Bilstein 8112 Series with 8100

I’m always forgetting what day it is haha.

keep us posted on your journey though! I also wished accutune offered bilstein! It’s hard to not want all of the tech packed into the 8112s!

 

I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I’ll get something going...

 

That was easy!

https://youtu.be/WWWHzCln9lQ

 

Hmmm. That's quite the click/clunk. Mine don't do that... I don't think. I've never had a camera under there and recording the noises they do make. But if that noise is very apparent to the ear while driving, that doesn't seem normal.

Did you change the UCAs?

Seems like a similar video, but of the top end of the assembly, could be helpful.

 

I didn’t change UCAs. Yet. Everywhere I looked in the upper assembly doesn’t see like there is any odd metal-to-metal contact (like with the coils and UCAs) and I’ve tightened every nut and bolt twice.

And yes that noise is audible from inside the cab. A friend slowed down the video and he thought the noise was happening on the rebound, but it’s too hard to tell for me.

I tried using the same spot to record the upper part of the shock, but it wasn’t a good angle, so I need to do that next.

thanks for the responses- it’s keeping me motivated. Some have thought the noise was “normal” based on what they thought the internal compression stops, but it doesn’t sound normal to me.

 

Could be the sway bar hitting the coil-over on bumps. Check sway bar for paint wear on the inside.

Sway bar relocate kits might help. I sent mine back after realizing that it only happens on hard off-camber bumps and it's not enough to bug me.

 

No sway bar installed...

 

Appreciate the suggestion, but yeah the swaybar has been removed. Also my aftermarket skid plate, just to make sure nothing extra could be making contact. The noise is there either way.

 

This is from the Bilstein install instructions:

“It is normal to hear a slight audible clicking noise during compression and rebound strokes in the B8 8112 shocks, most notably during low velocity events. This is due to the internal pistons engaging each other creating the position sensitive compression and rebound zones.”

Is this the same as what I’m hearing in the posted video? And/or, is this what everyone else is hearing from their front end? It’s audible inside the truck as well as outside.

 

I can hear the shocks clicking from time to time but I wouldn't say it's nearly as loud as what you posted. Then again, as I mentioned earlier, I've never put a camera under the truck - so not 100% positive mine wouldn't sound the same way in a video if I did.

 

Wow - that would annoy the crap out of me....I'm not sure I want these anymore.

 

Did you watch/listen to the video? I think there’s something wrong. Pisses me off because I want to like this. Going to try and set the camera up to capture the top of the shock and spring this weekend.

 

Try spraying lithium grease on top and bottom of the coil over , where the springs seat .

 

I'll add that to the list.

 

yes I did. I would call up bilstein and try to warranty that shock. At a minimum send it for a rebuild in their dime.

I have my fronts still sitting in the box. On month 6 of waiting for the rears to come in.

 

Just got my final rear shock on Friday and immediately did the install. Really happy with the set up. You definitely feel the small bumps more with the digressive valving, but it smooths out the big stuff way better than the stock TRD OR Bilsteins. I do wish the fronts were adjust so I could dial out a little compression, and am still working on getting the rears dialed in. All in all, pretty please with them. No noise that I can hear unless I go at something really hard...

 

They will get a little "softer" after the break in, takes a couple hundred miles.

I also found that either removing the sway bar, or greasing the shit out of the sway bar bushings really softened up the front quite a bit on small bumps.

Greasing the friction pads on my rear Icon Rxt leafs really softened out the back too, for small bumps.

 

Thank you for the tips - will give the sway bar a greasing - makes sense. I looked at removing the sway bar today as I was thinking through this problem, but decided I probably want it in place - so will try your trick first. There definitely seems like there is enough support in the shocks to keep the truck stable around corners with the bar in place.

 

I know a couple people that have removed the sway bar on their 8112's and on the Elka shocks, and they said that not only was the ride a lot smoother, they got more front articulation
. They said they did slalom manuvers at highway speeds and had no problem with control.

I'll see if I can find it again, but one of the documents from Bilstein said you don't need the sway bar with the 8112's .

 

I'm still waiting on the rears :-( Seems they have one side but not the other, so your post is encouraging! My front end is still making noise if I hit a dip too hard. And by too hard, I mean like 25-30mph vs 20. I can feel it when it makes the noise too.