(not)living with bilsteins

[liveoak]

ok i installed the oem shocks and drove around for a while and this is what i think. the ride is much quieter and softer. it does not handle as well on the street as expected. off road it soaks up the ruts and bumps much better. i must admit it does feel just a little too soft so i may order new(oem) rear springs as robred suggested. i am not dissapointed as it rides better than it did with the old oems or the bilsteins. i have never tried the OME or Iron Man shocks but if they are somewhere in between the ride of oem and bilstein i would imagine that would be a good way to go.i have had a lot of trucks over the years and upgraded the shocks on every one of them. it is my opinion that the bilstein replacement shocks for the 100 series are too stiff (and too short from what i've read) and therefore not a good choice for off road. just my opinion so if you have them and like them, great. just wanted to share my experience. thanks. bottom line: OEM=too soft. Bilstein=too stiff. find something in between. my wife says if i talk about shocks again, she's leaving.
chris

 

[Sledhead800]

Does Bilstein make a couple different shock models for the 100 series? maybe some are using the Bilstein HDs and others just standard Bilsteins?

 

[smm3]

I bought the truck with 138K on it. I put Bilsteins on February of 2011 when the truck had 165K miles on the original OEM shocks. I now have 172K miles on the truck. For me, it was night and day difference how much better the truck handled on road. All of the sloppy bouncing around is gone, however, the ride is a little stiffer than before I installed the Bilsteins but not in a bad way to me. I didn't take the truck offroad with the OEM shocks so I can't compare there. Offroad with the Bilsteins suits me just fine.

If the OEM shocks work for you, then that's great. It's all about your intended use for the Cruiser. Certainly not a right or wrong answer, just a difference of opinion.

 

[RobRed]

I bought the truck with 138K on it. I put Bilsteins on February of 2011 when the truck had 165K miles on the original OEM shocks. I now have 172K miles on the truck. For me, it was night and day difference how much better the truck handled on road. All of the sloppy bouncing around is gone, however, the ride is a little stiffer than before I installed the Bilsteins but not in a bad way to me. I didn't take the truck offroad with the OEM shocks so I can't compare there. Offroad with the Bilsteins suits me just fine.

If the OEM shocks work for you, then that's great. It's all about your intended use for the Cruiser. Certainly not a right or wrong answer, just a difference of opinion.

The bilsteins work better with refreshed springs. The 865s no doubt contribute to your happiness.

Sent from my iPad 2 using IH8MUD

 

[RobRed]

Does Bilstein make a couple different shock models for the 100 series? maybe some are using the Bilstein HDs and others just standard Bilsteins?

4600s are the only specified shock in the USA for v8 LC. The 5100 can be had but at a premium.

Sent from my iPad 2 using IH8MUD

 

[mpackard]

ok i installed the oem shocks and drove around for a while and this is what i think. the ride is much quieter and softer. it does not handle as well on the street as expected. off road it soaks up the ruts and bumps much better. i must admit it does feel just a little too soft so i may order new(oem) rear springs as robred suggested. i am not dissapointed as it rides better than it did with the old oems or the bilsteins. i have never tried the OME or Iron Man shocks but if they are somewhere in between the ride of oem and bilstein i would imagine that would be a good way to go.i have had a lot of trucks over the years and upgraded the shocks on every one of them. it is my opinion that the bilstein replacement shocks for the 100 series are too stiff (and too short from what i've read) and therefore not a good choice for off road. just my opinion so if you have them and like them, great. just wanted to share my experience. thanks. bottom line: OEM=too soft. Bilstein=too stiff. find something in between. my wife says if i talk about shocks again, she's leaving.
chris
I'm loving this thread, but this post is the best. My wife barely tolerates my various obsessions. She does the best she can, but then her attention wanders. I just got a full set of OEM shocks. Gotta get them installed. I'm sure I compromised something, but for $150 (thanks Beno) I'll give it a try.

 

[mpackard]

ok i installed the oem shocks and drove around for a while and this is what i think. the ride is much quieter and softer. it does not handle as well on the street as expected. off road it soaks up the ruts and bumps much better. i must admit it does feel just a little too soft so i may order new(oem) rear springs as robred suggested. i am not dissapointed as it rides better than it did with the old oems or the bilsteins. i have never tried the OME or Iron Man shocks but if they are somewhere in between the ride of oem and bilstein i would imagine that would be a good way to go.i have had a lot of trucks over the years and upgraded the shocks on every one of them. it is my opinion that the bilstein replacement shocks for the 100 series are too stiff (and too short from what i've read) and therefore not a good choice for off road. just my opinion so if you have them and like them, great. just wanted to share my experience. thanks. bottom line: OEM=too soft. Bilstein=too stiff. find something in between. my wife says if i talk about shocks again, she's leaving.
chris

Oh, this is how I should have done it. Anyway, love the thread, love the forum, love the LC.

 

[BigGreenLX]

I'm also liking this thread as I'm only wanting to run 285/75/16 with some mud and snow but mostly highway driving. I currently keep the adjustable suspension in the LX in the mode between sport and comfort. I had a 97 Tahoe for over ten years and switching to Bilsteins made a huge difference but that truck was no comparison to the responsiveness of the Lexus. When the AHC goes I am hoping to know which route I will take. Sorry to thread jack. Look forward to hearing more.