New Bilstein B8 shocks/struts on the wagon

[TiGeo]

Finally decided to drop on some sport dampers to compliment my H&R Sport springs. They ride superbly....a well sorted touring/sport suspension now. Had the springs on for the last year/30K miles on the stock dampers (56K total on those). Rode fine to me with the sport springs/stock dampers, but these are better/heavier damping which controls the movement a bit better - not harsh at all. Install wasn't bad, never have done struts before and used the slightly janky but popular in the VW MK7 world..."2x4" method. Worked great. Basically saved removing the axle/lower ball joint assembly by bolting a 2x4 to the strut's sway bar bracket and just raising it up a bit to get it out of the knuckle.



View attachment 51438

 

[DirectRejection]

Finally decided to drop on some sport dampers to compliment my H&R Sport springs. They ride superbly....a well sorted touring/sport suspension now. Had the springs on for the last year/30K miles on the stock dampers (56K total on those). Rode fine to me with the sport springs/stock dampers, but these are better/heavier damping which controls the movement a bit better - not harsh at all. Install wasn't bad, never have done struts before and used the slightly janky but popular in the VW MK7 world..."2x4" method. Worked great. Basically saved removing the axle/lower ball joint assembly by bolting a 2x4 to the strut's sway bar bracket and just raising it up a bit to get it out of the knuckle.



View attachment 51438View attachment 51439

I bet that is a great ride.
I put some 5100s on my 2018 Tacoma and it was sweet.

 

[drtyler]

I always add Bilstein B6 or B8 when shock replacement time comes and have never been disappointed. Good job!

 

[E365]

Sweet. I have Bilstein B8s and AST lowering springs (from the Netherlands) enroute right now for my 2017 MINI Clubman S ALL4. Plus an NM Engineering rear sway bar.

The Clubman is VERY soft and floaty compared to my other, older 2dr MINI Hatchbacks. I’m hoping this makes it more of a “MINI”. I have the dynamic dampers and I’m not impressed at all. In Normal and Green modes the entire car “shudders” over expansion cracks on the freeway. I get the feeling all 4 wheels are bouncing wildly for about 1/2sec at every crack. Sport is better, but nothing special.

I installed Bilstein HDs (B6 equivalent?) on an old E36 BMW 318ti and absolutely loved them.

I also have new strut and shock mounts, spring pads, hardware, etc. to go with it all.

 

[edyvw]

I am going B6. Don’t want to lower car as I need clearance.
Let us know how it does on the track.

 

[UG_Passat]

Supposedly, according Bilstein many send their B8's in to get the valving to match the B4 compression and rebound curves.

Bilstein B4 Review

www.bimmerfest.com

Had Eibach sport springs with Bilstein B6-sports (now called B8) on the last car.....and added a H&R rear sway bar. But when the front strut blew after over 150,000 miles, put B4 sports in (since it was available on the Passat, to match the lowering springs of the Passat sport package)... the ride was so much better. But the front control arms pointed slightly up, which isn't good for roll center and handling... but I wanted to lower the car anyway, so it was the trade-off I was willing to accept.

 

[edyvw]

Supposedly, according Bilstein many send their B8's in to get the valving to match the B4 compression and rebound curves.

Bilstein B4 Review

www.bimmerfest.com

Had Eibach sport springs with Bilstein B6-sports (now called B8) on the last car.....and added a H&R rear sway bar. But when the front strut blew after over 150,000 miles, put B4 sports in (since it was available on the Passat, to match the lowering springs of the Passat sport package)... the ride was so much better. But the front control arms pointed slightly up, which isn't good for roll center and handling... but I wanted to lower the car anyway, so it was the trade-off I was willing to accept.

I am still debating B4 and B6. But, I am thinking that since I am not lowering car (will put M3 control arms in rear and M3 sway bar) that it should not compromise comfort that much.

 

[TiGeo]

Supposedly, according Bilstein many send their B8's in to get the valving to match the B4 compression and rebound curves.

Bilstein B4 Review

www.bimmerfest.com

Had Eibach sport springs with Bilstein B6-sports (now called B8) on the last car.....and added a H&R rear sway bar. But when the front strut blew after over 150,000 miles, put B4 sports in (since it was available on the Passat, to match the lowering springs of the Passat sport package)... the ride was so much better. But the front control arms pointed slightly up, which isn't good for roll center and handling... but I wanted to lower the car anyway, so it was the trade-off I was willing to accept.

I am still debating B4 and B6. But, I am thinking that since I am not lowering car (will put M3 control arms in rear and M3 sway bar) that it should not compromise comfort that much.

B6s for sure if you are tracking it. It won't make it harsh. I have Koni Sports on my son's Focus and I'd say at their softest setting they are like the B8/B6s.

 

[edyvw]

B6s for sure if you are tracking it. It won't make it harsh. I have Koni Sports on my son's Focus and I'd say at their softest setting they are like the B8/B6s.

That is what I am thinking, especially with the fact that I am not lowering vehicle.

 

[TiGeo]

That is what I am thinking, especially with the fact that I am not lowering vehicle.

Take a look at Koni as well - the adjustable damping is a great feature for essentially the same price as Bilsteins but on some models you can't access the adjustment without removing it. My son's Focus is that way out back as would be my Sportwagen which negating them for me.

 

[UG_Passat]

B6s for sure if you are tracking it. It won't make it harsh. I have Koni Sports on my son's Focus and I'd say at their softest setting they are like the B8/B6s.

Bilstein reps in the past has told me B8's have more aggressive compression and rebound curves, thus valving than the B6

 

[TiGeo]

Bilstein reps in the past has told me B8's have more aggressive compression and rebound curves, thus valving than the B6

Bilstein website says they are the same just shorter (1").

 

[UG_Passat]

Bilstein website says they are the same just shorter (1").

Bilstein website doesn't even say it's 1" shorter, just shorter. Bilstein marketing will only tell you so much, and since they are not the technical people, they assume the buyers aren't technical either.

Even on the "technology section" it lists B8's can be twin-tubes also.

That's how much I would take Bilstein marketing seriously.

 

[edyvw]

Bilstein reps in the past has told me B8's have more aggressive compression and rebound curves, thus valving than the B6

As far as I know current B6/B8 are same except B8 are for lower springs and B6 for OE springs.

 

[edyvw]

Take a look at Koni as well - the adjustable damping is a great feature for essentially the same price as Bilsteins but on some models you can't access the adjustment without removing it. My son's Focus is that way out back as would be my Sportwagen which negating them for me.

If I go KONI I would go Special Active. But, Bilstein IMO is more robust product.

 

[2EHA]

I put black B4s on a jaguar that came with green B6s. for a boat i prefer a softer setup

 

[TiGeo]

Bilstein website doesn't even say it's 1" shorter, just shorter. Bilstein marketing will only tell you so much, and since they are not the technical people, they assume the buyers aren't technical either.

Even on the "technology section" it lists B8's can be twin-tubes also.

What's the difference between Bilstein B6 and Bilstein B8?

We continue to explain the key differences between the comprehensive Bilstein range in basic terms. Today we will look at the Bilstein B6 and the Bilstein B8. At a quick glance the B6 and B8 range look identical but they have a very important difference. Can you see it? The B8 is shorter than...

www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk