Bilstien preformance question....

DirtDgr · Postby **DirtDgr** » Sun Aug 07, 2016 10:17 am

I recently put Bilstiens all around on my 2005 Pathfinder. Still had stock shocks on after 120,000+ miles! Also put air bladder in rear. Wow what a difference! Like a whole new car. Corners soooo much better!

They feel and work great with one exception though.

They front really seems to drop hard over any kind of ledge in the road or the back side of steep speed bumps. You can hear it even. My wife hates that part.

Almost like the shocks don't extend back out fast enough so the front slams down. Not sure.

I was hoping it would get better as they break in but after a couple thousand miles they haven't changed.

Anyone else have this experience?

Thanks again!

Touchdown · Postby **Touchdown** » Sun Aug 07, 2016 9:49 pm

I'm not a fan of the Bilsteins. I'm switching my adjustable 5100's out this week after a year or so of bobbing on the highway and over bumps. They seem too soft for the front of our trucks IMHO!

Thupertrooper · Postby **Thupertrooper** » Mon Aug 08, 2016 10:09 am

Touchdown wrote:I'm not a fan of the Bilsteins. I'm switching my adjustable 5100's out this week after a year or so of bobbing on the highway and over bumps. They seem too soft for the front of our trucks IMHO!

I recommend some radlfos for the front. Im running 700lb springs

DirtDgr · Postby **DirtDgr** » Mon Aug 08, 2016 1:34 pm

Well. I m not really into buying more stuff at the moment.

I will give them more time. I really like them everywhere else. Yes they bounce a little too.

If this is how they are I will live with it awhile.

Touchdown · Postby **Touchdown** » Mon Aug 08, 2016 10:26 pm

Sorry to be negative about the Bilsteins!

I've had good results with them on other vehicles too.

A heaver rate spring could stop the bobbing a little if you want to keep the Bilsteins for now. But it will get worse as they break in. (At least that's what happened to me)

Another option besides the Radflos are Ranchos. I hear they make a stiffer shock that rides a little better, if you are interested.

Thupertrooper · Postby **Thupertrooper** » Tue Aug 09, 2016 4:06 pm

I just bought some 5100s for the rear and i will be following up on how long they last me.
I only ran Bilsteins in the front the 5100 adjustable and it did pretty good

@Touchdown do you recall the extended length of your Radflos in the rear?

Touchdown · Postby **Touchdown** » Tue Aug 09, 2016 7:22 pm

I want to say someone here posted 9.5" of total articulation (single canister). The shocks are little and i would love to set the top perch higher and stuff a
longer shock in there.
There's also a limit based on the design of the knuckle as well!

Thupertrooper · Postby **Thupertrooper** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 9:40 am

The ones i got are 16.45" fully extended and it will give me 3" more travel down.
Im breaking the welds on the stock ranchos so i have to get longer ones.

Touchdown · Postby **Touchdown** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 3:16 pm

Yeah I think those are the ones I have. 3 inches is better than stock but could be better IMHO! It'd be nice to secure the coil on one side and then unbolt part of the IRS and let it drop down as far as it needed to go but still be connected to a long shock!

Thupertrooper · Postby **Thupertrooper** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 6:13 am

Mostly what stops the arm is the angle of the ball joints

DirtDgr · Postby **DirtDgr** » Sun Aug 14, 2016 9:46 am

Touchdown wrote:Sorry to be negative about the Bilsteins!
I've had good results with them on other vehicles too.

A heaver rate spring could stop the bobbing a little if you want to keep the Bilsteins for now. But it will get worse as they break in. (At least that's what happened to me)

Another option besides the Radflos are Ranchos. I hear they make a stiffer shock that rides a little better, if you are interested.

Thanks. I went with the Bilsteins because I use them on my Class 11 VW race car. They are THE shock to have in that world.

I really like them on our Pathfinder too, 80% of the time they are great! Even the bouncing is minimal. But the drop on the back side of a speedbump is not good. Negotiate those every day getting the kids to school. Just have to go easy.

Touchdown · Postby **Touchdown** » Sun Aug 14, 2016 7:11 pm

I hope you have better results than I did!
Post back here in a year or so and let us know how they're holding up!

Bilstien preformance question....

Bilstien preformance question....

Nissan Forums

Infiniti Forums

Datsun Forums

Technical Forums

Classifieds / Marketplace

Nissan Motorsports

General Forums