Bilstein Kit to suit 07-09 FJ Cruiser US spec

[brock05 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close brock05]

I have come across some info on the forum eluding to the fact that 07-09 US FJ Cruiser spec lift kits should suit my 150. I am looking at the below kit but am not sure if it will suit at this stage. Have asked confirmation from the supplier with no answer as of yet. Does anyone know if the US spec FJ Cruiser only comes in petrol only like out here and if so would the potential weight difference between that and my diesel effect the required spring rates significantly. Am concerned with it being to soft for our conditions.

Cheers
Brad

http://bilsteinlifts.com/shop/2003-2...ers-fj4runner/

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I got Bilstein 5100 and 5160 from the US from Downsouth Motorsport for my 120. It will also fit the 150.
I'm not sure of the coils though. You might be better getting a known brand locally. 3" lift is quite a bit and would require a diff drop kit to correct the CV angles.

[str8up Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close str8up]

I'm quiet interesting in importing a set of Bilsteins for my 150 diesel too. I assume the shocks should have the same specs as the ones we would buy in Aus? I would be leaning towards dobbins coils bought locally. Let me know if have any luck with them. And which supplier you are using?

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

Bilstein 5100 and 5160 are a US spec shock and are different to the Aussie spec Bilstein, which is made in Germany. I assume the US spec has softer valving and/or a different type of valving. I suggest Dobinsons springs would be a good option.

[wholesalesuspension Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wholesalesuspension]

I'm quiet interesting in importing a set of Bilsteins for my 150 diesel too. I assume the shocks should have the same specs as the ones we would buy in Aus? I would be leaning towards dobbins coils bought locally. Let me know if have any luck with them. And which supplier you are using?

The imported Billies are a lot softer in their valving rates. Bilstein Aus have set ours up to cope with our unique (read crap) roads & differing terrains here in Australia. They tell me that the valving in the imported Shocks won't cope with our unique and lovely corrugations very well.

Regards, Jason.

[maxjj Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maxjj]

I wouldn`t touch them, learnt the hard way importing some ohlins some years ago. Soft arsed yanks.
Stick to the proper Bilstein importers, you will get the right shock and you should get 5 year and 100000km warranty.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

The imported Billies are a lot softer in their valving rates. Bilstein Aus have set ours up to cope with our unique (read crap) roads & differing terrains here in Australia. They tell me that the valving in the imported Shocks won't cope with our unique and lovely corrugations very well.

Regards, Jason.

Is there anything documented on Valving Rates of different shocks? or is it a closely guarded secret? I'm looking at getting Bilstein 5100's & 5160's for the rear that same as amts has done but don't wish to go any softer, so would like to find out before I hand over my hard earned, what these valving rates are...

[wholesalesuspension Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wholesalesuspension]

Is there anything documented on Valving Rates of different shocks? or is it a closely guarded secret? I'm looking at getting Bilstein 5100's & 5160's for the rear that same as amts has done but don't wish to go any softer, so would like to find out before I hand over my hard earned, what these valving rates are...

The valving rates for our Australian designed parts are as follows.
BE5-A712 is 2365nm over 2135nm @ 0.52 metres per second
BE5-A713 is 1820nm over 1520nm @ 0.52 metres per second
The valving rates for the U.S sourced 5100's aren't given out by them, but they have tested the imported gear back to back with ours and have said that is is in the vicinity of 20% to 30% softer than ours.
Another consideration is that some but not all of the U.S stuff is sourced from the Mexican production plant. It looks almost identical, but has the ends crimped over & is not serviceable.

They do all of their R&D on the Australian products in-house here in Aus. They have a mobile Shock Dyno and Workshop and will take a car and do all of the setup work here. They then send the finished product back to Germany for an Aus production run.
We have been lucky enough to see the Mobile Workshop & Dyno in action & it is pretty impressive.
Our Aus Spec Shocks are vastly different to the U.S sourced stuff.


Bilstein here offer a 12Month/20,000km Warranty, but use common sense and are open to consideration of claims outside of those paramaters.

Regards, Jason.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

The valving rates for our Australian designed parts are as follows.
BE5-A712 is 2365nm over 2135nm @ 0.52 metres per second
BE5-A713 is 1820nm over 1520nm @ 0.52 metres per second
The valving rates for the U.S sourced 5100's aren't given out by them, but they have tested the imported gear back to back with ours and have said that is is in the vicinity of 20% to 30% softer than ours.
Another consideration is that some but not all of the U.S stuff is sourced from the Mexican production plant. It looks almost identical, but has the ends crimped over & is not serviceable.

They do all of their R&D on the Australian products in-house here in Aus. They have a mobile Shock Dyno and Workshop and will take a car and do all of the setup work here. They then send the finished product back to Germany for an Aus production run.
We have been lucky enough to see the Mobile Workshop & Dyno in action & it is pretty impressive.
Our Aus Spec Shocks are vastly different to the U.S sourced stuff.


Bilstein here offer a 12Month/20,000km Warranty, but use common sense and are open to consideration of claims outside of those paramaters.

Regards, Jason.

Thanks Jason for your response. With your response I asked Downsouth Motorsports about the US Valvling rates and my concerns that they would not be up to the Aust conditions. I also quizzed him about the place of manufacture of the US sold Bilstiens. Here is Sonny from Downsouth Motorsports response. A sensible (and funny) response..



Good morning,
I apologize for the delay in responding..
You are correct in the 5100's series shocks here in the US have a softer
valving.
What we have found is that your vehicles are a little heavier then ours.

Hence the softer valving.
Honestly and do not get me wrong I would be more then happy to sell you
any shock your heart desires,
but with our US based shocks having a softer valving then your shocks, I
would recommend that you
continue to use your vehicle specific shocks from Aus.
That is merely my opinion....
I have never heard that the 5100 series shocks are built in Mexico..
From what I understand the 5100 series shocks are built in Hamilton,
Ohio in the US.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYJovKpBjkE
This link should help fix that perception of the shocks being built in
Mexico.
It is funny that you say that about Mexico because I have had people
from Aus. go to my shop (Which is located in San Diego, California)and
ask me "Where are all of the Mexicans"?
I standing there stunned working on shocks and say "What are you talking
about"
Their normal response: "You guys sell shocks cheap online, so we all
figured you had a bunch of Mexicans working in your shop assembling
cheap shocks"
I usually laugh for a moment and say, no sorry no Mexicans here
today....
Figured you would get a chuckle out of that...
Let me know if there is anything that we can help you with...
Thank you,
Sonny

So with this in mind, I will stick with the existing setup as now that I have a locker it's not as big an issue to seek out the extra articulation that the longer shocks would have provided. I will be happier in the knowing that I have a shockie that is suited to the Aust conditions.

[wholesalesuspension Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wholesalesuspension]

Bahaha That response is Gold!!

I have dug up a pic of the Crimped over end 5100 Series , sorry its not the biggest pic, but you can see the machine crimps in the end.
These are the one's that are coming out of the U.S that are Not serviceable.




These 2nd one's have the removeable screw in end cap.
These one's are the 5100's that are coming out of the U.S that Are serviceable


I will do a separate post on these.

Kind Regards, Jason.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Jason can you source Aus spec'd 5100s & 5160s?


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[wholesalesuspension Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wholesalesuspension]

Jason can you source Aus spec'd 5100s & 5160s?


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Hi Craig, we have not gone down the route of sourcing them due to Warranty implications & the valving in them.
We would be in the same boat as everyone else in the fact that we would have to send the shock back to the U.S, at our own expense for the Warranty Claim to be processed.

Regards, Jason.

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The valving rates for our Australian designed parts are as follows.
BE5-A712 is 2365nm over 2135nm @ 0.52 metres per second
BE5-A713 is 1820nm over 1520nm @ 0.52 metres per second

Are the units correct? And are the values rebound over compression?

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

The valving rates for our Australian designed parts are as follows.
BE5-A712 is 2365nm over 2135nm @ 0.52 metres per second
BE5-A713 is 1820nm over 1520nm @ 0.52 metres per second

For comparison, what are the valving rates and lengths for the BE5-D563 (Hilux front strut) and the B46-1478 (80 series rear shock)?

[wholesalesuspension Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wholesalesuspension]

Are the units correct? And are the values rebound over compression?

The numbers are correct & they are Rebound over Compression.

Regards, Jason.