Bilstien 5100 issue
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Joined: Feb 2013
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Bilstien 5100 issue
2013 crew cab 4x4,
I had my front struts replaced at a shop (didnt have the time available to do this myself) with a set of 5100's. I had them set to the highest setting as I was also adding 305/70R17's. I'll try and explain this the best I can, hopefully it comes out right. I get a hard slam when I hit drops in the road, or when coming off the back of a speed bump. Its like the shock isn't extending fast enough and the weight of the truck is slamming down. Regular bumps or juts in the road are fine.. its only when there is a sudden drop in the level of the road, or the back side of speed bumps. If I creep (5mph or less) over the speed bumps everything is fine, anything other than that and its like the front tires slam the ground very hard. Has anyone had an issue like this? Or have any insight on what I could check? I have a hard time thinking the bilstien shocks are the issue, and I'm leaning towards something was left un-tightened. I checked the strut tower nuts where the Shock bolts down to the mount, and I got a few more turns on it. I didn't catch this till about two weeks after I had them installed, and due to issues outside my control, it takes an act of congress for me to get free in order to take my truck back to the shop (assuming they would even help or admit fault). So, at this point its probably far past their policy of responsibility. Any ideas are welcome, thanks in advance!
I had my front struts replaced at a shop (didnt have the time available to do this myself) with a set of 5100's. I had them set to the highest setting as I was also adding 305/70R17's. I'll try and explain this the best I can, hopefully it comes out right. I get a hard slam when I hit drops in the road, or when coming off the back of a speed bump. Its like the shock isn't extending fast enough and the weight of the truck is slamming down. Regular bumps or juts in the road are fine.. its only when there is a sudden drop in the level of the road, or the back side of speed bumps. If I creep (5mph or less) over the speed bumps everything is fine, anything other than that and its like the front tires slam the ground very hard. Has anyone had an issue like this? Or have any insight on what I could check? I have a hard time thinking the bilstien shocks are the issue, and I'm leaning towards something was left un-tightened. I checked the strut tower nuts where the Shock bolts down to the mount, and I got a few more turns on it. I didn't catch this till about two weeks after I had them installed, and due to issues outside my control, it takes an act of congress for me to get free in order to take my truck back to the shop (assuming they would even help or admit fault). So, at this point its probably far past their policy of responsibility. Any ideas are welcome, thanks in advance!
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Joined: Feb 2013
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What part are you thinking would be hitting the upper control arms? I plan on trying to find the tq specs on the control arms, the strut hardware, and the sway bar end links. I dont know what all the shop loosened or removed, so I plan to try and just re-torque everything under the sun..
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From: Arizona
What part are you thinking would be hitting the upper control arms? I plan on trying to find the tq specs on the control arms, the strut hardware, and the sway bar end links. I dont know what all the shop loosened or removed, so I plan to try and just re-torque everything under the sun..
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Joined: Feb 2013
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gotcha. All I have installed is the 5100's, so I wouldnt imagine that was the case as many others have the same thing with no issues, but I'll check.. I'll try and jack the front up high enough for the suspension to fully extend and see if there is any contact. The slam I'm experiencing feels more like the front tires are slamming the ground instead of having a smooth transition over the bump.. Like the tires are actually breaking contact with the road and then slamming down. Even at just over 5mph it does this.. Its really annoying! My work has those stupid road spike speed bumps, so I get a little nervous slowing down to much.
How's she goin' eh?
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: South Detroit
Id start with the top nuts holding the shock to the shock tower. It’s common for shops not to properly tighten them down. You’re supposed to put the vehicle under its own weight and make sure they’re torqued proper. My passenger side had to be tightened.
if the coils were making contact with the UCA, you’d see marks and damage to either piece.
if the coils were making contact with the UCA, you’d see marks and damage to either piece.
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Be careful with those tower nuts -- they're only supposed to be torqued to something like 15lbs...
My 5100's upfront never did this but I was running significantly smaller tires. Sure it's not just your tires running kind of rough? How much psi are you running in them?
My 5100's upfront never did this but I was running significantly smaller tires. Sure it's not just your tires running kind of rough? How much psi are you running in them?
