Bilstein and Suspension Lift Questions...

[KTM525EXC]

Ride quality with the billies is superior to the factory setup IMHO.

x2 much better over factory originals

[Ox Man]

The Ox man likes them paired up with Skyjacker springs, nothing better

I see more and more people going with the Calsoffroad setup on the lux, they have worked with bilstein to patent a modified bilstein to suit higher lift and more travel- not sure the exact modifications but i got em, so do a few others in here

http://www.caloffroad.com.au also, Cal owns a block as well as the workshop, with a test track for 4x4 testing and training, from mild to wild, may be worth doing a track day out there, near Jindabyne.

[9W6VX]

Batman,

Go for it. The Billies are great with standard Toyota coil springs just like what others have said.

[Batman]

Guys,

Fitted new bilsteins today, onto std factory springs.

It was 815mm from the bottom of guard to the ground before fitting. After fitting Bilsteins on the top of the three grooves it now sits 880mm from the bottom of guard to the ground, giving a 65mm lift.

I am pretty happy with that. It now sits almost level with the back measuring 910 from the bottom of the guard to the ground..

Rides seems to be much better, now I am ordering a set of Bilsteins for the rear.

Next step is to wear out the current tyres and then fit a set of 31's to it. the Coopers have done 37k and are not half worn yet so it might take a while

Cheers,

Steve.

[9W6VX]

Steve,

Glad you liked the Billies.

65mm lift just from the Billies does not sound right.

Could you recheck your measurement.

Measure from wheel lip to fender.

[Batman]

Brendan,

It's definitely 65mm, don't forget the front end had sagged, it measured 815mm before fitting and 880mm after. That was from the ground to the bottom of the guard on both occasions. That is with the circlip on the highest groove of the three.

Steve.

[9W6VX]

Roger that Steve.

My Billies are also on the highest groove unless your grooves were cut different from mine.

I only got something like 10mm lift if I remember correctly from the Billies.

My front struts are the Aussie specced BE5-D563.

Weird eh???

[Alby]

Roger that Steve.

My Billies are also on the highest groove unless your grooves were cut different from mine.

I only got something like 10mm lift if I remember correctly from the Billies.

My front struts are the Aussie specced BE5-D563.

Weird eh???

Brendon do yours have the additional grooves cut in them to get the extra lift??

[9W6VX]

Alby,

Roger that. 3 grooves standard if I remember correctly. I set it on the highest groove since the day I installed the Billies.

[Alby]

You will have to get some grooves machined into them

[Batman]

Roger that Steve.

My Billies are also on the highest groove unless your grooves were cut different from mine.

I only got something like 10mm lift if I remember correctly from the Billies.

My front struts are the Aussie specced BE5-D563.

Weird eh???

Brendan,

They are the same as the numbers on my struts.

Maybe your vehicle hadn't sagged as much as mine before you fitted them?

I will post some photos to my shed profile...

Steve.

[9W6VX]

Steve,

Yeah, pictures would be good.

Show the grooves of the Billie struts mate.

Just post the pictures here. No need to go to the shed profile.

[Alby]

Brendon, I just checked and mine have F4 BE5 D564 MO marked on the box. As I recall the additional grooves were cut onto them here in Australia at Bilstein's office in St Peters. That might be why you did not get much lift?? Are all of your grooves painted? my last 3 were machined after the shock wa painted.
When I had them fitted with the OEM springs they were set on the highest groove but when I had the King springs fitted (taller than standard) they moved it down one notch as I was not happy with the CV angles

[Batman]

Brendan how do I post photo in the thread?

[Alby]

Brendan how do I post photo in the thread?

Batman, Easiest to do it on Photobucket. I will PM the instructions that Glenk sent me when i was trying to work it out.

Hopefully they will sort you out

[9W6VX]

Photobucket seems to be down so I can't post up any pictures.

Later then guys.

[Batman]

Hello all,

Ok guys I need to fess up. I had what can only be described as a huge brain fade when fitting new struts. I mounted them with the bottom spring mount upside down. (still not sure how I f@#ked that up but I did )

That stuff up enabled a full 65mm lift with std springs.

Anyway I liked the amount of lift that it provided so when I took out the struts this morning I got another groove machined in the strut 30mm above the top one then put the bottom spring mount on correctly.

Refitted the springs and struts and hey presto back to 65mm lift with the spring mount on the right way.

Still shaking my head and can't believe I f@#ked it up the way I did but it's right now. Thanks Brendan for asking the question, it would have been a long time before I picked it up otherwise.

Cheers

Steve

[9W6VX]

Steve,

What a coincidence. I had lunch today with my mate who is a Billies dealer and I told him that a friend in OZ got 65mm lift with the Billies and teased him how come I did not get the same amount of lift?

He told me that the only way possible was that the Billies cup mount was upside down. He had a customer with a Triton who installed the struts with the cup upside down and the customer came over the next day complaining his Triton front was way too high with a heads up stance

I'll post the pictures later if photobucket is working.

If you want to post your pictures and still can't get it to work, just PM me and I'll give you my email address. I'll post it up for you.

Glad to be of help mate. That's the beauty of this forum!

[9W6VX]

Photobucket seems to be working now.

Here are the pictures of my Billies.

Alby,
As you can see in one of the pictures, the grooves are painted.

[9W6VX]

Steve @batman,

I have put up a tutorial to post pictures in the off topic section.

Look forward to see your pictures then.