Bilstein HDs

WDM

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Location
B.C.
TDI
Jetta Mk IV Wagon/2005/Reflex Silver
Just had these installed on my wagon with stock springs today and this is how the car should have come from the factory. It feels like a different car. Compliant yet much firmer, more controlled ride, much improved cornering, almost no dive or squat anymore... Very happy with the Billys.
Also very happy with TDIParts and Vancouver West Motors who did the installation. The above highly recommended. End of transmission.
 
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oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Yep, I always recommend the Billy HDs as well. They are 'spensive, but very high quality and make the car drive excellent. Far, FAR better than the OE setup.
 

WDM

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Location
B.C.
TDI
Jetta Mk IV Wagon/2005/Reflex Silver
You guys call US$475 (same in Canadian funds when I bought them) expensive or pricy??
 

AThreeTdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2005
Location
NJ
TDI
06 jetta Tdi , 03 jetta Tdi
I paired my HD's up with a set of H&R springs and love it, lowered the car about a inch and the car drives like it should have from the factory.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
WDM said:
You guys call US$475 (same in Canadian funds when I bought them) expensive or pricy??
The HDs are nearly twice what the TCs are, and the TCs are more than the generic OE type Sachs/Boge stuff, so yeah they are kind of expensive to most consumers.

Not sure what Canadian prices are, but I would assume a similar spread.

But for me, it is nothing but Bilstein shocks/struts, and Michelin tires. I firmly believe you get what you pay for.
 

WDM

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Location
B.C.
TDI
Jetta Mk IV Wagon/2005/Reflex Silver
oilhammer said:
The HDs are nearly twice what the TCs are, and the TCs are more than the generic OE type Sachs/Boge stuff, so yeah they are kind of expensive to most consumers.

Not sure what Canadian prices are, but I would assume a similar spread.

... I firmly believe you get what you pay for.
Correct on all counts sir. Apparently I'm a fortunate guy to think what most consider expensive, not so much.
 

WDM

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Location
B.C.
TDI
Jetta Mk IV Wagon/2005/Reflex Silver
Hey perhaps one of you lads can offer some advice. The rear shock on the right is squeaking pretty badly when the suspension is compressed and released (leaning on the rear cargo area, etc.). The compression rates of both rears are the same so the shock is working. It is audible inside the car (resonates really well actually) while driving and even without going over bumps it can be heard as almost a subtle knocking or groaning sound. The mechanic at the shop said that they may have sat for a while and have some air in them which will work it's way out eventually. This doesn't sound plausible to me. He said if it doesn't go away in a few days that I'd have to go back so they can see it and may need to warranty the shock somehow (read buy another one as I got them from California). New mounting hardware was used (TTY bolt & nut, upper shock mount with TTY bolts).

Is this shock bad? Do they need to "settle in" sometimes? Would appreciate any comments, thanks guys!
 

Souzafone

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2004
Location
Freetown,Ma.
TDI
'99 Jetta A4, Whitish
It sounds like you're describing a bushing noise, but if it only started when the shocks were replaced it can only be the shock or the install.
 

oldpoopie

Vendor
Joined
May 14, 2001
Location
Sheridan Oregon
TDI
2001 golf gl, 1981 ALH swapped rabbit pickup, 1998 beetle, 2003 jetta wagon, 2002 jetta wagon BEW swapped, 2001 Audi TT
Billy HD have lifetime warrantee, so no issue if you need it replaced.
 

WDM

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Location
B.C.
TDI
Jetta Mk IV Wagon/2005/Reflex Silver
O.k. Got the one shock replaced (for another $221) and everything seems good. I'm not happy with the harshness of the rear shocks over some bumps, it's noisier than I thought it would be but nothing crazy. Might try a couple of bags of cement in the rear if it really continues to bother me as my wagon is almost always empty with only a driver. The handling and ride (aside from the harsh rear) is really nice.

I've been trying to call Parts4VWs and have sent a couple of e-mails enquiring as to how to go about getting warranty service for the defective shock but have heard nothing and their phone lines always seem to be controlled by automated recordings. I'm not going to waste more money listening to their answering machines every time I call. The shop nor the local Bilstein rep will warranty it because I ordered them from California which is completely understandable. Parts4VWs sure were quick to reply and accommodating when I was ordering and sending them money...

Moral of the story is I'm only ordering parts online as a last resort from here on out. Much more hassle (and expense) than it was worth as it turns-out.
 

concours

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2001
Location
Kensington, NH
TDI
2006.6 Jetta GLS 5 speed 125,000 miles, 2001.5 Jetta GLS 5-speed, Tornado Red, Monsoon w/CD changer
Just did rear upper mounts, no more B A N G I N G ! ! !
 

WDM

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Location
B.C.
TDI
Jetta Mk IV Wagon/2005/Reflex Silver
Well, wouldn't you know it, my other rear shock is going to ****...

Still no word from Parts4VWs and I don't expect to hear back from them actually. Looks like another $300 visit to the shop for another rear shock + labour. I don't think they're going to do me a favour and just charge a half hour labour this time either.

Parts4VWs officially sucks monumental ass in my book, not only for selling me 2 bad shocks (so far) but for seemingly avoiding trying to warranty them for me or even returning my correspondence somehow.

I'm wondering whether or not I should just replace the whole ****ing suspension when it goes in next time. I'm wondering how much a set of new shocks and struts is going to cost me in the end. I'm up to over $1600 so far after I get the second rear replaced, at least both rears will be under some kind of warranty. I asked the guy when I had the first shock done whether I should just replace both rear shocks while we were at it. He said that I should just do the one because it's extremely rare that a "new" Bilstein shock or strut would be bad. I guess I beat the odds, lucky me.

The saga will continue and as you might imagine I am absolutely pissed...
 

BrianCT

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Location
USA
TDI
TDI
WDM said:
Well, wouldn't you know it, my other rear shock is going to ****...
Replacing the rear shocks is a cake walk. Took me 90 minutes tops and I didn't even have to remove the rear wheels. [just for the photos]

I sent my Bilstein HD's to the factory for replacement.

Click images below to enlarge if subscribed to photo section of tdiclub.








 

WDM

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Location
B.C.
TDI
Jetta Mk IV Wagon/2005/Reflex Silver
Now that I've settled down over the matter... When I get the second rear replaced next week I'm to send the two bunk rears down to Parts4VWs who will try to warranty them for me. Just spoke to Mike Potter and the conversation renewed my faith in, and opinion of, this vendor. Even if they can't end-up giving me a refund/credit or any kind of warranty at least their going to make the effort which is all I ask. The cool thing is I have everyone scratching their heads as to how I could have gotten two rear Bilsteins that went bad within two weeks of installation. The bright side is my suspension is slowly but surely getting better and better. I'm a walking (driving) anomaly...
 

Stringer

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2007
Location
Mount Pearl, NL
TDI
1999.5 Golf TDI
WDM said:
Just had these installed on my wagon with stock springs today and this is how the car should have come from the factory. It feels like a different car. Compliant yet much firmer, more controlled ride, much improved cornering, almost no dive or squat anymore... Very happy with the Billys.
Also very happy with TDIParts and Vancouver West Motors who did the installation. The above highly recommended. End of transmission.
Just wondering how many km's were on your OEM springs? Is there a way of determining if your (my) existing springs need replacing or not? My car has 230,000 km.
 

WDM

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Location
B.C.
TDI
Jetta Mk IV Wagon/2005/Reflex Silver
Not at all, 44K km on a babied car (well, not too babied...). Now that I have both rear shocks replaced the performance is wonderful, night and day.
It's a different car, especially at speed. At 230K I'd definitely do the springs as well as your shocks/struts (that is what you're considering,correct?) personally but I'm particular that way. The cost of putting fresh springs in is incidental to the total cost of a full shock/strut upgrade/replacement, especially at 230K km. $0.02
 

Stringer

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2007
Location
Mount Pearl, NL
TDI
1999.5 Golf TDI
WDM said:
Not at all, 44K km on a babied car (well, not too babied...). Now that I have both rear shocks replaced the performance is wonderful, night and day.
It's a different car, especially at speed. At 230K I'd definitely do the springs as well as your shocks/struts (that is what you're considering,correct?) personally but I'm particular that way. The cost of putting fresh springs in is incidental to the total cost of a full shock/strut upgrade/replacement, especially at 230K km. $0.02
Thanks for the info.

I think you are right about the cost of the springs ... I think I've gotten a bit cheap-minded after just having to replace/upgrade my turbo and upgrading the injectors etc.

I think I will end up with new H&R OE springs with Bilstein HD's. Try to keep it near OEM height.

I hope you do get warranty coverage or a credit ... I can't see why where you live should matter.
 

gern_blanston

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2002
Location
PNW
TDI
Golf, '03, Silver
AThreeTdi said:
I paired my HD's up with a set of H&R springs and love it, lowered the car about a inch and the car drives like it should have from the factory.
Ditto. Great setup on my '03 Golf.

And WDM: Potter's outfit is great.
 

oil_me

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2004
Location
Woodstock, NY
TDI
Black '99 Jetta, Glacier Blue Audi 80 Quattro TDI
I just put HD's on my 99.5 last weekend, as I do with all my VW's. They give a firm controlled feel like no other strut or shock.They lifted the car slightly with new bushings to a perfect height. In addition they just don't wear out. I have a set in my A2 with 430k that outlasted 3 cars and are the same as they were 10 years ago.
 

BrianCT

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Location
USA
TDI
TDI
oil_me said:
In addition they just don't wear out. I have a set in my A2 with 430k that outlasted 3 cars and are the same as they were 10 years ago.
Oh they certainly do.:D

160,000 miles


Rear went out too... but all 4 were replaced under warranty.:D
 

Stringer

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2007
Location
Mount Pearl, NL
TDI
1999.5 Golf TDI
Brian CT

Just wondering ... would exposure to salt air, road salt etc. have an effect on the longevity of shocks/struts?
 

BrianCT

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Location
USA
TDI
TDI
Stringer said:
Brian CT

Just wondering ... would exposure to salt air, road salt etc. have an effect on the longevity of shocks/struts?
Dunno. I have 29 Speed Bumps each way, twice a day to get to the main roads from home. I have salt. It's called ocean.:(




 

Stringer

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2007
Location
Mount Pearl, NL
TDI
1999.5 Golf TDI
Brian CT

Ha ha ... you aren't kidding. I thought so much.

When I was young, I lived in St. John's Newfoundland .... the cars there seemed to rust much faster. I imagine it would affect the suspension also. :)
 
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