Bilstein shock help

[damon]

new style grommets

As promised, Bilstein sent me a different style grommet for our application that they had been testing on some of the off-road trucks. Nothing that you haven't seen before on other shocks, but here's what I installed last week..... longevity report to come.

 

[damon]

and here's the before and after pic of the original style Bilstein grommet that I removed with only a couple of months use. The failing rubber is so soft and sticky that the material stuck to my fingers just removing them. The new style grommet that I installed is a much firmer rubber and I'm hoping will last longer.

 

[JPittman]

Damon,



Thanks for the update and the photos. I installed the shocks with the one piece grommet as you did. Have about 400 miles on it. Only use the truck for trips with the camper, will be a while before I get more miles on it. Next long trip will be in September to Washington. Did you see the grommet failing from the top of the tower or was there a rattling sound coming from the shock stem that mounts in the tower. Just want to know what I should look for.



Thanks.

 

[damon]

You can see the material coming apart if you look and feel around below the upper washer, but my first sign was always the clunking sound from the drivers side tower.

 

[Bud Fox]

hello





looking for an update on the 2 piece grommet setup and how its holding up



Thanks

 

[damon]

So far so good - no sign of any wear or degeneration of the grommets at all. It's only been 2 months, but that is also the same amount of time that the last set of grommets lasted before they were shot.



I'll post an update at the 6 month point unless something noteworthy happens before then.

 

[tractorface]

No trouble here

My Home made Top and bottom bushing set is still working fine after over one year. Funny I bought a set of Poly bushings to install when my home made bushings gave out. The poly's look identical to the pics posted of the new Bilstein units.

 

[Crowhurst]

The same old clunk is back with my new Bilsteins after 1k miles, installed exactly as Bilstein instructed. Damon, what did you finally do? Anyone else? Nick.

 

[Cooker]

I have found that sometimes the clunk is the bottom bolt and not the top.

 

[Crowhurst]

Cooker, thanks for that. I've had two of us hanging on a spider wheel nut wrench, but we can't get the bottom nut any tighter. The top nut is locked against the inner sleeve, as it should be. As with the OEM shocks, it's the driver's side which clunks when doing a slow left turn, especially in the wet. I just don't know which end is clunking, nor what to do about it. I'm hoping we'll soon hear from Damon about his last 6 months experience. I'm expecting to have to use the poly bushes, but I would like to speak to Bilstein first. These shocks have only done 1k easy highway miles. Nick

 

[damon]

Finally, it's fixed !

I finally took a look at the upper bushings after returning from weekend travels, and I'm glad to report that they are in perfect condition. They look just like the day that I installed them and show no signs of wear. I haven't heard a sound from the shocks since the new bushings were installed.



Hopefully Bilstein is willing to change the bushing kit that is packaged with the shocks to save everyone else the hassle in the future. I think I'll call Bilstein today and let the tech over there know how it has worked out.

 

[duaneparks]

I concur Damon. I have the new 2 piece bushings installed as well and no problems...



My shocks, which were purchased from ORW, were shipped with them in case that helps anyone.



Duane