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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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Bilsteins!
Wow! I put a set of Bilsteins on old Smokey, and what a major change for the better...Now we'll see how they last....... .
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2346
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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How old did you say you are? At our age we don't worry about how long shocks will last! 
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retired and Loving it
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Well, when you drive on Baja roads a lot, shock life is one of the things us "old guys" can still worry about.
I have always used Bilsteins on my GMC's and they really do make a difference and the life span is not bad at all.
[Edited on 7-15-2017 by ncampion]
[Edited on 7-15-2017 by ncampion]
Living Large in Loreto. Off-grid and happy.
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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Smokey has eaten 3 sets of Ranchos in a pretty short time....At around 600 bucks/set...Longer life is important....
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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Had "Bilstein's" on my X-terra for 9 years with no problems, and they work great. On my Ford F-250 4x4 have Bilstein's on the front and KYB's on the
rear-------both have been great for over 15 years over many of the dirt roads of Baja with a thousand lb camper on the truck.
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BigBearRider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 4-30-2015
Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
Member Is Offline
Mood: 
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Do you have the offroad/heavy duty Bilsteins?
What kind of bear is Smokey?
I've been looking to replace my rear shocks with Bilsteins for my Baja Buggy.
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
Member Is Offline
Mood: Current
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I have melted Stock, Bilsteins, Ranchos, and KYB's, it's more the driver then the shock. The Fox's and King"and Radflo have been good, but with the
roads getting paved the shocks are less important. A shock that is tuned to your driving and the conditions is a magical thing.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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I've had Bilstein 5100s on my Tacoma since 2011. I replaced the rears last year due to some oil leaking on the drivers side shock. It still felt good
after taking it off but replaced it anyway and the other side too. I think part of the problem with it was that a couple of years ago I broke the top
mount off on a Baja dirt road. I've since replaced the spring pack with a better setup and also the bump stops. There is no doubt that a remote
reservoir shock is better but the 5100 is an excellent shock.
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basautter
Senior Nomad
Posts: 862
Registered: 7-1-2013
Member Is Offline
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I put Bilsteins on my 2004 F250 diesel a couple of years ago and it made a huge difference over stock. No more shuddering when stopping quickly on
dirt roads!
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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Smoky is a 3/4 Ton 4wd Dodge Diesel..which gets a LOT of use as a real truck..I put 5100's on it. Has North of 300,000 miles on it, uses NO oil...Too
many trips to Baja to count, Alaska a few times....Last tank topped off (yesterday) 20.6 mpg...
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8802
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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chuckie...its time to "cash in the chips" and get a new truck
go look at them...new is better...after you cant take it with you...enjoy it today
no did-respect but its time to enjoy the rest of your life
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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Nah, Don't think so....If I was enjoying life any more I'd get arrested...
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 875
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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Similiar experience as TMW... the 5100's have leaked right at the bottom eyelet to oil housing area on several family and friends rigs.
In that pre-Google Earth and social media epoch, The Code was adhered to. It was based on a simple verity: if a locale had been transformational for
you, and you had put the hard yards in to get there and to learn it, to know it, why in god�s name would you broadcast the news, thus ruining the
future experience not only for yourself, but for future adventurers?
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2237
Registered: 4-23-2006
Member Is Offline
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i have bilsteins on 3 rigs. i consider them ok shocks... for those who are unable to afford koni or fox.
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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Konis are junk...
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2237
Registered: 4-23-2006
Member Is Offline
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this is erudite observation was spawned from all that severe off roading in kansas?
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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No it is from seeing Konis fall apart on a number of race cars in 15 or 20Baja races, and from living in Baja for over 30 years...Whats your claim to
fame?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Last year converted the stock Toyota TRD Bilstein shocks with the Bilstein 5100s, all around. The 5100 is quite a bit larger and the front ones are
height adjustable (.85", 1.75" and 2.5" possible height adjustment). I got mine set at the first level lift.
The back end has Ride Rite Air Bags installed in place of the factory bump stops. This not only levels the ride, prevents bottoming-out, but can lift
the back of the truck several inches. The rear 5100s are perfect for lifting applications for non-racing use.
The Ride Rites normally are inflated to 15 psi. With camping loads, I bump it up to 25-35 psi. It has a max psi of 100, but I think that could cause
your axle to crack! No need for that much pressure.
Anyway, the 5100s are inexpensive compared to others yet have served me well, so far with so many thousands of Baja miles this year. I had rear 5100s
on my 2005 Tacoma, too.
Old shocks (bad shape):
Air bags installed:
New 5100s
Front shock height adjustment:
An ad, with rounded-out figures:
Front shocks installed:
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BigBearRider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 4-30-2015
Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
Member Is Offline
Mood:
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Bilstein 5100 appears to be the best option for Mercedes ML w163. I don't think King or Fox make shocks for the car.
I didn't know the front shocks were adjustable.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8802
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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david k...thise leaf springs look TINY
maybe invest in a bigger set ...
those are probably 1200 pound springs...the smallest they make
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