Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)My personal opinion / review based on 30 years of driving all types of vehicles and working as a professional mechanic. I've raced for years and am very aware of the diff. between ride types.
Bilstein HD shocks for 04 Ford E-150. The E-150 rides very much like the F-150 and as the stock shocks wear out the ride becomes softer / spongy so you notice more bounce / body roll in turns. I wanted to try new Bilstein shocks on the rear only, so I could determine what diff. the shocks made.
After driving for 3 days with the new shocks on rear only, I could tell they were stiffer and increased stability / handling. They didn't seem to be toooo harsh and the vehicle handled washboard roads pretty well. Yes, I test drove on the same beat up dirt roads and streets I drove before for a fair comparison. Seemed acceptable so I ordered the front shocks and installed them.
Oh My God are they harsh. I have hundreds of pounds in the back of my vehicle and these shocks don't flinch an inch. I feel every little crack in the road. Why didn't the rear shocks feel like this ? I don't know... I called Bilstein CSR and was told they are HD shocks and do ride stiffer than OEM but shouldn't be that harsh. Everyone has a diff. opinion of harsh. Well, I was a mechanic for years and never have I driven a vehicle that was this harsh except for large F-350 types or semi trucks. I even deflated my tires 5 psi and that didn't make much diff. It's as if the shocks are not moving at all. You feel every little dip / bump / crack in the road. I'm afraid to test them on dirt washboard roads. I'll test for a month then I'm sending front shocks back to Bilstein for revalving or buying something else.
Buyer beware! these HD shocks in front can make your ride VERY unforgiving so don't change more than one thing at a time as to be sure what caused the problem. Bilstein claims the rear shocks are softer than the front, seems somebody at Bilstein is confused because I did a fair comparison and it proved otherwise.
I sent the front shocks back for revalve and now with a med. ride they work great. The people at Bilstein took care of the problem for a small fee and I would like to say am very happy with the end results of this shock.
[...]
Thanks
Jon
Click Here to see more reviews about: Bilstein BE5-2905 Heavy-Duty Gas Shock Absorber
Bilstein heavy duty gas shock absorber instantaneously self-adjusts to changing road surfaces for a better ride.It features a super damping ability that makes it ideal for heavy hauling for occasional off-road use, while maintaining an exceptional "street" feel.The mono-tube design keeps the performance top-notch and does not gradually decline from age, use or heat, requiring no compensating manual adjustments.
Click here for more information about Bilstein BE5-2905 Heavy-Duty Gas Shock Absorber
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