Bilsteins and spring seats...

[Thunderbirdsport]

Well, when you hear of folks installing high quality shocks for handling/terrain, you never hear/read of someone swapping in a set of "Motorcrafts" for high performance.

I also run Bilsteins in my Mustangs, and will also use them in my upcoming 32v swapped '84 Mustang project as well. They're good stuff.

It's probably old hat but I can throw the Bilstein part numbers as well. I'll have to come back and edit this post, the part #s are out in my shop.

Thanks for the words!

 

[Thunderbirdsport]

I'm gonna run with the Bilsteins, I'll hang onto the Motorcraft shocks for future use, or sell them sans spring seats to someone here that needs them, as long as they have their spring seats..

 

[ExplorerTom]

Really happy with my Bilsteins on my 2014. I have Ranchos (one peg above Monroes) on my SAS’d offroad Explorer. I’m considering putting Bilsteins on it.

 

[Trainmaster]

Had the Bilsteins on the railroad fleet of 2000's. They were fantastic. Maybe I'll put them on my '08. Really want to, but it's one more job I'm not looking forward to doing...

 

[Thunderbirdsport]

It's a chore, for sure.

Have any of you guys ran into issues with the lug nuts and the chrome covers? I'd read online that the lugs were 19mm (as most of the Explorer lugs are) but at a glance I could tell they were bigger. My 22mm socket is too big, the 21mm isn't big enough. However, I did find an 11/16"? that fit, and I got the lugs off, cracking two of the vanity covers or whatever they're called..


Since the wheels I'm putting on are black, I went ahead an ordered a set of 24 black lugs to go with. Just wondered if anyone else had ran into this or maybe what size socket you guys use..

I have a set of deep, 1/2" impact sockets but none of them are big enough for the Expy. Guess I need to expand the socket set lol. Buying new tools makes me happy.

 

[ExplorerTom]

On previous generations, the lug nuts would swell due to corrosion behind the chrome covers. I don’t keep up on it too much though.

 

[Trainmaster]

Yeah, the lug nuts are problematic sometimes, just as you mention. The problem with the Chinese "solid" replacements is, at best the rust, at worse the threads pull out of them.

 

[07navi]

It's a chore, for sure.

Have any of you guys ran into issues with the lug nuts and the chrome covers? I'd read online that the lugs were 19mm (as most of the Explorer lugs are) but at a glance I could tell they were bigger. My 22mm socket is too big, the 21mm isn't big enough. However, I did find an 11/16"? that fit, and I got the lugs off, cracking two of the vanity covers or whatever they're called..


Since the wheels I'm putting on are black, I went ahead an ordered a set of 24 black lugs to go with. Just wondered if anyone else had ran into this or maybe what size socket you guys use..

I have a set of deep, 1/2" impact sockets but none of them are big enough for the Expy. Guess I need to expand the socket set lol. Buying new tools makes me happy.

There was a lot of posts on the lug nuts not long ago.

 

[sjwelds]

Yeah the factory lugs are junk man

 

[no MORE_MPG]

Yep, did the lug nuts thing too.

Two days after I bought my 2011 it was at the dealership for PA safety inspection and a bunch of catch up maintenance so that I could start with a clean slate; coolant, trans filter, flush, axles, T-case.

After the first day, they said that they couldn't get the lug nuts off. That reminded me of a recommendation from a knowledgeable neighbor to replace the lug nuts with missing chrome covers. I had replaced 3.

I scrambled to find enough to replace the rest that evening (it was past 7:00PM). Autozone was my only shot as they are open until 10.

I paid $5 each for them rather than the quoted $240 for a full set from the dealership. I don't even want to know how much less they could have been from Amazon.

Though I had to tear and chisel off the chrome covers from many of them in the dealer's parking lot to get the old ones off.

I'm plenty glad that is something I won't need to repeat as the replacements are solid. I'm done being a Lug Nut fairy!

They proceeded with the work the next day finding that they were now able to remove them ( like magic ; )

 

[Thunderbirdsport]

I finally have all the parts to start doing the Bilstein/2.5/1.5 spacer job. Also got in a set of 24 lug nuts that are anodized black to match the truck wheels that are going to go on after the shocks/spacers are done.

Then an alignment.


As a consolation price, my '06 Exploder got some LED headlights and foglight, in addition to new headlight housings. Much better than the stock stuff...had already polished the headlight lenses a couple times.

I'll take a before pic tomorrow before I throw the Expy back in the shop and start tearing it apart. Pretty excited about it, actually. Well, not the work, just the results..

Once the suspension is done I'm going to get a factory subwoofer box and put it in, run it's own amp and power. Mine didn't have the factory sub, and I would like to add a little bass but not take up any room with a box, plus the work of keeping it secured, the cabling to it, etc. Something clean, neat, and not taking up any space.

 

[Colton Collier]

Did this on my 12 f150 years ago a cut off wheel and patience does the trick very easily

 

[joethefordguy]

where can I buy popcorn for this show?

 

[07navi]

where can I buy popcorn for this show?

Here;

 

[Langer]

I finally have all the parts to start doing the Bilstein/2.5/1.5 spacer job. Also got in a set of 24 lug nuts that are anodized black to match the truck wheels that are going to go on after the shocks/spacers are done.

Then an alignment.


As a consolation price, my '06 Exploder got some LED headlights and foglight, in addition to new headlight housings. Much better than the stock stuff...had already polished the headlight lenses a couple times.

I'll take a before pic tomorrow before I throw the Expy back in the shop and start tearing it apart. Pretty excited about it, actually. Well, not the work, just the results..

Once the suspension is done I'm going to get a factory subwoofer box and put it in, run it's own amp and power. Mine didn't have the factory sub, and I would like to add a little bass but not take up any room with a box, plus the work of keeping it secured, the cabling to it, etc. Something clean, neat, and not taking up any space.

What’d you do for a spring compressor? I keep hearing the ones that auto part stores offer are woefully insufficient. I was looking at these on amazon: Shankly Spring Compressor Tool (2 Pieces) - Heavy Duty Build, Ultra Rugged Coil Spring Compressor, Strong and Durable Spring Compressor with Safety Guard and Carrying Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DQJG24/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_gYq-FbYG08RCF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

any opinion or insight?

 

[07navi]

What’d you do for a spring compressor? I keep hearing the ones that auto part stores offer are woefully insufficient. I was looking at these on amazon: Shankly Spring Compressor Tool (2 Pieces) - Heavy Duty Build, Ultra Rugged Coil Spring Compressor, Strong and Durable Spring Compressor with Safety Guard and Carrying Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DQJG24/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_gYq-FbYG08RCF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

any opinion or insight?

Some are having success with auto store loaners and some aren't. You can't go by hype on anything nowadays so I would just try a few parts stores. I haven't don't mine yet but I guess the springs are pretty stiff. I wouldn't buy one, have it not work, and then try to ship it back as used.

 

[Langer]

Some are having success with auto store loaners and some aren't. You can't go by hype on anything nowadays so I would just try a few parts stores. I haven't don't mine yet but I guess the springs are pretty stiff. I wouldn't buy one, have it not work, and then try to ship it back as used.

If it doesn’t do the job I have no problem sending it back. “Free returns”.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Best thing is to run the compressor down with some kind of power tool: impact gun, high torque drill, etc.

 

[max78]

The auto parts store compressor was barley enough for the rear springs. They were no where near enough for the fronts.
The spring diameter was too large so the locks didn't work, and they didn't fully seat in the compressor. I tried it anyways, the the threaded rods started to bend before it loosened even a little.

I took the struts to the local 4x4 shop and they swapped them out in an hour for $60. They had a heavy duty wall mounted hydraulic strut compressor.

 

[Langer]

The auto parts store compressor was barley enough for the rear springs. They were no where near enough for the fronts.
The spring diameter was too large so the locks didn't work, and they didn't fully seat in the compressor. I tried it anyways, the the threaded rods started to bend before it loosened even a little.

I took the struts to the local 4x4 shop and they swapped them out in an hour for $60. They had a heavy duty wall mounted hydraulic strut compressor.

View attachment 39671

That ain’t bad!