Billstein Expected Life
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
I installed the HD set on Betty Boop on May 2008. About a year later the rear-driver side shock blew and it was replaced by the warranty. The other one still there with no problem.
Id say they have about 21,000+ miles.
Id say they have about 21,000+ miles.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 4
From: Argillite KY
My 1989 Silverado came stock with Bilsteins. I replaced them last year because I knew they had to be worn out. I put some other brand on it. The Bilsteins were still good and had no problems at all. I put them back on the old truck because they were better than the new Rancho's.
Oh, the truck has 250,000 miles on it and so do the Bilsteins.
Oh, the truck has 250,000 miles on it and so do the Bilsteins.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,682
Likes: 3,434
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
My C4 has 115K on the original shocks. The last 10-15K are hard track miles, and the shocks are still good.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
6yrs, 6mos, 6days, 6hrs, 6mins, and 6secs
or
66,666.6 miles
whichever comes first.
The devil is in the details!
or
66,666.6 miles
whichever comes first.
The devil is in the details!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 0
From: MANDEVILLE, LA La
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
Bilsteins last very well.
I had about 70k on my 94 and they were still good.
I don't have many miles on my 85, but they are 27 years old and still fine.
On the 94-96 Impala SS and Caprice 9C1's the Bilsteins have a very good reputation also. Many of them close to 150k to 200k. I had about 120k on one and 110k on another.
I had about 70k on my 94 and they were still good.
I don't have many miles on my 85, but they are 27 years old and still fine.
On the 94-96 Impala SS and Caprice 9C1's the Bilsteins have a very good reputation also. Many of them close to 150k to 200k. I had about 120k on one and 110k on another.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,176
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Is there really an objective test to confirm a shock is functioning correctly?
We used to bounce test each corner and watch the jounce/rebound.
Very subjective at best. SO my rule of thumb is 4-6 years or 50K miles.
Shocks wear out like tires and brakes and are more often overlooked.
Rod and piston seals loose their elasticity and leak.
Unless the oil is dripping down the shock body, most will never consider changing the shocks.
One must consider the shock with equal importance as tires.
We used to bounce test each corner and watch the jounce/rebound.
Very subjective at best. SO my rule of thumb is 4-6 years or 50K miles.
Shocks wear out like tires and brakes and are more often overlooked.
Rod and piston seals loose their elasticity and leak.
Unless the oil is dripping down the shock body, most will never consider changing the shocks.
One must consider the shock with equal importance as tires.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 305
Likes: 2
From: Epfenbach BW
I also still have the original ones, 1988 Bilsteins. "Made in West Germany" so they are, well, OLD.
They seem to perform just fine, but I think I will replace them this year....94k miles on them.
BTW, never expect to get that kind of durability out of any new part you buy today.
Best regards
Benny
They seem to perform just fine, but I think I will replace them this year....94k miles on them.
BTW, never expect to get that kind of durability out of any new part you buy today.
Best regards
Benny
