Bilstein shock upgrade for Superlift?

[Big P]

Does anybody have the Bilstein upgrade with a Superlift suspension? Did the rear shocks fit properly? I ordered some Bilstein rear shocks with the part# that Superlift provided, and they don't fit. The bushings are different sizes. Stock bolts are 9/16" dia, the bushings on the new shocks are 1/2". I have Bilsteins for my stock application, but there is no way I could swap the bushing, they just won't fit.

 

[driverno8]

I'm going to follow this thread. I have the 6" Superlift too and have thought about changing the shocks.

 

[CATwrench]

Been there, done that w/my 03' half-ton, you can buy new polyurethane bushings for them from Energy suspension, but it's still a pita to change them. If I were you I'd take'm back, it'll never be "right".

 

[JOblenes]

... Stock bolts are 9/16" dia, the bushings on the new shocks are 1/2". ...

If I am not mistaken I believe the rear stock bolts are 14 mm, not 9/16, not sure if this helps you any, but might give a better fit if you do go with aftermarket (Energy) bushings.

 

[WMoroni]

I have them on my truck. Have have the 2" coils on front and bilsteins all the way around. Bushings all fit fine on my truck, but my rear shocks are mounted upside down(piston down). Thats the way they said to do it, because they wouldn't fit the other way. Make sure they sent you the correct rear shocks. I have the advantage of driving up to their front door and picking up parts so I know if I get the right ones or not.

 

[Big P]

Been there, done that w/my 03' half-ton, you can buy new polyurethane bushings for them from Energy suspension, but it's still a pita to change them. If I were you I'd take'm back, it'll never be "right".

You're probably right CATwrench, they may never be "right". But I need to do something because with my set-up I will continue to destroy stock length Bilsteins.



JOblenes, I'm sure you are right about the 14mm part, but I don't have a metric tape.



I spoke with a genius at Superlift on Friday. I did not get the shocks though them, just the part number. When they didn't fit, I called Superlift to see if Bilstein does anything special to the shocks they sell to Superlift, and the answer was no. The "solution" was to get me some 9/16" ID 5/8" OD steel sleeves to fit in the Bilsteins. This will leave a wall thickness of about 1/32" on the sleeve, which also acts as a spacer so you don't collapse the shock mounts on the truck.



I'll check into energy suspension though, thanks guys.

 

[Tacsavage]

I ordered the Bilsteins 5125 series (same part # as Superlift uses for the 6") and they fit fine. I added a 2" block when I ordered them, but knew I would eventually go to a 4" lift in the rear. Stock Bilsteins were ordered first time by error and they would top out on any large bumps with the 2" block. Good luck with the problem. Tacsavage

 

[Big P]

Well, I ended up getting different poly-bushings from Energy Suspension. They have an ID of 3/4" so I can press the steel bushing from the stock length Bilsteins to the 5125. I swapped one of the bushings already to see if works, and it fits really nice.



I also got the steel bushings from Superlift, but they are not wide enough to fit properly inside the shock mounts on the truck. So, if they were not shimed with 9/16" washers, they would crush the shock mounts when tightened down. I just don't like going this route.

 

[BigDan]

Is there any to take the superlift sticker off the Bilstien's. I'd like to see the shinny nickle plating I paid for..... not a superlift sticker

 

[Big P]

No Superlift stickers on my shocks!

 

[BigDan]

No Superlift stickers on my shocks!

Yes and that is because ou bought them on your own.....

 

[RMarkey]

So let me get this right, some people got the shocks and they fit, some didn't? Or was it the different kits that fit and didn't, the 6" fit?



Also if I have a so called 5" lift, the front springs are 4. 5" and the rear add-a-leaf is what ever, but I added another 3/4" block to it. Would I be better off with a 6" shock and just be slightly compressed. On the front the anti-sway bar and arms pretty much keep the spring in the mounts, even without the shock in place, safe or not?

 

[Big P]

RMarkey, if you get the shocks included with Superlifts kit, they will probably fit just fine. They will include a 9/16" ID 5/8" OD bushing to make the shocks work. I didn't get my shocks from Superlift, so the shocks would not fit out of the box. Like I posted above, I swapped out the steel bushings from my old Bilsteins into the new ones along with new poly bushings.



Now for shock length. For Superlifts systems, a 4" kit would raise the back 2". Their 6" kit raises the back 4". So, I guess you need to figure out with kit you are closer to and go from there. Sounds like you would be better off with the shock from the 6" kit though.

 

[Tacsavage]

I bought the shocks that Superlift uses with 6" lift (4" block) but I am only using the 2" block until my lift kit is in. They are something like 21" compressed to 34" extended. They are at about 27" without a load now. I have never bottomed out even with my bass boat on the back and the bed with 800 lbs plus. You can also go the superlifts site and find on the chart what the number is. It is a 5125 series, so on Bilsteins site it is listed as a special application.

http://www.bilstein.com/offroad_5125.php

The part number is BE5-6250-H5 is what I ordered I believe. I'm not at home to check, but that should be it.

 

[RMarkey]

Awesome, I think my Skyjackers suck, around town with the pavement cracks and bumps, I just about knock my teeth out, same with the freeway.



Quick question, I just read another thread talking about some of the shocks being just for the gassers basicly, not the diesels, is this right? I would kinda think that the springs should take care of that differance mostly and the shocks shouldn't matter right?



Also, what kinda prices should I expect from superlift for those.

 

[Big P]

Quick question, I just read another thread talking about some of the shocks being just for the gassers basicly, not the diesels, is this right? I would kinda think that the springs should take care of that differance mostly and the shocks shouldn't matter right?

I don't think I've heard anybody complain about the performance of Bilsteins current 5100/5125 series shocks, I know I'm not. Also, I bet that you will not be able to get the "diesel" version for lifted applications. Atleast not right away.



The shocks cost me about 160 to my door. I didn't get them from Superlift though.