Bilsteins on an RBV, for ride quality, is it worth the coin?

[corerftech]

No lift, stock suspension 2001 explorer 5.0

Has fresh Mevotech everything although urethane so a bit rougher than could have been. New leafs at 1100 lb, dead level ride, torsion up front adjusted flat/level/even .
30 psi in tires. Highway radials, not Goodyears.

The leafs and torsion re-up absolutely revolutionized the 250,000 mile chassis. I have 12,000 mile old Gabriels maybe, all the way around, rock auto sundry daily driver stuff.

My 2002 Exped 5.4/4wd received similar treatment and shocks were crap. Air suspension removed due to failure long ago, strut master coils in rear. I took the chance on Bilstein for both front and rear attempting to achieve the smoothest ride (post air ride it has sucked!)….. and it made a pretty huge difference in short travel bump absorption.

I am asking for feedback from those with experience on Bilstein on an explorer and if the improvement is notable.

I love this car and having improved it exponentially, would like to squeeze the last little bit from ride quality.
But the cost is high and if it is not NOTABLE- then I have more important things to spend $400 on

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

 

[superj]

you are probably the first person i have ever heard use bilstein and explorer in the same post but there is a dude here where i work that drives a badass explorer and also has a ranger (he is a retired ford mechanic and said the two models he has were the least problematic ford vehicles he saw in the 22 years he worked for ford so he bought and built them up). i will ask if he has bilsteins on the explorer. i never noticed what he had for shocks because its dark when we get to work at 0500 and he leaves before i do so i never see his explorer durign the day. its not a 5.0 though and its a square body so i am not sure if its a good comparison.

 

[Shran]

I have Bilsteins on the front of my 92 Explorer and the same on my '88 Ranger. Both are lifted a couple inches. I am very happy with the ride quality and I would say that they are definitely worth the price.

Shop around, I think RockAuto had the best price but maybe it was eBay.

 

[corerftech]

Thank you folks!
I’m sure the eta of chassis will not be of concern for comparison. Close enough for sure.

 

[gw33gp]

I believe Bilstein shocks will improve any vehicle's suspension. Back in the 70s, I installed Bilstein shocks on a Pinto wagon and it was amazing in corners. The ride was good too but that is not why I installed them.

I install Bilstein shocks on every vehicle I own, if they make them to fit it. One exception, my new Bronco has Bilstein shocks from the factory and I am going to install Eibach shocks. I like the Bilstein shocks, but they are not adjustable, and I want a little lift. The Eibach Pro Coilover 2.0 are one of the few that are lift adjustable without having to remove them.

 

[superj]

i really like eibach, had their yellow adjustable struts and shocks on my autocross bmw. it was awesome.

i had bilstein 5100s on my 2017 titan and it settled the suspension in corners that had less than ideal surfaces. it used to get a little hoppy/slippery till the bilsteins