Thread: Took my Bilsteins off today for testing

I just had a bit of a research and the only Billies availabe for RRC now seem to be B6 rated.
From what I can gather B4 is comfort, B6 is HD, and B8 is Sport and B4 is about 25% stiffer than OEM.
Seeing my fronts are B46 0243 HO which seems to be a current number it is logical to assume they were B6 rated and I paid to have them made B4.

I guess I will not know what the ratings are for sure until they are dyno tested, but I sure wouldn't want B6 seeing my B4s are OK but not brilliant in ride compared to OEM. It seems a pity that to (maybe) get longevity you have to sacrifice ride.
Regards Philip A

I have been doing some more research and a set of 4 is only USD 299 on ebay.
Seeing they want to charge me $60 plus $317 to rebuild 2, I wonder if it would be better to just buy 4 new ones.
Any comments on the stiffness of the B6 HD valving?
Regards Philip A

I cant comment specifically on the valving of the b6 bilsteens but do think it is very much like choosing a mattress for your bed - everyone has a different prefence.

Personally, in all my RRC's and the D1 I preferred stiffer shocks, but then that is because of the way and where i drove those cars.

It sounds to me though that you would probably be far better off, at least as far as the wallet goes, to use oem oil shocks as they are on the car now and you are liking them more than the bilsteens that you had softened.

Have never experimented with different stiffness ratings so am unable to comment on comparative ride quality. I have done many hard miles with the Bilsteins and have never dented one, plenty of sandblasting though.
The eBay price seems very good, are you sure they are the monotube shocks and not the cheaper black version? Given the extent of your research with model numbers I'm sure you're onto it. I'm curious to see whether there are issues with air freight of gas pressurised shocks.

The eBay price seems very good, are you sure they are the monotube shocks and not the cheaper black version?

Yep,
F4 B46 0243-MO front and F4 B46 0253-MO rear They are the yellow Mono tubes.
Regards Philip A

It sounds to me though that you would probably be far better off, at least as far as the wallet goes, to use oem oil shocks as they are on the car now and you are liking them more than the bilsteens that you had softened

Yes but the oil shocks that I was told were Boge were actually Allparts and one failed after only about 2KK on dirt. I do not know how the Armstrongs will go but they look OK. However my next trip is to Cape York and I don't want to lose shocks after a few hundred Ks of corrugations

That's why I bought Billies and they handled the worst corrugations in Australia and generally came back smiling, although one has a slight oil leak.eg Plenty Hwy, Tanami, GRR, Kalumburu, Mitchell Falls in one trip towing the camper. And an earlier trip on Savannah Way and Oodnadatta Track .Kalumburu and Mitchell falls are the worst Corrugations I have ever driven on.
I guess I can delay my decision until after I pay $120 to have them dynoed. It would not be economical to have them rebuilt if more than a new seal on one were needed seeing the US price.

eshocks.com: Shocks and Struts: Range Rover

(US$)
billies with dampner for $370 odd or red konis fully adjustable with dampner $570. my tdi has adjustable konis and JC tweaked them a few years ago (made the rears stiffer and kept the front soft) - magnificent on/off road/corrugations with excellent articulation. my petrol disco has billies (not sure what model) just not in the same league. little experience with choosing shocks but having adjustable konis meant could avoid all of the theory and use real world actual performance to adjust till happy. went from a ride unhappy with to couldn't ask for more from a disco.

I cant understand why a company would charge $60 to test your shocks then $317 to rebuild them??
I well understand that they would be rebuildable but at those prices i would get the new ones G Coopers had them for about $200 a pair last time i was there (Bilsteins).
I am not sure Bilsteins are so good i had one snap the bottom mount clean off on my P38, it looked to me like a fault in the metal but apparently not.

I am constantly amazed at how cheap shocks are in the UK compared to Aussie, we must have a far higher demand for them with our road conditions here and we pay through the nose for them.

The OEM shocks seem pretty good and are 1/3 the price.
I have had L/Rovers for 30 years and have never had an OEM shock snap or fail, they do wear out after about 200,000k its seems though.