Bilstiens for My Scout?

Robert Kenney

Robert Kenney

Super Moderator
I noticed that ihon if a bilstien shock dealer. I regard them as one of the industries best quality shocks.:winky:

I have had them re-valved to increase rebound damping a number of times to reduce freeway bucking in pickup trucks. Usually not cheap I might add but effective. As you know damping rate requirements are a function of spring rate, vehicle weight, unsprung weight etc and every vehicle is a differently tuned system.

My Scout is quite the "bucker":gringrin: (if that is a real word) at certain speeds on the local shifted freeways. So bad that I have to lean forward to get my back off of the seat. Light truck and high relative spring rate. I have tried 3 different shocks but all have been tuned wrong, insufficient damping especially rebound. Has anyone used the stocking shocks from bilstien on a Scout 80/800. If so how were they?? Can different valving rated be had from the catalog?

Yah, I know I am trying to make a "silk purse" out of a "sows ear"! :dita:

thanks,
Robert
 
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What shocks do you have in there now? If bilsteins what part numbers are you using? I'd like to see what you are currently running and check the actual valving to see if I can come up with something better.
 
I put the shocks back that mr Scout sold with the lift springs.
Rs9000 or rs5000 rings a bell. I have tried other's that you can buy at the local auto parts corral like monroe, gabriel because they could cross them to the rs's.

Really need to put them on a shock dyno for a base line. Used to know a guy that had one but that was many years ago.

Rk
 
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Using rancho shocks is most if not all of your problem. I have said it many times before and will say it again - rancho is not a bad shock but the valving sucks on them and gives the ride of a dumptruck! I'm sure I can come up with some Bilstein part numbers that will make the ride much more enjoyable. Before I do some researching I need to know some measurements. What is the distance eye to eye(or in the rear eye to stem) at ride height and full droop? At ride height what is the distance from the axle to bumpstop?
 
Thanks Jeff. It May take a few day's for me to get dimensions due to the rain. My Scout got kicked out of the garage to make room for the "other" project.

My Scout is 100% stock except for 4" of lift by spring and shackle. If that helps? Anyway I'll get the dims.

Rk
 
Jeff,
took some shock measerments
front- c to c 18 1/4"
distance to bumper 5 "

rear- c to flange 17"
distance to bumper 5"

I plan on adding 1-2 more inches in the springs as it seems low to me
so plan on that when choosing a spring.

The bumper distance was larger before. Iirc

I found a spring shop that will re arch for $75.00 / axle or build new springs to my spec for $250.00/set of two

rk
 
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Sorry I forgot.:icon_neutral:

I don't see full droop measurements. Did you happen to get those? Sorry but I really like to have all three measurements in order to make sure I get you the right length shock the first time.
 
Jeff,
I believe the shock minimum compressed length will be the limitation and droop limiting factor at the compressed length. I don't do any hard core off roading so if the suspension ultimatly droops to the shock extended length I am ok with is.

I also don't want to deal with jacking up the Scout to check as I am swamped with my race car build to make the March meet in bakersfield. I want to get the shocks squared away. Sorry. In the perfect world I agree with you on getting all the numbers first.

Robert
 
I'm working on this. Bilstein in their 5125 series only shows one shock that is eye to stem for the rear of your Scout. There are several eye to stem shocks made by Bilstein in the 5100 series but they list no specs. I have some coming in that might work but I'll know more once they get here.
 
Update,
after looking at my new bilstiens for 3 weeks now I finaly had a free afternoon to install them.

They are much nicer. Way better damping especialy rebound.

Cruising down the freeway at 70 with 2 fingers on the wheel :icon_eek: :gringrin: no problem even over pavement steps. Still no late model but much easier on the back.

Thanks Jeff nice choice.
 
Cool beans! Were the lengths correct or close enough? I'd like to know for future sales.
 
The legnths were good. Extended they were about 1" longer, compressed I would hit the snubbers before bottoming the shock.
 
I need to add one more thing regarding the fittment of the bilstiens to a Scout 80/800. The rear upper shock donut/rubber mounting resides in a channel. The washers provided are to large in diameter and need to have 2 small flats cut or ground into their od so they fit down into the upper shock mount. A 2 minute mod at most.
 
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I wanted to give everyone an update on the bilstiens and how they worked.

I has rs5000's on my Scout before and asked Jeff to find out if bilstien had a set of shocks that would fit my Scout 80.

They did and I bought them. I finally had a chance to take it up to the mountains for a good off road run. What a difference they made. Compression is softer but controlled and rebound damping is way better(more damping). A bump is only a bump and not a bounce like a spring board. A wash board freeway doesn't buck or bounce anymore either. I drove the 210 west @ 80+ with no shaking or any handling anomaly like before.

Well worth the money. Thanks Jeff!!
 
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