2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission T-Rex/Kore are NOT THE SAME!!

[CFast]

I just got off the phone with KORE engineering, which was T-REX. I went to Las Vegas for the weekend and had one of my Bilstein rear shocks blow out, oil is everywhere under the bed. The shocks have been leaking the nitrogen for some time, and I've been filling them up every week. Yeah it was a pain, but I didn't have time to R+R all the shocks. So when the rear shock blew out on friday I figured it was time to get a new one. I called KORE today and told them what happened. " I'm soo sorry that happened, but we're not the same company, and we don't sell Bilsteins anymore. Would you like to buy our FOX shocks?" WHAT!!!??? I spent $2000 on shocks not even 2 years ago, that had a lifetime warranty, and now I get the shaft!! " Sorry we can't warranty someone else's product, and we're not the same company".

%#$#%$%$%$$#$#$#^%%#^$&%^&!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Let me take you name and number and see what we can do"

AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Is this a joke? I'm not laughing. I can't hardly see straight. $2000 for shocks that don't last 2 years!!! I could have bought rancho's once a year for 10 years!!!

Looks like I'm gonna get screwed on this, just wanted to share that with everyone else who bought stuff from T-REX. WE GOT DICKED.

Any suggestions on another brand of shock, don't say FOX, it's not going to happen.

 

[Timbeaux38]

King makes nitrogen shocks too

 

[Big Sur]

Wow. Interesting.



Along with King there is Sway-A-Way for nitrogen shocks.



Perhaps there are others ... hope you get this resolved to your satisfaction.

 

[RustyJC]

I called KORE today and told them what happened. " I'm soo sorry that happened, but we're not the same company, and we don't sell Bilsteins anymore. Would you like to buy our FOX shocks?" WHAT!!!??? I spent $2000 on shocks not even 2 years ago, that had a lifetime warranty, and now I get the shaft!!

Ouch! :{ That's gonna leave a mark on someone's reputation!!



Rusty

 

[0013]

ive always heard good things about kent and his products. i dont have first hand experience with them--but i have quite a few personal friends who run his systems and one is a dealer/installer for kore. they've all had very good customer service from both kore and drc. maybe call back and ask to speak w/ him directly--see if ya'll cant work something out. if that happened to me i think id be torq'd too.



good luck---i hope you get sorted out.

chris

 

[KevinLewis]

I would be willing to help

If you would be willing get a rebulid kit and drive up to petaluma I would rebuild it for you. You can get a rebuild kit from mckenzies or kartek offroad. I have never done a bilstien but I have tons and tones of foxes.



Ps please be nice to fox they are a great shock.

 

[Tinman]

I could be mistaken, but I thought Kent himself came on this board awhile back and explained the T-Rex/Kore change. I remember him saying KORE would warrenty T-REX, which is what I have. Even though they don't sell Bilstien 7100s any more, they ought to at least rebuild'em. Of course, you could rebuild them yourself (or have someone do it for you) fairly cheap, but there is no excuse for this from KORE. Keep us posted. Too much competetion in the performance suspension market now for KORE to get away with this.

 

[CFast]

I have nothing against FOX. The girl I talked to on the phone said they've sold hundreds of them and had no complaints. (probably why they stopped selling the bilsteins). I WILL NOT buy FOX shocks from KORE. I wouldn't buy a cup of water from them if I was dying in the desert they way i feel right now.

I asked to speak with Kent, since I talked to him several times before I actually bought the shocks 2 years ago and the woman on the phone said he's not avalible right now. Said she'd tell management about my problem and see what they say.

So I just called bilstein directly, they said no warranty, but I can buy rebuild kits. When I talked to kent the first time, he said the shocks could last 100,000 miles before needing a rebuild. Well mine went 30,000 miles. So I guess I'll be getting a rebuild kit. I am a mechanic, I should be able to do that. But still... . $2000 for them to say "sorry, can't help you".

 

[CFast]

I'll have to search for that thread. Thanks Tinman

 

[CFast]

I found the thread, says they will warranty what they sold as T-REX.

As I'm reading the thread Sarah May called me back. Said my options were:

1. Send them my shocks to be rebuilt, will take about 6 weeks. (NO)

2. They still have some bilsteins left over in stock, so I could BUY new bilstiens, for $1000 bucks (HELL NO)

3. Buy the Fox shocks for $740, they'd cut me a deal on the shipping. (NO)

I said I'd rebuild them myself. She really tried to sell me on the FOX shocks, said they were great, no problems with them. Said the bilsteins have a 90 day warranty, and the FOX shocks have a 1 year. For the price it seems they would have a longer warranty. So I asked what would happen if I bought the FOX shocks and in 13 months they crapped out. "then they're out of warrnaty and you'd have to buy new shocks".



When the bilsteins worked, they were great! It rode so nice on the highway, and 4 wheeling was blast. She said I might have gotten a bad batch from Bilstein. So I'll try rebuilding them( what fun that should be)and see what happens. They might work out great, or they might wind up for sale. Wish I had bought the D25 coils and ranchos.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Did you talk to T-Rex/KORE when the shock(s) initially started leaking? What were the terms of the warranty - lifetime structural or lifetime period? I'm not sure any manufacturer would cover seal after 2 years of use.



Brian

 

[CFast]

No i didn't contact them when they started leaking. I figured they'd tell me "too bad". I should have called, i know. I'm not sure about the warranty. Wishfull thinking on my part that a $250 shock would last more than 2 freakin years. Called Bilstein, they don't make a complete kit, you have to tell them what you need, other than seals. YAH! Can't wait. I've got lots of free time. Maybe i'll just go buy some rancho's.

 

[nps]

Ranchos work for me.

 

[raf2000]

I also have the TREX with Bilstein setup. Noticed one of the rears is starting to leak oil. Unlike KORE, I make my living driving my truck so cannot wait SIX or more weeks for a rebuild. . Does anyone know the fox part numbers and where they can be purchased (besides KORE)? I have spoken with Kent numerous times and he is a great guy, just hard to reach anymore and seems like they are way to busy to stop and help (and NEVER try to call them on Friday)! I emailed KORE a few weeks ago about my Bilstein's, still waiting for a reply... ... . Guess I now know the answer.

 

[AMink]

Someone else had a similar issue a month or so back. There was a long thread re: shocks from KORE. I thought that Kent or maybe DRC would respond, but they didn't. The thread died and I'm not sure if the issure was resolved. I would think that if there is a thread on here about KORE covering TREX products, that would be a compelling reason for KORE to step up. Maybe send some rebuilt Bilsteins to you, then you send yours back to them, at their cost. Hope this works out, since I too have Bilsteins on my PACE setup!

 

[raf2000]

What sux is that most of us need our trucks for work, etc. We don't have "spare" trucks that can sit for 6 weeks while they rebuild the shocks. Sending out rebuilt 7100's and charging a core until they get yours back is a GREAT idea, too bad nobody does it. It's not about the $$, it down time. .

 

[Regcabguy]

Leaking Bilsteins

I'm running the KORE Chase system and recently noticed a thin coating of oil on my reservoir. Initially I thought it was blowby from my breather but no such luck. The shock is leaking at the connection between the hose and the reservoir. Oil is creeping up the hose towards the shock body and has sprayed oil over a large patch of inner fender well. I've owned non-reservoir shocks of many brands including Bilstein,KYB,Rancho,Monroe and never had a leak. Due to the camper on the back and money invested in the truck,I drive moderately and these shocks have been babied. The labor removing them is what's keeping me from contacting Bilstein. I'd hope they'd back their product up on a case by case basis. Not a happy camper.

 

[KYOUNG]

I bought KORE Pace from DRC about a year ago, installed myself. Big improvement over stock, but a little weirdness on uneven concrete. . call DRC they tell me I need less Camber in truck so I go full negative, not much difference. Couple months ago get to noticing shocks arnt working in front when hitting holes in 90+ temps. . call DRC about lifetime replacement and get complete runaround on shocks.



I call KORE and get some Know it all woman that tells me Im running too much air pressure in my tires and the only way they can do shocks is for me to pull mine off my one and only daily driver and ship to them for evaluation!!! :-{} By then my Blood Pressure has spiked abd Im getting real Po'd. Woman takes my cell# and says will call back!!! Well to my surprise Kroeker calls me back and i tell him im Po'd and explain what truck is doing and he says "You have a bad shock". . He ships me shocks and I install newones, and returned old ones everything is fine now

 

[ESorensen]

possible solution

Try giving Sage Carli a call 714. 273. 0278. Or if worse comes to worse,

King Shocks 714. 530. 8701

 

[raf2000]

Called KORE at 11:30 PST, was told $680 for new Bilsteins. Did not price the FOX becasue I would have to go back to the little OEM shock towers vs. the nice TREX T6 gold towers. So, I wanted the 7100's shipped 2 day blue UPS (for another $130). Said OK, BUT their UPS picks up at about 11am so too late today. No other option today. . Could not guarantee they would go out tomorrow either. I wanted to replace them before a long road trip starting this weekend. Oh well. Shocks sitting on the shelf that they no longer will carry but not too eager to get them out the door either. .