[Mike57]

Has anyone fitted Bilstein shocks to a Jimny. I would like to get some opinions. They are very expensive so if I can find someone who has them that will help my decision making. Just gone through my second set of the yellow ones from a well known manufacturer and looking for something that might better suit my heavy Jimny.

[henno]

I think Dank was looking at supplying them. Perhaps shoot him a pm. They still won't be cheap but at least you'll have confidence in knowing the prices are realistic as he looks after Auszookers.

[TomDK]

I have Bilstein Shocks on my Jimny. But they're universal fit shocks. Not Jimny specific. Bilstein does make Bilstein tailored to the Jimny. But only standard length.

[Gwagensteve]

What are your valving and spring specs and how do you find the ride?

[TomDK]

I'll have to look the specs up. Will post it tomorrow

[sideways]

What's failed on your current shocks?

Bilsteins (unless remote reservoir) have poor travel for their compressed length. This doesn't matter in the back because there is heaps of reserve compressed length but the front is pretty tight. How much this bothers you depends on how much travel you want.

The B6 for Jimnys are front 285mm compressed, 402 extended and rear 303/452.5. Frankly, that front length is rubbish and borderline a joke, it's shorter than the standard shocks! That's got to be very close to (if not) topping out at ride height with a 40mm lift. The rears are a bit short, but not as drastically short as the fronts. I'd still want longer though.

Talking fronts.

The only stem-eye 5125 that will fit has a slightly shorter extended length as a stock Jimny front shock. About 32mm less than the well known yellow ones which also have pretty poor travel for the compressed length. The next longest 5125 is just a little long on compressed length, with 10-20mm of bumpstop spacing it'd be okay. It's 17mm longer extended than the OME.

5125s are very cheap but they only come in generic/universal valving options. Given the touring you do it's worth considering that being single tube, dents in bilstiens can be the end of them.

Jimny Koni shocks are pretty similar lengths to the B6s, you see on stock springs with the sway bar in that's about all the length you can use. You can get Konis custom valved and being twin tube they can have a better compressed length to travel ratio than the Bilstiens. I'd certainly expect a Koni to be tougher than most others.

For me, I'd look at finding a longer koni and getting it revalved if you don't like it.

[Mike57]

Hi all

Sideways is correct, I checked the closed and open lengths of the Bilsteins today and they are too short. I took Henno's advice and had a chat to Dank who I have dealt with before. he recommended EFS which are 20mm longer when open than what I have at present and he has fitted these to other Jimny's so I have decided to go with these. Half the price of the Bilsteins.

Thanks to Gwagensteve for the advice last night as well. i would have gone with the Bilsteins if they were the right length but I am now thinking anything else is worth a go given my bad experiences with the yellow ones. If the shocks don't fix my excessive motion then I will look at EFS springs and then a rear stabiliser bar as you have suggested (although that will be a little harder to arrange). I am sure the shocks are the issue though.

Thanks to all

Mike

[barrybanks]

I fitted Bilstein shocks in my Jimny last night, and everything thats been written above is true.

But...

I drove around town all night last night and I have fallen in love all over again. Wow its awesome.

I don't care about its inabilities off road because i spend most of my time driving to and from work.

ps. paired with Lovell springs and I think I will need offset bushes to straighten up the front springs,

Cheers

[sideways]

I'm keen to hear your thoughts on the EFS shocks, I'm looking at shocks for the Jimny and lots of people on facebook said EFS give a good ride.

[Mike57]

I will post up my thoughts after they are fitted. Should be in the next few weeks.

[TomDK]

sideways wrote:

What's failed on your current shocks?

Bilsteins (unless remote reservoir) have poor travel for their compressed length. This doesn't matter in the back because there is heaps of reserve compressed length but the front is pretty tight. How much this bothers you depends on how much travel you want.

The B6 for Jimnys are front 285mm compressed, 402 extended and rear 303/452.5. Frankly, that front length is rubbish and borderline a joke, it's shorter than the standard shocks! That's got to be very close to (if not) topping out at ride height with a 40mm lift. The rears are a bit short, but not as drastically short as the fronts. I'd still want longer though.

Talking fronts.

The only stem-eye 5125 that will fit has a slightly shorter extended length as a stock Jimny front shock. About 32mm less than the well known yellow ones which also have pretty poor travel for the compressed length. The next longest 5125 is just a little long on compressed length, with 10-20mm of bumpstop spacing it'd be okay. It's 17mm longer extended than the OME.

5125s are very cheap but they only come in generic/universal valving options. Given the touring you do it's worth considering that being single tube, dents in bilstiens can be the end of them.

Jimny Koni shocks are pretty similar lengths to the B6s, you see on stock springs with the sway bar in that's about all the length you can use. You can get Konis custom valved and being twin tube they can have a better compressed length to travel ratio than the Bilstiens. I'd certainly expect a Koni to be tougher than most others.

For me, I'd look at finding a longer koni and getting it revalved if you don't like it.

Poor travel compared with length has nothing to do with Bilstein shocks. But how it is in general with non-remote reservoir mono tube shocks.

My rear 5125 bilsteins are 33-185590, Extended Length (in): 21.540 in. 255/70 valving 8" travel. Works very well for my 2" Trail Master rear suspension springs. Don't have rate on the rear springs. But my best guess is around 26-28 N/mm.

Front I also Trail Master springs, but they're very heavy duty, spring rate is 40 N/mm. Have found them way too stiff. Even with a ORA winch bumper and Warn M8274 with Flamin Fab adapter and 2 motors. Wasn't able to find Bilstein shocks with known valving to match the spring length. So after a lot of googling shocks. I ended up with buying a pair of Bilsteins normally for a Ford Bronco II. They have worked very well, even with the stiff springs. But am now swapping for Zanfi 2" progressive springs. Excited to see how it drives then

If you go for shocks that needs revalving. Why not just get a pair of fox shocks made to match. Both in length and also valving?

[Gwagensteve]

To be fair, there's really only one readily available mono tube shock- Bilstein, and their relative travel inefficiency might be an issue.

[TomDK]

To my knowledge Fox also has a range of readily available mono tube shocks that are not serviceable. Priced similar to Bilstein 5125.

I think 8" travel on my rear 5125's are okay on a 2" lift.

[Mike57]

Sorry I didnt answer Sideways question. My current shocks just arent dampening the vehicle movement any more. This my second set and only 18 months old. Same thing happened to the first set. I guess I am a slow learner. I am thinking that they just arent a heavy duty spring so I will try EFS and is I dont get the stability I am looking for I might need to go for heavier springs as well. What is happening is the vehicle is bouncing and rocking at every bump off road. Not too bad onroad although a lottle floaty.

[Mike57]

Where has the edit button gone? I need to fix all the typos from my reply above from my mobile on the train.

Sorry I didn't answer Sideways question. My current shocks just aren't dampening the vehicle movement any more. This my second set and only 18 months old. Same thing happened to the first set. I guess I am a slow learner. I am thinking that they just aren't a heavy duty shock so I will try EFS and if I don't get the stability I am looking for I might need to go for heavier springs as well. What is happening is the vehicle is bouncing and rocking at every bump off road. Not too bad on road although a little floaty.

Hope this makes more sense now.

[pete_79]

Mike57 wrote:

Where has the edit button gone? I need to fix all the typos from my reply above from my mobile on the train.

The new overlords have set a time limit on editing, but I've noticed that only works on a PC.
After the change I noticed it took away the edit button when you're on a mobile.

[Mike57]

So I have the EFS shocks fitted now. They are slightly firmer than the OME but part of that might be because they are new. It is a firm but not a harsh ride. I still feel as if the rolling motion of the car needs more dampening but I will.see how they go. The OMEs were certainly very soft and one of the rear ones will stick in the closed position if fully compressed.

Next option might be to fit poly bushes in the rear or see how I would go about fitting a rear sway bar as suggested by Gwagensteve. Will need to see how it is offroad first anyway. I still have the OME springs but I am not sure if replacing those will help. This is my third set of shocks in 50,000 km.

[superduki]

Am very interested to hear your thoughts Mike, as we too overload our Jimny and have trouble with roll dampening, only noticeable mainly when the basket is fitted. We bought the car with 42,000 on it with OME shocks fitted, now has 105,000 and is atrocious. To their credit, it's been from Hobart to Fraser Is. Return, Hobart to Vic High country return, Hobart to outback NSW return, plus daily and trailer duties, so they've had their day!


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