Are bilsteins really worth it?

[max78]

So the Expy is in need of some new shocks and I'm at a bit of a loss.

On occasion I tow a heavy trailer, and haul 8 people on vacation with luggage on top. When the truck is loaded up it gets a bit too floaty.

I'm not sure if I have the load leveling but if I do, would bilsteins still be a good upgrade?

If you guys could share your experience and opinions that would be great!!!

 

[Black]

Yes they are worth it.
Much nicer ride and don’t leak after 50k miles or so. But if you have the load leveling shocks they are not a direct swap.
You’ll have to buy the standard Coilovers from a junkyard and swap the factory shock for the Bilstein then swap that for the load leveling coilover setup.

 

[mcloven]

i hate my bilsteins. they dont seem to be valved correctly for the factory spring. the ride is fine on the highway. but on a bumpy road they are floaty and the rebound seems mostly uncontrolled. i had high expectations with most people having positive reviews. i even double checked my springs to make sure they were oem which they were and i also looked to see if the shocks were some sort of fake. they look to be the real deal. im sure they will last much longer than most of the aftermarket though.

 

[L Antoino]

I hate my bilsteins too! The ride on my 2015 limited was a lot harsh than oem, but they where still better. OEMs lasted only 20k miles then started leaking, brought it to a ford dealership for warranty repair and was told it is normal, WTF??! Now i swapped the bilsteins for KYBs and they ride like OEM. I only have 10k miles on the KYB so time will tell if they are better than the motorcrafts.

 

[Trainmaster]

I put them on my 2000 and they were fantastic. Just what I wanted - a bit stiffer, a firm ride without jarring.

Was strongly considering them for my '08, but not too sure after reading the above. They're quite a job to install in this too.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I've got the B6s in the rear on mine and have no complaints. I have a set for the front also, but haven't had the chance to put them on yet. In my case, I didn't really notice a big difference from stock, but it's worth noting that I absolutely detest a soft ride. Along with the sloppy steering, it's one of the primary reasons I wasn't even considering a Surburban when I bought this truck.

 

[Black]

I put them on my 2000 and they were fantastic. Just what I wanted - a bit stiffer, a firm ride without jarring.

Was strongly considering them for my '08, but not too sure after reading the above. They're quite a job to install in this too.

This is how I would describe mine. They are certainly more firm than OEM but the steering is a lot more solid as well.
Granted I have the Bilsteins for an F150 up front. I also stepped up to E load tires at the same time.

I have a set of Fox 2.0s to replace the Bilsteins. Weather just needs to cooperate on my days off so I can get them on. Be interesting to feel the different.

 

[Dr0idattack]

Bilstein 4600s worked better than stock on my 2013. Less rebound, less floaty. More control and cornering, and helped a little with towing.

 

[PkgingGuy]

I changed my 2011 to bilsteins and installed new OEM springs at same time at 70k miles. Waaaay better handling, cornering and especially towing. I have the self leveling in rear and no issues. Truck has 115k mikes now.

 

[TobyU]

Yes they are worth it.
Much nicer ride and don’t leak after 50k miles or so. But if you have the load leveling shocks they are not a direct swap.
You’ll have to buy the standard Coilovers from a junkyard and swap the factory shock for the Bilstein then swap that for the load leveling coilover setup.

I read years ago that they were softer ride on Excursions.
I have two with factory shocks as far as I know and one rides much harder than the other. Neither has a good ride.
Good but firm on smooth road. Rough on mildly bumpy road and TERRIBLE on rough road!

 

[max78]

Thanks for the insight on the bilsteins.

It kind of confirms my suspicion that it would be a firmer ride. I put the recommended bilsteins on a lifted jeep 10 years ago and it went from okay to filling buster and had a hard time going offroad due to the rough ride. I called them up and order replacement ones that were about 5x softer and it was like a trophy truck that floated over everything.

I think I might go with the factory replacement, or KYB. We live down a rough dirt road and I dont want stiffer shocks, I already have much stiffer tires that made the bumps more jarring.

Do they make a fox shock for our truck?

 

[Black]

You can use Fox 2.0s for the F150 for the fronts but no Fox option for the rear.

If weather ever cooperates on my day off my Fox 2.0s will get installed.

 

[Muddy Bean]

So what are the options for the softest ride then? Can’t really sort out the answer from the above posts... OEM? I need to replace mine as they are originals (except one) and have 147,000 miles on them. Just not sure what is best to go with. 2015 EL...nivomats in the rear currently.


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[TobyU]

So what are the options for the softest ride then? Can’t really sort out the answer from the above posts... OEM? I need to replace mine as they are originals (except one) and have 147,000 miles on them. Just not sure what is best to go with. 2015 EL...nivomats in the rear currently.


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I want soft ones too.
In the early 90s I worked at an Autoworks and we sold monroes and some others.
If you put the 'better" gas matic on vs the plain old cheap one... they would beat you to death. This was before sensa-trac came out.

 

[Lynnii2]

I have a 2010 Ford Expedition Limited 2wd. I replaced the factory struts with KBY once I hit 120,000 miles. I now have a little over 200,000 on the truck with the same KYB Struts and the truck ride just the same as oem. I have at time loaded up with 3 kids me and wife with 2 dogs and at times I use my uncles 24 foot camper and have no problem towing at all.

 

[inmanlanier]

I hope I'm not too late for the party. We have a 2012 EL XLT now with 70+K miles on it. I swapped to Bilsteins up front in August of 2014 right at warranty end where Ford wouldn't do squat about the leaks. The rears are OEM Ford. At the same time I changed the front shocks, I dialed in the alignment to my liking (slight negative camber, caster slightly biased as needed to track strait on our Florida sloped roads).

My wife and I are amazed at how smooth and comfortable this behemoth was on the highway with the original Goodyears. Our first replacement tires were Firestone Destination LE2 tires. The truck was just as smooth and quiet with these front shocks - not jarring over bumps - good firmness. It was so long ago I don't remember noting any harshness in ride compared to before the shock swap. We do not off-road the vehicle. We just replaced the Firestones with another set of the LE2 tires again - same feedback. I've run Bilsteins for many years - they are excellent quality. So - contra many reports mine are comfortable - not too stiff.

 

[rowekmr]

Not too late I am now considering upgrading shocks too!

 

[Gary Waugh]

I have an 08 EL limited and it had done 142,000 miles when I decided to change the shocks. I ordered a set of Bilsteins (replaced all 4 shocks) based on feedback from this site. Immediately after changing them I went for a test drive with my wife and daughters and all 3 of them commented on how much nicer the car rode with the new shocks (to be clear they did not know I had changed them) I was surprised they noticed any difference (because I couldn't really tell any change and I knew i had replaced them!). My car has the 20" wheels so maybe that makes a difference, I like having new shocks which will damp, but my 3 passengers all thought the ride had improved noticeably and they preferred it to the old shocks (which probably didn't damp at all given the high mileage!!
So no hard facts, but for us the change was positive and worth it, I paid $360 for the 4 shocks and changed them myself so no fitting costs, O'riley lent me a spring compressor for free so no costs to fit, took about 2 hours to change all 4 shocks.

I would recommend the shocks but I have never tried any other make so no idea if there are better shocks but I like the Bilsteins and they seem great value for the cost.

Gary

 

[TobyU]

Only problem I see is a shock costing 90! That's high even for a strut.
Shocks used to be cheap. Even the sensa trac weren't that high but were a lot more than most.

 

[Adam N Davis]

I hate my bilsteins too! The ride on my 2015 limited was a lot harsh than oem, but they where still better. OEMs lasted only 20k miles then started leaking, brought it to a ford dealership for warranty repair and was told it is normal, WTF??! Now i swapped the bilsteins for KYBs and they ride like OEM. I only have 10k miles on the KYB so time will tell if they are better than the motorcrafts.

Did you go with the KYB Strut Plus SR4456? Was this front and rear swaps you made? I have 14 with self leveling and without ditching the rear coil I have to go with the OE replacement in rear