Bilstein B6 on front should I also change rears

[Red Bicycle]

Hi

Limited funds to spend on my 08 T5 125kw meant that the B14's I would have liked will have to wait another day so a set of B6's it was. The difference in ride and handling from changing the front OEM shock (150,00k's) is truly unbelievable. Will I see that much improvement again of I change the rears ( I don't expect so but...)? Would I be better off purchasing something else such as a beefier sway bar or...? I'm running standard springs and standard 16" 215/65 Michelin Agilis (new) tyres and probably prefer to keep this set up until I can afford something significantly better.

Thanks

Michael

[brad]

yes, back end will be bobbing about like a cork on the ocean

[Red Bicycle]

Thanks for input. I can now discern the difference between the front and rear shocks - before it was just a cacophony of crash and bash.

[brad]

Get the basics in order then decide if you need additional suspension control.

[Red Bicycle]

Get the basics in order then decide if you need additional suspension control.

I agree now I'm inspired and will get the rears done but want to reduce body roll as we'll...thoughts??

[REVHE4D]

Hmm these shocks look good on paper this thread has got me thinking, would these improve my ride on my 2011 t5 Duel cab, I do carry load a lot so changing front amd rear could be a option for me, any thought from you guys? Shocks look fairly cheap from os but would it be costly for someone to install?

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[brad]

I agree now I'm inspired and will get the rears done but want to reduce body roll as we'll...thoughts??

My preference is springs but it's difficult to find uprated springs that don't lower the vehicle. Anti-roll bars are the next option.

Just uprating the dampers will reduce the velocity that the vehicle pitches sideways (ie: it will still lean into a corner the same amount but will do so more slowly) - sometimes this is all that's needed.

[brad]

Hmm these shocks look good on paper this thread has got me thinking, would these improve my ride on my 2011 t5 Duel cab, I do carry load a lot so changing front amd rear could be a option for me, any thought from you guys? Shocks look fairly cheap from os but would it be costly for someone to install?

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Depends what's wrong with the ride. Is it too harsh, does the vehicle pitch excessively, does it keep bouncing after you've hit a "whoop-de-do" in the road, is it bottoming out?

Carry a load has no effect on the dampers. The springs carry & control the load. The dampers are there to control spring oscilation / movement.

[Sunny43.5]

This will be my job over the Christmas break [ only if it cools down ] I have a full set of FK Coilovers that were originaly ordered for our 2012 T5 apparently they will not fit that model and were made for the earlier one . So after along argument with the idiot in the UK at T&&&y Transporters he agreed that they would not fit the T5.1 so he was going to refund the price but I had to return the kit . Hmm lets see the freight to Aus from the UK was around $160 but for me to send the kit back the Aussie thieves want over $600 to return it . I decided to hang on to it instead and will now fit it to my work van which is the early one fingers crossed it does not make the noise it did when it was in the new van for a few weeks as the geometry is different between the upgrade and the early one . Also have to fit some new camber bushes and bits as well .

[Red Bicycle]

My preference is springs but it's difficult to find uprated springs that don't lower the vehicle. Anti-roll bars are the next option.

Just uprating the dampers will reduce the velocity that the vehicle pitches sideways (ie: it will still lean into a corner the same amount but will do so more slowly) - sometimes this is all that's needed.

I have noticed quite a bit less 'apparent' roll probably due as you state to the shocks slowing it down. I believe Peddars do a rear kit of uprated springs which doesn't lower the height.

Peddars also offer uprated sway bars - has anyone installed these and can you recommend.

Tried to get rear shocks yesterday but too close to Christmas and couldn't get in. I'm heading to Hotham Victoria in a few days and wanted to have it done as I head up and down Mt Hotham quite a bit - anyone know of a local installer nearby?

[brad]

If it's like a Polo / Golf / Octavia then you can DIY the rears in about 20 minutes per side without removing the wheels. You just need a floor jack & stands (for safety) & the correct sized tools.

Pedders - not my cup of tea.

Where in "Australia" are you? It's a big place.

King Springs & K-Mac in Sydney will do custom springs at any height or spring rate.

[T5 Double off road]

Rear Shocks are dead easy to change - 2 x axle stands - a hydraulic jack and a good socket set, even my wife could do it.