Thread: D2 Bilstein Questions

I currently have the Bilstein 994 & 995's.

Some information:

1. Some places will say that the std shocks are ok up to a 50mm lift, mine werent and kept topping out. Thankfully they replaced them to the Bilsteins I actually wanted, 994 & 995's.

2. I have an ACE equipped D2 and the Bilsteins work faultlessly with the ACE. They are firm but not too firm and ride exceptionally well. My SLS has been removed and I use the extra heavy Dobinson springs that are rated to GVM + 200kg.

3. As far as I am aware, the Bilstein 994 & 995 is actually an Australian part and was in part designed (valving etc.) by a number of Land Rover enthusiasts in Australia.

4. Suspension Stuff in QLD supplies the extended Bilsteins, but they are $950 for a set.

Originally Posted by CJT

1. Some places will say that the std shocks are ok up to a 50mm lift, mine werent and kept topping out.

Bit scary when these places are Bilstein distributors.

CJT, did you actually have a 50mm lift when the standard Bilsteins topped out?

Cheers,
Steve

Originally Posted by zzsteve

CJT, did you actually have a 50mm lift when the standard Bilsteins topped out?

Cheers,
Steve

Yep, I bought the new springs and bilsteins at the same time. All the parts turned up and they where std fitment bilsteins, I called the supplier after hours on a Saturday night and was told they will be fine.

I couldnt go over a bump or small hole without them topping out, I only had approx 25mm of up travel left in the shock, so I came back pulled them out and the supplier swapped them over to the longer ones on the Monday.

Due to my springs being rated so high, without a full load my lift comes to 65mm.

So after all that it looks as though it is Land Rover original if you are looking to fit replacement shocks to a standard height or 2" lifted SLS vehicle....I seem to recall that a symptom of madness is asking the same question twice and expecting a different answer...or maybe that is religion. Did we ever get a response on the going to the source approach of asking the Huns directly in their own language?

Originally Posted by Spenboyd

So after all that it looks as though it is Land Rover original if you are looking to fit replacement shocks to a standard height or 2" lifted SLS vehicle....I seem to recall that a symptom of madness is asking the same question twice and expecting a different answer...or maybe that is religion. Did we ever get a response on the going to the source approach of asking the Huns directly in their own language?

Don't think its LR or nothing. Thread has been a long journey. Mine is a std. height SLS D2a so have decided on std hgt bilsteins for the front F4 BE5 6046 (can't see any reason why not, SLS only raises back) and extended bilsteins for the back BE5B 995 to allow for SLS extended hgt mode as recommended by some independant LR experts. The rear stays std. hgt. for most of the time anyway. The std. fronts you can get cheap from the US, the rears you have to source locally unless somebody has found a cheaper UK supplier.
Cheers Discolaw

Finally got a response back to my request for the extended billies from Rimmer Bros in the UK. See below:
"Hi Russell. The suppliers have come back to us today regarding these units. They are made especially for an Australian supplier and as such are difficult to procure unless we buy them in 50s!
Perhaps you could obtain them locally."

So CJT was spot on, they are obviously made especially for Aust.

Well that ends my quest to source them cheaper while the Aussie dollar is strong!

On another issue, has anyone fitted these shocks to a "light" disco? In others words how will a disco like mine (no bullbar, no winch, no dual batts etc - yet, SLS on rear) ride on them?

Originally Posted by russV82a

Finally got a response back to my request for the extended billies from Rimmer Bros in the UK. See below:
"Hi Russell. The suppliers have come back to us today regarding these units. They are made especially for an Australian supplier and as such are difficult to procure unless we buy them in 50s!
Perhaps you could obtain them locally."

So CJT was spot on, they are obviously made especially for Aust.

Well that ends my quest to source them cheaper while the Aussie dollar is strong!

On another issue, has anyone fitted these shocks to a "light" disco? In others words how will a disco like mine (no bullbar, no winch, no dual batts etc - yet, SLS on rear) ride on them?

Hard to understand. The Oz market would be small change for a co. like Bilstein. From US & Uk forums its obvious enormous numbers of people worldwide lift their disco 2s and /or have SLS and there would be a much bigger market o/s than here for the extended versions---and they already make 'em for Oz anyway! Go figure.
Interesting to know who convinced them into produceing a part just for our little corner of the world.
Cheers Discolaw

Originally Posted by discolaw

Interesting to know who convinced them into produceing a part just for our little corner of the world.
Cheers Discolaw

Would it have been Les Richmond?