Installed Bilsteins!

[scscrew]

Hello everyone,

I posted a few weeks stating that I wanted to replace my factory shocks with Bilsteins 5100's. Bilstein has not released the new part numbers for the 08 F250 yet but there was a retailer online selling a set of four that had been verified to fit and operate properly on the 2008 style truck. The retailer was Topgunz Customs and they are a suspension distributor and installer. I called and asked their tech guys if these shocks would in fact fit the new style truck and they said that they had been tested and worked perfectly.

What I received was part # BE5-C335-HO for the rear and BE5-C336-HO for the rear. I measured the stock front shock length on the truck and from the center of the lower shock bolt to the upper shock nut was 19 inches. I then measured the new Bilstein shock travel from a completely compressed length (not easy to do) to a fully opened length and the range was 16-22 inches so the stock length is right in the middle of the Bilstein's travel range. I went ahead and had a local shop put them on and it took them about 40 minutes to do all 4 and the guy said that they all fit perfect and seemed to have plenty of travel.

I have put about 850 miles on them so far and am extremely impressed with them. I have always run Bilsteins and had them on a Silverado 2500HD before and they seemed much firmer on that truck, almost too firm, but that may have been due to the fact that the Silverado's stock suspension was much rougher and the truck weighed less than the F250. These shocks firmed up the ride but did not make it rough or stiff. I have much more control and do not get blown all over the interstate on windy days.

I just wanted to post this info for others who may be waiting to upgrade shocks. I did not see where anyone had done this yet so I figured the only way to find out was to try it out. I kept my stock junkers just in case these did not work but I will be disposing of the stockers on trash day next week. When we took the stock rear shocks off, I compressed one of them very easily and it took almost a full minute for the shock to extend back out and you could hear the fluid gurgling inside it. Since replacing the shocks and putting on the Michelin LTX AT2s, this truck rides like a dream.

I hope this info is useful to those considering a swap.

[caryt]

Just a FYI those are for a lifted truck..Bilstein's BTS kit for 05up. 2.25" front lift and 0-1" rear. Even with the lift Bilstein notes state that compression bump stops on chassis may need to be modified to prevent damage to the shock.

More app to happed in your case since you haven't lifted the front.

Cary