Thread: Took my Bilsteins off today for testing

Sorry that was $200 a piece for the Bilseins not a pair.

I will pull one of my rear shocks out in a week or 2 and see how they are going (feel) after 16 years.
After my front Bilstein snapped i put the old OEM shock back in and i cant say that i notice any change in the ride at all, no bouncing or noises. That one is 16 years old as well no leaks evident on any of the shocks and my wife does tend to hit speed bumps pretty hard.

in my rrc`s ive allways used standard landrover 110 shockies,a little bit heavier damping than rrc and cheap enough to carry a spare or two.then again i used to work for a large company that had a huge fleet of landrovers so i could get them very very cheap!!

I think same same.
I just looked up Armstrong rear numbers Defender Vs RRC and both are BR1077A. ( on the All4x4 site)
The ones I got from All 4X4 are marked STC3771 which is D1 rear and under the label is RTC4639 . D1 has rear springs about 30% stiffer than RRC.
Sort of makes a mockery of the BS sprouted by people like OME who claim that their shocks are individually tailored to each application blah blah.
Regards Philip A

It appears as though Boge shocks now offer a lifetime warranty, so why not just use these and replace when required.

Just an update .
I have priced up 4 new Bilstien shocks with HD B6 valving from the states at $435 landed, but am still hesitant as I dislike stiff shocks and consider them as a negative.
As my wife says what if the same happens to these as the last ones? Remember these have only done 30KK , and were bought from Sydney Shock Absorbers via Graeme Cooper.

I emailed Sydney Shock absorbers last week wanting to make an appointment for next Monday and BTW asking what about warranty seeing they are only 2.5 years old and about 30KK, and USA has lifetime warranty for purchaser. NO ANSWER.

They seem only interested in charging lots to test and rebuild. As many others seem to find retailer's "customer service" is a contradiction. I will follow them up one more time I guess. And they wonder why we buy from the USA.

I am now leaning towards leaving the old OEM fronts and new Armstrong rears on and seeing how they last on corrugations.
Regards Philip A

There are other shock rebuilders.

How much does someone else like WW shocks charge for a rebuild?

The Billies on my 110 (not sure of PN or valving) were fitted when I bought the car at 240k km. I now have ~380k km on the clock - probably 25-50% of that touring. The shocks were fine when I removed them to check before the CSR and Gibb, and are still in one piece!!! I have not removed them to recheck post CSR, but the vehicle still drives fine.

I sent a follow up email to Sydney Shock absorbers, who called me back straight away.

On 29/12/2010 I sent you this email asking to make an appointment . No reply received.

On consideration I am now only interested in having the faulty shock repaired as to pay $60 per pair for testing seems excessive and $317 for rebuilding 2 (as quoted to me by the person who answered when I called), is also excessive when they cost USD75 each NEW.

Could you please advise the cost of testing and replacing the top seal, assuming the shaft is OK which it appears to be visually. I realise that there may be further problems with the shock.

If you do not reply to this one I give up. But based on my experience I certainly will not be able to recommend Bilstein to people who ask an opinion on various forums or at club meetings.
Regards Philip Armbruster


OK can we make an appointment for say 11AM on 10/1/2011.
Just to be clear AFAIK only one shock has a problem and that is the seal has leaked enough to coat the shock with oil but no oil dripped further.
I trust that if the other 3 dyno OK that you can replace the seal in one only . I want to bring them in so that I can make an informed decision on how to proceed once I know what is required and how much it looks like costing.

BTW what is the warranty on these . I note the US has a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser. I bought them on 10/6/08 from Graeme Cooper and I believe they were not from his stock as you had to revalve the front 2 to B4. The fronts are 0308 B46 0243 HO The rears are 753 2207 H000 which now appears obsolete. I have the receipt for 2 of them.
Regards Philip Armbruster

I am going to mail the faulty shock to them and they will put a new seal in for $130.
Regards Philip A

Final follow up.
Sydney shocks rang back on Friday to say it was ready to go.

Commented that it looked like it had done 2 Rally seasons and the oil was cloudy from heat, but still tested at 95% and they had changed oil regassed and new O rings everywhere.
I bought a new set of bushes as the rear eyes were cactus and the pin bushes some were crushed and some split.
Bushes $3 each gulp and needed 16 , but the Billie bushes are reputed to be the best Rubber bushes around.
We discussed why that shock only and concensus seemed to be that I sit at extreme right of badly corrugated tracks with 2 wheels just on or off the track. The two left ones get more work than the rights.
Regards Philip A