bilstein steering dampener?

[weldingmiller]

First off, thanks to all, this site has helped me very much on many ocasions. I ordered a bilstein steering dampener from Geno's Garage this week. When i went to install it i noticed that the new dampener has a threaded rod on one end. Problem is on my truck the dampener attatches to a bracket, not through the track bar. What do i do? Should i cut off the threaded rod on the new dampener and install it like a regular shock like the factory one? Or do i have the wrong dampener?

 

[Kry226]

If you have an 03 truck, then I assume you're not the original owner and someone has changed the suspension/steering along the way. Assuming the original drag link is still installed, I would simply unbolt the damper you have on there now and reinstall the Bilstien damper as the OE was. Fit that "threaded end" through the hole in the drag link and tighten her up good.



One thing I know I am not doing is cutting off parts of a brand new Bilstien damper. Hope this helps.

 

[weldingmiller]

Sorry i forgot to change my information. I traded the 03 model for an 06 a few months back. The drag link on the 06 does not have a hole. The factory dampener bolts to a bracket on the dampener. Im wondering if the bilstein dampener is only for the old style with the hole in the drag link. Im stumped on this one. The factory dampener has the loop on both ends for the bolt to slide through, like the rear shocks.

 

[weldingmiller]

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these are some photos I took of it to better show what im talking about!

 

[CDonaldson]

Your truck must have the upgraded linkages, the upgraded uses the clamp on bracket that you have. The new dampner you bought fits the OLD linkages.



I have the old linkages on my 2006, I decided not to do the upgrades as I have no issues.





CD

 

[weldingmiller]

Guess I will have to try to return the dampener to Geno's. I didn't see anywhere on their site that said they carried a dampener for the new style.

 

[Kry226]

Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Kore, Carli and Lorenz have had clamp-on Bilstiens for a while. Might want to check with them.

 

[mickeyblueyes]

No to change the subject, I just installed the Bilstein dampener this week on my 03. To those who are going to do this make sure you have a tie rod fork to pull the old one down. Easy install and a great price from Ginos.

 

[weldingmiller]

well after seeing the prices of the dampeners at KORE, Carli, and Lorenz, I decided to pull the old one off and see if the length of stroke was the same. They matched so i removed the tie rod end from the bilstein. I replaced it with a crush sleeve. Everything bolted up fine and so far i cant see any binding. The factory dampener was shot! It wont expand at all on its own. Thanks to all for the help.

 

[seafish]

Does anyone know if these Bilsteins are designed internally to be mounted in a horizontal position??

Didn't I used to read somehere that if a shock that is not designed for horizontal use and is then used horizontally, it does not work properly?? (Fluid/gas mixture cavitates throught the valving or something like that)

I can no longer find the thread that I am referring to, but it essentially has something to do with the nitrogen mixing with the fluid...

CAn anybody help clarify the potential problem, or refer me to a thread with the answer... ???

TIA!!!

 

[weldingmiller]

This is a bilstien steering dampener, it was designed to be mounted horizontally. It just had the wrong type of connection on one end for my application. I just removed the ball joint from the end leaving a captive connection so i could mount it.