Bilstein # 24-016179 fronts too long?

[saburai]

Who's running them? After installing the driver's side it looks like there's hardly any room for compression. I'm talking maybe 4 inches, can that be right? I'm about to install the other side and I'm hesitating. Any help would be much appreciated!
Edited to add the truck is a '94 f250 4x4 and according to multiple sources including the Bilstein website it's the correct P/N

 

[saburai]

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[chillman88]

Summit shows that part number as fitting BOTH F250 AND F350. I thought the F350 sat about 2" higher? That would explain why it looks like that.

I guess it can't be TOO bad, looks like there's only a couple inches until the bumpstop? The picture looks like you'll bottom out the bumpstop before the shock will bottom out.

 

[saburai]

I did compare the Bilstein to the old shock. Both extended and compressed it was about the same. I was getting ready to do the other side and when I un boxed the new shock, the bushing was buggered up

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So back they go...

 

[saburai]

I did get the driver's side brake hose replaced and got one wheel polished, so it wasn't a complete loss...

 

[renjaminfrankln]

I just installed the same shocks.

Fronts look fine, it looks like you are about 1” above the bump stop. But it should hit the stop first. I have no issues with mine

I had to grind my front lower sleeves a touch to fit in the bracket.

The rears are a *****. They are higher pressure so it’s harder to compress them. Also the sleeves in the lower bushings are smaller than the stock hardware. You’ll need 2.5” 7/16 grade 8 bolts, nuts and washers. (The 3/8 size washers actually from ace hardware fit better)

 

[dgr]

I hate it when my bushing gets buggered

It looks like you've got only a couple inches on the bump stop.

 

[renjaminfrankln]

pics

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[saburai]

I just installed the same shocks.

Fronts look fine, it looks like you are about 1” above the bump stop. But it should hit the stop first. I have no issues with mine

I had to grind my front lower sleeves a touch to fit in the bracket.

The rears are a *****. They are higher pressure so it’s harder to compress them. Also the sleeves in the lower bushings are smaller than the stock hardware. You’ll need 2.5” 7/16 grade 8 bolts, nuts and washers. (The 3/8 size washers actually from ace hardware fit better)

Thanks everyone! Ren, thanks for the heads up about the bolt!

 

[saburai]

I bought the shocks through Amazon.com as a set of four. They were about $25 less and shipped fast and free. I'm going try to call the seller in the morning and see if they are agreeable to just sending a replacement for the shock with the messed up bushing. It'd save them money on shipping and I could get the rears in. Hopefully, they're reasonable...

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

I just installed the same shocks.

Fronts look fine, it looks like you are about 1” above the bump stop. But it should hit the stop first. I have no issues with mine

I had to grind my front lower sleeves a touch to fit in the bracket.

The rears are a *****. They are higher pressure so it’s harder to compress them. Also the sleeves in the lower bushings are smaller than the stock hardware. You’ll need 2.5” 7/16 grade 8 bolts, nuts and washers. (The 3/8 size washers actually from ace hardware fit better)

On that note about the hardware my OEM shocks were trashed when I got them and had ovaled out the holes on the lower shock mount. This rattled over every bump...

So my second ever welding project was to weld new grade 8 washers right over the ovaled holes, just buttoned everything up and tacked it in, un do it all and finish the weld. (Man I didn't know poop about welding then!)

They've held up great, and the bilsteins have too!

I hope you get that replacement easily enough, getting a bad part is no fun. Puts a damper on the whole project. (See what I did there? )

 

[bbjordan]

I ran into the same issue with the front shocks appearing too long, but the bump stop would have bottomed out before the shock. I lubed up the body of the shock and slid the boot up higher so it fit better.

 

[saburai]

I ran into the same issue with the front shocks appearing too long, but the bump stop would have bottomed out before the shock. I lubed up the body of the shock and slid the boot up higher so it fit better.

I was plann on clipping the nylon wire tie and moving the boots up a bit. Maybe a little lube would do the trick. For now they are back in the box waiting to hear what the seller has to say about a replacement...

 

[renjaminfrankln]

On that note about the hardware my OEM shocks were trashed when I got them and had ovaled out the holes on the lower shock mount. This rattled over every bump...

Im guessing your shock bolts werent torqued enough from the factory, or whoever replaced them last?

The sleeves in the shock bushing should be a close fit inside the mounting tabs on the frame/axle. Bolts should be torqued enough to clamp the bracket down on the sleeve hard, essentially locking the sleeve in place. If anything wears from movement is should be the rubber shock bushing.

Not sure exactly what I got mine torqued to, I let my impact sit on it for a sec at the lowest setting, probably 50-60 ft-lbs

 

[saburai]

Top rear no bushings? Assuming that they should be included...

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