Hello all, anyone here use the Bilstein Level 2 shock and strut setup. If so is it recommended or not. Let me know what you think...thanks.

 

Are you refering to the sport or heavy duty. I recently bought a set of bilstein heavy duty struts and shocks from Autozone. I hit a very deep pothole and the rear shocks creek/squeak now. This is only a month now. I am going to call Bilstein find out what to do as far as warranty goes. But to answer your post. I am not aware of a Level 2 shock and strut. What is your application? High performance street driving, drag racing, or autocrossing, or a little bit of everything?

 

 

I looked up Bilstein's website and didn't find a Level 2 shock at all. Where did you get this information? Was it from a suspension parts distributor advertising a specific suspension package, that included strut/shock set with springs?? Based on Bilstein's website, there is only a sport or a heavy duty shock. But strut is heavy duty and it is compatible with the rear sport or heavy duty shock. The only difference with the Sport shock is that it's designed for lowered cars. Are you planning on lowering your car?

 

Never mind the Level 2 thing....sorry, It was at Hawks web site I thought but now that I go back it just says " sport strut and sport shock " and the price is lower so maybe it is something they dont have anymore or it was a package thing. As for lowering the car, it seems to sit low now with the factory graond effects kit on thier and my suspension is shot as well.....so I am not sure of lowering yet until I see how my car sits normal....lol....I bought it with the bad suspension in there already. I may lower it in time when it is not a daily driver.

 

I think the sport ones are non-adjustable, but I'm not sure. If they aren't, then they are fairly exspensive for non-adj. shocks.

 

They are expensive especially since the price is per shock and strut...!!! I may have to use some other brand for now, KYB or KONI or something decent for a reasonable price. I am in auto sales and this is the slow season and money is not plentiful right now....lol...

 

How do you like the performance of the Bilstien shock/struts? I am thinking about buying the rear shocks for my IROC.

 

Well, ICROCU2, The overall performance of the shock was excellent for the four weeks after installation. The only problem I have now is hitting that steep unavoidable dip on the road and now I am hearing a sqeaky noise sort of like a worn door hinge sound coming from the back every time I go up and down a bump a low speeds and feels very soft like worn shocks(kind of like a rocking boat). I will be going on Fri 12-15-2006 to see my installer to determine if the rear shocks are fine or not. If the shocks are bad I'll return them to Autozone and get new Bilsteins since they have a lifetime warranty. We'll see what happens. I think it was bad installation because I looked underneath the car and the bottom shock poly mount is slightly pushed out of the shock. Anyway, if you are going to install these yourself make sure everything is fastened properly to torque specs and installed properly(nothing loose or misaligned) so that when you hit a pothole or something your shocks don't give out prematurely. I paid $179.99 each for the front struts and $89.99 for the Heavy Duty rear shocks. I could have bought them from Shox.com and they would have beaten the $581.81 dollar figure with CA tax included from Autozone and given it to me cheaper. Oh well. Try Shox.com and see what they tell you. I hope I didn't discourage you. Please let me what you decide. Thanks.

 

Hey, kaos, I bought mine from Autozone and they charged me $581.81 for the packaged set including sales tax. I would suggest contacting shox.com and they'll probably give to you cheaper. I stopped by their store when I was having the Bilstein's installed next door and found out my strut mounts were wearing out and stopped by asked them for a price for strut mounts. They asked what kind of struts and shocks I was having installed and I told them they were the Bilsteins and told them how much I paid and said they would have beaten that $581 dollar figure. Give them a try. Oh, by the way, as far as the strut mounts I ordered the Spohn's.

 

Bilsteins are completely rebuildable if yours were damaged by the pothole and cannot be returned. However, since they are only a month old, I would try calling Bilstein and see about getting a new set.

No off the shelf Bilsteins are externally adjustable for our cars. They can be re valved by Bilstein or other qualified places for your spring rate however. HD is the standard shock/strut, and are very good at damping anything the average user will put on the car. High rates (#1000+ front, approaching 200 rear) and they will have to be re valved or switched for koni yellows. Sports are identical to HD's except they are 1" shorter for lowered cars.

 

I'll give them a call direct and see if I can get new ones. If I have to get them revalved, what dampening rate should I get for the rears?

 

Have you replaced your stock springs? If, not, I wouldnt worry about a revalve. But if the shock was damaged, like the rod being bent, this can be fixed. Check the simple things like making sure the shock isnt loose, this can cause the top bushing to squeeze out of place and make noise. The seal could have been ruined, if it did you will notice oil leaking out of the shock. If the bottom bushing squeezed out, I would try tightening it to see if it pops back in, or just take it back to autozone (clean it first!) and say they came like that lol.

I dont really see how you could f up a shock install-especially the rears. Its just 2 nuts and Bilstein includes the torque specs! I would be pissed if my mechanic screwed something like this up (these shocks are expensive!), but then again that's why I dont have a mechanic. I would make them pay for any repairs/replacements if you dont get a refund!!

 

Hey Steve, I am on a tight budget right now and $581 is pretty steep for me, I may just go with KYB GR-2 for now. It should be a good shock and strut that will last for a decent amount of time. Wish I had more money so I can go ALL OUT on the Camaro!!!

 

No. I haven't replaced my springs. Yesterday I took it to my installer and while I was driving over there. I softnes wasn't noticeable. He also test drove it and determined that the shocks have broken in. They ride well now. The only issue I had was a squeaking sound going over bumps and cured by adding Energy suspension pre-lube to the rear poly rear sway bar bushings.
The rear shock sheet metal is still intact.