Where to get Bilstein parts?

[Icemanjones]

assuming that mine are bad or get ruined where do I find replacement front and rear lower coil spring seats? I have checked a dozen different usual websites and I can only find the insulators and the top strut mounts I cannot find the lower pieces for the coils. any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Black]

There is no place to get new ones.
I checked EVERYWHERE. Even Greens parts (obsolete NOS Ford parts supplier) could not get them.
NAPA spring perches only fit NAPA struts I found after I special ordered them.

Your only option is a junk yard.

 

[richs fishes]

assuming that mine are bad or get ruined where do I find replacement front and rear lower coil spring seats? I have checked a dozen different usual websites and I can only find the insulators and the top strut mounts I cannot find the lower pieces for the coils. any help would be much appreciated.

What makes you think the stock ones are no good? As mentioned above, they really are your only choice! I needed a lot of pb blaster and a few really good whacks with a 3 lb sledge to get mine off of the stock struts.

 

[Icemanjones]

Not to say they are bad much as I like to be prepared. It seems insane to me that it is so easy to find a new upper strut mount but not a lower spring seat when they both have to be removed and reinstalled each time you install a new shock. Also a part that often has to be hit with a hammer to remove should have some backups available. Maybe Im just overly cautious, maybe not.

 

[Black]

Ford has changed the design and the lower spring perch is now part of the strut (pressed on).
You now buy new struts and the lower perch is included. So in Ford’s eye the lower spring perch is no longer a reusable part as their struts include the perch.
They don’t care the aftermarket struts (most) have not started adding lower spring perches with their design.

 

[richs fishes]

Not to say they are bad much as I like to be prepared. It seems insane to me that it is so easy to find a new upper strut mount but not a lower spring seat when they both have to be removed and reinstalled each time you install a new shock. Also a part that often has to be hit with a hammer to remove should have some backups available. Maybe Im just overly cautious, maybe not.

I get what you're saying. But in this case the only prep you can really do is know that you need to re-use the stock piece and act accordingly. I'm sure guys have ruined the perch before, but luckily I dont think there are too many horror stories about that. I bet you'll find more stories of people who tossed their stock setup before knowing they needed to reuse the perch than you will find people saying they ruined their stock piece!

 

[Icemanjones]

Lol Rich you are probably right. I am not a fan of Murphy's Law.

 

[Derp]

I've been wondering if there was any update on sourcing the lower perch. Thanks for asking! I have bilstein 4600s and shock spacers ready to be put on. I'm going to have to be careful on removal/install with no easy fall back.

 

[Icemanjones]

Well that sucks. Looks like I have motorcraft struts and they are either original or replacements since mechanic says joints looked replaced. Chances are the perches are pressed meaning bilsteins are out unless I hunt junkyards for old shocks. Oh well. Moog parts and monroe and a short lift and be done with it.

 

[walaj jaha]

What are the prices?

 

[sjwelds]

Not sure what you're saying. I had motorcraft struts on mine (rears) and was able to reuse the perches with zero issues. Bilsteins are what I went with.

 

[Black]

Well that sucks. Looks like I have motorcraft struts and they are either original or replacements since mechanic says joints looked replaced. Chances are the perches are pressed meaning bilsteins are out unless I hunt junkyards for old shocks. Oh well. Moog parts and monroe and a short lift and be done with it.

The new ones are pressed on but you can still reuse them.
It just takes more work to get them off compared to the old ones. A few simple whacks with a 5lb sledge won’t do it.

 

[Icemanjones]

Compared to my big lifted old 95 gmc no matter what I do my expy will ride like a Bentley. Im not allowed to work on it where I live (apt rules) and I dont want to pay a mechanic extra just to experiment beating on a strut with unknown results. If bilstein included perches I think we'd all be much happier but maybe some day. Ill follow up with how it rides when its all swapped out.

 

[Black]

Any shop worth anything should have a press that will pop them off without issue.

 

[richs fishes]

I dont want to pay a mechanic extra just to experiment beating on a strut with unknown results.

Really shouldn't be hard for any shop equipped to work on cars to figure this one out. Plenty of people (who arent professional mechanics) have figured it out working with jackstands and hand tools! Even if the perch isn't pressed on, it will appear to be after being used for so many years and seeing so many miles worth of road grime. Make sure they at least try to get the perches off before declaring it too difficult or expensive!

 

[Icemanjones]

I want to replace the springs too. Anyone got a recommendation on brand?

 

[Black]

Ford