Bilstein HD.........now with review.

[rabbitman]

So I couldn't decide if I wanted coilovers or HD's until a little while ago a member on here helped me make up my mind. And I've been drooling over the HD's for the last year or so, comparing prices and all that, then I noticed in the description a few days ago it said that bilstein discontinued them 6/10. My heart sank, the HD assembly usually cost $135-160 (I got 'em for $137ea) while the insert cost $162-190. AND I can only find inserts that work with externally threaded struts so that would add more to the cost.

I'm hoping they'll work good with the KYB gas-a-just on the rear.

They came in today so I got to drool on 'em, they're pretty weird looking with the fat shaft and all. I'll write a big long detailed review when I get 'em installed. It'll be a little while since the current struts/shocks aren't totally shot yet.........I'll try to hit all the big bumps though

[VWCaddy]

I love mine, been in over 10 years now and still ride like the day I installed them.  Mine came w/ internal and external tops.  No comparison to the KYBs they replaced:
- http://www.4crawler.com/VWpickup.shtml#Suspension

[rabbitman]

I love mine, been in over 10 years now and still ride like the day I installed them.  Mine came w/ internal and external tops.  No comparison to the KYBs they replaced:
- http://www.4crawler.com/VWpickup.shtml#Suspension

That's weird, last summer I tried putting my new boge inserts in and found out they were for external threads so I was gonna just use my old tops but the whole insert is different. I think it was longer and also at the bottom is a taper that the other doesn't have.

[rabbitman]

Ok so I finally hit enough frost heaves and bumps to sufficiently ruin my old napa struts . While smooth road is ok they got so the front would bottom and then bounce up and hit the top too easy.

So I pulled the junkers off and installed the bilsteins, I reused the top eccentric bolts and the new moog 12mm bolts, forget the 10mm ones.

Easy install as usual, I did the alignment myself kinda. I set it at about 1/2 degree of negative camber and then messed around trying to get the toe right, I think I'll take it in and get it done right since I hate wearing out tires.
Suspension setup:
The front has MK2 jetta springs with 1 1/2 coils cut off wrapped around Bilstein HD's.
In the rear it has KYB whites with variable rate springs and a stock MK1 jetta sway bar.
Prothane bushings all around, I consider these a necessity.

The ride is harsh, every tar line in the road goes BANG.....THUD and all that. Swerving back and forth is quick with a tolerable amount of body lean partly due to the heavy front springs and a lot to do with the bilsteins.

I went off-roading a few times and it takes the big bumps REALLY good...... I would brace thinking it would hit hard and bounce off the top but I was pleasantly surprised at how gentle it was, a real shocker.

I have a set of moog CC204 variable rate springs coming, I want to get rid of some of the tar-line clunking.

After feeling the superior damping of these struts I really wish I'd gotten bilsteins for the rear too.....I saved $80 by going with the KYB's. Maybe I'll put 'em on my red rabbit when I sell it, then I'll have an excuse to get bilsteins .

[8v-of-fury]

You don't have a lot of weight to damper in the back.. IMO KYB Gas-A-Just are a mono-tube shock/strut.

I would get me some, but the price is a little bit outta my range

[rabbitman]

You don't have a lot of weight to damper in the back.. IMO KYB Gas-A-Just are a mono-tube shock/strut.

I would get me some, but the price is a little bit outta my range

I got my KYB's on amazon for $60 apiece and free shipping

[rabbitman]

Ok so I've since swapped out the overly hard clipped mk2 springs in the front for a set of moog CC204 variable rates. The mk2 springs were nice in that I didn't have to use a compressor to install 'em, just squish 'em by hand a little bit and put the nut on......that's how hard they where!!!!!!

The moogs on the other hand required lots of compressing, probably 5 inches.

Driving is much nicer, small bumps like tar lines are way quieter, gravel roads are slightly gentler even though it's still pretty loud.

Big, off road bumps are a pleasure to hit.......smooth with no jaring impacts. I have yet to bottom out with these.

Overall I totally recommend them.....they aren't cheap but from what I hear they last almost forever and have a good warranty in case they don't.

[theman53]

How much were they? I think you were in Alaska so it maybe a bit more, but just for reference.

[rabbitman]

How much were they? I think you were in Alaska so it maybe a bit more, but just for reference.

55 bucks from amazon.....free shipping!!!!!! I almost wet myself when I saw 'em, I've been looking forever to find somewhere that sold 'em cheap would ship cheap.......it was UPS too

One thing though, they raise the front a little more than I would've liked, I think about an inch so it sit's higher up front than in the rear.