Life expectancy of a Bilstein???

[steved]

What is the average life expectancy (in mileage) of a Bilstein shock?



I am about to the point of needing to replace shocks, which at my current mileage is about once a year. If I ran all highway, they would probably last longer, but my mix of on/off road, back roads, etc. on my job sites is tough on shocks. I never blow them out, but they get soft after a while.



I have resisted the Bilstein bug for that reason, something quite expensive to be changing that frequently.

 

[rjones]

I don't know what the life expectancy but it should be life time for the price that is what is keeping me from buying them And I also need to stout shock for these cruddy Michigan roads..... so Ill be in the same boat steved... .

 

[Regcabguy]

Bilstein claims 98% efficiency at 100,000 miles. They still only come with a 90 day warranty. I've got a corrosion issue on my 7100 series. Sent pics of the rusting from under the clearcoat,out and was told my shock was out of warranty. It's fully functional but no dice on a repair or replacement. They did acknowledge that the vendor doing the plate work blew it.

 

[steved]

Wow, only a 90 warranty?

Nothing like standing behind your product (regardless of how good that product is)... that right there is enough to make me shy away. I have yet to buy a shock that didn't have a lifetime warranty... didn't even know any manufacturer didn't offer that kind of warranty.

 

[rjones]

Im actually looking into the Monroe Reflex a few friends of mine have them and I read a few good reviews on them they are a street shock but I dont off road and at 49 bux I'm will to try them.....

 

[steved]

I've had Monroe Reflex (that might be what's on the truck now actually?), KYB, Monroe Gas-Magnums, Rancho, SkyJacker Nitros, and Gabriel to name a few... none have been outstanding compared to another in my experience.



The KYB were probably the worst (they actually blew the seal). The Monroe Gas-Magnum is a very stiff shock. The Monroe Reflex is a nice shock for the most part, but they don't handle a big bump well and allow the truck to bottom out.

 

[Regcabguy]

My '07 2500 right out of the box bottomed the front out easily unladen,yet rode rough on the freeway here with our infamous expansion joints. My wife could compress the stock shocks with no trouble. A set of Thuren's softride coils and some 5100's would probably be ideal.

 

[Jim McCarty]

I've had Bilstein 5100's on my '96 for 80k and I took them off my '95 which I put over 75k on them. That's 155k and they're still like new. My truck is a 2wd but I'm a contractor so it gets used pretty hard. These are hands down the best shocks I've ever owned. They were standard equipment on all our Mercedes too. That seemed like a good enough reason to buy them in the first place. I ran them on my '66 Shelby GT350 and they were flawless. Just my $. 02

 

[Kday]

Just installed a leveling kit with 5100's and I really like the ride. They smooth out rough roads and do well on the highway, haven't really tried them offroad but I like them so far. As for longevity we'll see but the factory shocks needed replacement a while ago.