dkushner

Hey guys

I just got a set of 4 Bilstein 4600 shocks for my ride (2013 FX4 5.0). I installed the rear shocks myself without issue (very easy.)

I made an appointment at my favorite dealership to have the front 4600s installed and they told me that the new Bilsteins didn't look right since they didn't have a spring seat like the OEM shocks.

Got home and did some research and I see the the Bilstein instructions say to 'retain and install the original spring seat'. The strange thing is that Ford doesn't show a separate part number for the spring seat and shock...they are sold as one unit.

The mechanic assumed that the OEM spring seat is welded to the OEM shock...they've never tried to remove the spring seat before. I've read that you have to pound the OEM spring seat off of the OEM shock but wanted to get a bit more detail from someone who has done this first-hand.

How, exactly, were you able to remove the OEM spring seat?

Was it welded on at all, or does it pop off easily with a few taps from a hammer?

Is there a risk that the OEM spring seat will get damaged by trying to remove it...then I'm screwed since you cannot order a new spring seat (without ordering the OEM shock) from Ford?

I'm really disappointed that Bilstein doesn't just include a new spring seat to avoid this issue. It looks like the 5100s come with a new spring seat, but I don't to level and I want to keep all of my stock suspension geometry...so it seems like the 4600s are the best solution...I think.

Any help that you can provide is very much appreciated.

Thanks!!
dkushner

dkushner

Here you can see from the Ford service manual that the shock and spring seat are a single part.

flamehead16

on the 09-14 the spring seat is tac welded on and you have to break the weld with a hammer or grinder. on the 04-08 it just slides off.

i think when they made them they were the same as 04-08 but ford changed it slightly and they bielstein just didnt want to redo the dyes or add the spring seat

dkushner

Thanks for the quick reply flamehead16.

Have you actually removed the OEM tac welded spring seat yourself? Do you think it's something that the Ford mechanic is going to struggle with, or is it pretty obvious and easy?

Do you think I'd be better off just trying to return the 4600s and get some 5100s instead (keeping in mind that I want stock ride height)?

Thanks again!
dkushner

flamehead16

5100's are the same boat. i had a set on my 2004 and i hit the spring seat with a hammer and it came off. from what i have seen on others here with 09-14 they just grind off the tac weld and reuse it. it should not be a struggle (if they struggle with that i wouldnt trust them lol)

should be a straight thing to comprehend.

dhardison

The 5100s do not come with a spring seat either. You have to remove the OEM spring seat. Here's some good info (particularly post #8).

https://www.f150forum.com/f38/need-p...g-seats-82492/

dkushner

Thanks dhardison

I see that JoeSixPack said:

"OK... Just got off the phone with Bilstein... The tech at Bilstein thinks the tech that couldn't get the spring seat off the factory shocks in order to re-use it on the 5100's didn't beat on the spring seat hard enough...

I think the tech was worried about the chrome cap right on top of the spring seat in the pic...

Apparentally you have to beat on the spring seat hard enough to drive that cap off the shock tube...

Bilstein is going to talk with the tech tommorrow and see if they can talk him thru the process..."

This seems to indicate that it might be a little more complicated than just grinding off a couple of tack welds. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Anyone know the correct phone number to get ahold of a Bilstein tech? I've searched and have come up with a lot of phone numbers but not sure which is the correct number.

Thanks!
dkushner

nineball

i just installed a set of 5100s 2 weeks ago. ok i didn't, but my local go-to shop did. they did not have any problems with the install. i went from factory to 5100 on my 13.

btw, love the new ride. i also installed the hellwig sway bar. with the new shocks and swaybar i could not be happier with the ride. the back end doesn't bounce or skip or shudder anymore.

dhardison

Here's a little more info on the spring seat removal (with pic).

https://www.f150forum.com/f38/bilste...4/#post2587094

dkushner

Thank you dhardison

That thread didn't pop in the searches I did on this forum for some reason...maybe I just didn't look hard enough.

I'll print that out and bring it in to the dealership next week to show the mechanic.

dkushner