Update : Bilstein Shocks For Defenders

[CraigE]

I have just got off the phone with the Australian importer of Bilsteins (Quadrant) and he had some interesting things to say.
Firstly many of the shocks being quoted may not be suitable for a late model Defender.
The numbers I have been given by several companies are in fact listed in the German catalogue as being for Discovery's only :
B46 0243 front.
BE5 2779 rear.
The correct ones for late model TD5 Defenders should be :
BE5 6540 front.
BE5 6529 rear.
Edit : Now to really confuse issues all the searches I have done online show BE 6540 and BE6529 as being 130 replacements, but come up on the Bilstein German website as 110. Go figure. Also getting feedback that a lot of people here have B46 0243, B46 0253 and BE52779 on 110s and are happy with them. Any feedback from people with these ob would be appreciated.
This has confused issues a bit and will take some looking at.
Apparently the units listed for the Discovery will fit a Defender OK as they are the same length, but the rebound and compression rates are different, with the Defender units being stiffer to accomodate more weight.
This could be why some Defender owners have not been happy with the ride.
He also told me that any lift over 50mm will require custom modified shocks which can be done, but also need to be done with the right unit.
I want to get this right as there is no Bilstein agent down here and getting suff backwards and forwards to Perth can be a real pain.
Back to the planning stages again.
German website is :
http://www.bilstein.de/cms_website/english/Home/

[LRHybrid100]

I got my Billies for my MY02 D110from Graham Cooper and they are: Front Shock Absorbers - (B460243)



Front Shock Absorbers - (B460243)
Rear Shock Absorbers - (B460253)

Steering Damper - (B360110)

[Slunnie]

Its probably also worth talking to Steve at Bilstein/Bilstein Motorsports/Sydney shocks/Heasmans and the Bilstein importers in Sydney. He is very switched on and excellent to deal with. Not locked into this shelf stuff, and they do modifications in house if thats what you want. I tend to think that these really are the Bilstein people in Aus to deal with as they are Bilstein Aus.

[Darwin Dan]

Im looking to upgrade my suspenion on the 130 with a 40mm lift, What luck did you have in finding the right Bilstein's for your rig

[CraigE]

I ended up getting my Billies out of the US as the dollar was 96c at the time and they were $65 USD ea and about $100 USD for delivery. Arrived in 5 days from order. May not be viable now with the dollar only being 70c. Cost me about $465 AUD total. Less than half buying in Australia.
I am at work so dont have the details but if you do a site search it should show all the threads on Bilsteins and what and where I ordered mine.

[PAT303]

I'm glad you found this out Craig,I changed from billies to koni's because the billies were to hard unloaded.Sorry I couldn't drop in but I left home before you sent the PM.Next time. Pat

[catch-22]

speak with Paul Joiner from Bilstein Sydney. I think they are in Syndneham. He knows whats what.

Also, don't buy from the shelf as the ones that have been sitting there for while tend to go soft real quick. They should have a manufacture date on them...

[Slunnie]

speak with Paul Joiner from Bilstein Sydney. I think they are in Syndneham. He knows whats what.

Also, don't buy from the shelf as the ones that have been sitting there for while tend to go soft real quick. They should have a manufacture date on them...
YES!

Paul Joyner from the motorsports div is the man!

[catch-22]

Its probably also worth talking to Steve at Bilstein/Bilstein Motorsports/Sydney shocks/Heasmans and the Bilstein importers in Sydney. He is very switched on and excellent to deal with. Not locked into this shelf stuff, and they do modifications in house if thats what you want. I tend to think that these really are the Bilstein people in Aus to deal with as they are Bilstein Aus.

oops missed this post....

[justinc]

FWIW, I have used 0243 and 0253 on 130's. The only problem is the 0253's top out (IE too short) without a load in the rear of the 130. They are fine on a 110 IMHO.

JC

[bond]

So what would you fit to a 130?

[jake]

just had the Bilstein B46-0243 and B46 0253 fitted to our Puma 110, Certainly has transformed the ride. Only problem nw if to get the rear springs sorted. This has been an on going headacre. Want to keep within the ride height spec and trying to do without having to put an aibag in.

[justinc]

just had the Bilstein B46-0243 and B46 0253 fitted to our Puma 110, Certainly has transformed the ride. Only problem nw if to get the rear springs sorted. This has been an on going headacre. Want to keep within the ride height spec and trying to do without having to put an aibag in.

What sort of weight are you carrying? Loaded all the time/ most of the time?

If so I would recommend fitting 130 Helper springs, easy to fit and remove later when home from a big trip etc, and no leaking airbags.

JC

[jake]

G'day JC,

Had the helper spring, this did not do much. Found with the standard LR Spring and Helper we dropped in the rear 21mm. LR was not able to help.
Day to day I am carrying around 220kg with the current set up, when fully loaded for a major trip, about 630kg overall, thats drawer system, fridge roof rack with stuff etc. on just a long weekend about 480. These figures include drawer bar wheight. Acutally I was quite surprised as today I weighed every conceivable item I put on this car, including 2nd spare, tools, recovery gear etc. Becomes an interesting little project. Even check the drawer bar weight.
Looking a getting a rear spring made to suit the vehicle. I am trying to avoid going to air bags at this stage. Getting this done through a dedicated suspension place (Quadrant). Hope this gets resolved before next month as our trip is getting closer.

[Rod]

Revisiting an old thread here, but i'm having problems working out which bilsteins i should use on my 1989 V8 110 with steel bullbar and rear load leveler.

I was planning on fitting raised King springs, KRRS-02(F) and KLRR-04(R), i'm hoping they don't lift me any more than 25-35mm.

Fulcrum suggest BE5-6540(F) and BE5-6529(R).

Others suggest B46-0243(F) and B46-0253(R).

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between BE5 and B46 shocks, is it just damping. As for the LL, i don't think it does its job anymore, i'll remove it if necessary.