Bilstein B6 w/ stock springs

[fiiiesta]

Anyone used aftermarket shocks with stock springs? The B6 says it's made for this. I'm not really interested in lowering the car or going full coilovers because I hear you have to adjust them regularly. So I figured I'd just go with some shocks and leave it at that. Mostly because I have to replace a strut soon anyway so I'm taking it as an excuse to do front and back shocks.

This is my daily driver and I take it on twisty backroads fairly often. Does this seem like a worthwhile upgrade?

 

[Pablo Pistoffo]

I use this exact setup for winter driving up here in AK (Fortune Auto 500s for summer) because it gives me more useful clearance, and arguably better ride and handling than the stock, over dampened setup. I love them, really.

 

[fiiiesta]

I use this exact setup for winter driving up here in AK (Fortune Auto 500s for summer) because it gives me more useful clearance, and arguably better ride and handling than the stock, over dampened setup. I love them, really.

You have front and back? Hows the comparison with the fortune 500s since you say you use those in summer? I'm definitely not planning on swapping shocks seasonally lol. Do the Bilsteins raise the ride height? Or by clearance did you just mean in the way they compress or something?

 

[Pablo Pistoffo]

You have front and back? Hows the comparison with the fortune 500s since you say you use those in summer? I'm definitely not planning on swapping shocks seasonally lol. Do the Bilsteins raise the ride height? Or by clearance did you just mean in the way they compress or something?

Yes, I have them all around. I didn't notice any difference in ride height from stock. I had previously paired the B6s with Swift springs for autocross, but moved up to the Fortunes because I wanted more adjustability. I went back to the stock springs and B6s for winter to save wear and tear on the coils, and because a lowered FiST sucks in deep snow and ice. Last winter I was dragging my front 2 point bar quite a bit, and the high rate springs got real old real quick on the super bumpy winter roads.

A stock car is fun on back roads, the B6s would definitely be an improvement, while maintaining stock ride height.

 

[M-Sport fan]

You have front and back? Hows the comparison with the fortune 500s since you say you use those in summer? I'm definitely not planning on swapping shocks seasonally lol. Do the Bilsteins raise the ride height? Or by clearance did you just mean in the way they compress or something?

The Fortune 500s/510s cannot even be raised up to even near factory ride height, even at their highest spring perch settings possible.

 

[fiiiesta]

Yes, I have them all around.

What all did you need for the install for the B6s? I was going to order bump stops, top hats, boots, and bearings.

 

[Pablo Pistoffo]

What all did you need for the install for the B6s? I was going to order bump stops, top hats, boots, and bearings.

That would probably be a good idea, but I just re-used everything except the mounting bolts, which are torque to yield. I had less than 30k on the other bits, figured I might as well use them up before replacing.

 

[kevinatfms]

What all did you need for the install for the B6s? I was going to order bump stops, top hats, boots, and bearings.

Buy two new spring pads for the rear. Ford changed the foam compound recently and they are much better at staying together than the OE and first two design sets.

 

[fiiiesta]

Buy two new spring pads for the rear. Ford changed the foam compound recently and they are much better at staying together than the OE and first two design sets.

Do you have part numbers?

 

[the duke]

Urethane rear bushes are best for longer ivory.

Power flex, etc.

 

[kevinatfms]

Do you have part numbers?

BE8Z-5586-A

 

[fiiiesta]

Finally got around to installing these a week ago. I can confirm the car handles way better with the B6s. Granted, I also replaced a ruined control arm, so that definitely is a factor... Still, I notice the back end likes to rotate out a LOT more now and I love it.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Finally got around to installing these a week ago. I can confirm the car handles way better with the B6s. Granted, I also replaced a ruined control arm, so that definitely is a factor... Still, I notice the back end likes to rotate out a LOT more now and I love it.

Does the static ride height even appear to be higher with the B6es than it was with the factory dampers? (Or did you happen to measure any differences?)

 

[SpiceyorangeST]

Pablo pistoffo do you happen to have any pics of your car with the b6s and swifts?

 

[kevinatfms]

Pablo pistoffo do you happen to have any pics of your car with the b6s and swifts?

I dont have B6's but do have B8's and Swifts if that will help you.

 

[SpiceyorangeST]

I mean I'd take a look but I've read the b8 sit a little higher than b6s

 

[the duke]

I mean I'd take a look but I've read the b8 sit a little higher than b6s

Wat.


No.

 

[SpiceyorangeST]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...gwAHoECAEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3J-1Rj3eMZruKBXZ_pQrPS

 

[SpiceyorangeST]

In the rear I guess

 

[kevinatfms]

In the rear I guess

They are a shorter shock shaft than the B6 damper. Both are charged the same with the same valving from what Bilstein told me. They even use the B8 damper on the back of the B14 kit.

I never measured before/after with mine. I care more on performance than looks so they were a no brainer(would have gone Koni Sports but fuck that stupid design in the rear).