Bilsteen Shocks

[flyinlow]

My sons gave me a set of Bilsteen's for the "73 for Xmas. Finally got a chance to install them......NICE ride!... Smoother less harsh ride than the KYB's with excellent dampening. When I went from 15 to 18 inch wheels with less sidewall the ride got annoying so I started looking at the options.
The rears are a simple install, the fronts (just under 2 inches in diameter) needed a little clearencing to get to fit thru the LCA.

[moparguy01]

You don't happen to have the part numbers handy do you? I'm looking into them as well.

[Kern Dog]

The design of the Bilstein shocks is superior. They move slowly over bumps but tighten up when the road surface makes the car rise and squat. I put a set in my 70 Charger after having KYBs for years. Huge difference in ride quality. 

[flyinlow]

Looking forward to a longer ride as soon as time and weather permit.



Rear shock # 55- R093  same as for second gen and other B bodys

Front shock # 55-R098  it says 73-76 B body on the box. The shocks are painted black.

The Bilstein is just under 2 inches in diameter. The KYB Gas Adjusts where a little over 1.5 inches in diameter. I had to grind the opening in the top of the LCA a bit with a rotary file. ( I modified the LCA to use Monty Carlo front shocks a few years ago , otherwise only standard duty twin tube shocks were all that was available.)  Now PST where these came from and Firm Feel sell the larger diameter Bilsteen shocks.

I have FF 1.06 T Bars front and Mopar XHD springs rear. I hope they are a good match.

[twenty mike mike]

There's a reason they're called Kick Yer Butt.     My '69 was the second car that had KYBs on it when purchased, and I couldn't change them to Bilsteins fast enough.

There is no installation issue on the fronts for a 2nd Gen.

Did your front shocks come with dust covers? If not, you can get them from Bilstein in Poway, CA. Since I was local at the time, I just walked though the front door and they gave them to me.

[Kern Dog]

I was surprised to learn that these shocks are pronounced Bill STINE. For years I called them Bill Steen. Germans!

[XH29N0G]

Kern Dog,  Thanks, that makes sense.  I had been saying it wrong too.  I guess it is the German pronunciation rules.

There are some other words we might be mispronouncing. http://joycep.myweb.port.ac.uk/pronounce/vowelie.html

I think we have to make a different sound for the 's', too 

[303 Mopar]

You don't happen to have the part numbers handy do you? I'm looking into them as well.

PST has them at decent prices.  

http://p-s-t.com/series-220194-bilstein-high-performance-shock-set-front-rear.html#

[flyinlow]

[

Did your front shocks come with dust covers? If not, you can get them from Bilstein in Poway, CA. Since I was local at the time, I just walked though the front door and they gave them to me.

Only the rears had dust boots. The fronts are pretty tight on 73+ ,not sure if the would rub 

[Dino]

They'll be my next shocks when the Edelbrocks wear out. I love these but they discontinued them for some reason.   

[flyinlow]

Got to put some more miles on thanks to some salt free Ohio weather.  Noticeably less harsh ride over road joints and bad pavement, but still dampens well over dips or rapid brake or steering inputs. 

[Nacho-RT74]

You don't happen to have the part numbers handy do you? I'm looking into them as well.

I posted a thread about the same question sometime ago ( wondering why the mistery of these shocks PNs ), got the answer and finally could get them, being sold on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131131497664?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131635061666?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[flyinlow]

My son's got them at PST on Xmas sale for $370 a set delivered .

[Nacho-RT74]

Those and a high output tuffstuff alt are two of my dreamed parts to my car... someday will be able to afford them!

[68CoronetRT]

Just put the set from PST on my car last weekend and it made a huge difference! I love them so far!

[Kern Dog]

I like them a lot. The KYBs seemed better than the shocks that were on my car when I got it. I equated stiff as being better for limiting body lean/roll. The ride on rough roads was bad though. It felt like riding in an unloaded 3/4 ton truck.

[blakemon]

I just got my bilstein's from truck shocks|4wheelonline last month. So far, I like them. A bit stiff yet comfortable. I know others have rancho's especially on the rear.