
From: South GA
Just ordered some blistein 5100's. I am curious to see how much of a difference it makes from stock shocks at 95,000 miles....lol. I will follow up after install next week and let you know how they turned out.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
My truck only has 29000 miles and the front shocks were shot and it turned the hole oval in the upper shock mount so I would hear a knocking noise when I would go over bumps because the shock shaft would rattle in the upper shock mount.