Bilstein and Boge Shocks?

[MPDano]

I was looking at some prices for some rear shocks on my OB. I know my car has an adjustable area for it. I noticed on pics for the New Bilsteins and Boges, Bilsteins have the adjustable ring on them and the Boges do now.

Since the rear shocks on my car have the adjustable rings, are they Bilsteins?

[rhjames]

possible--

check the stampings or see if there is a Bilstein sticker on them.


--Russ

[m21sniper]

Both Bilstiens and Boges are adjustable.

Bilstien on left, Boge on right.

On Bilstiens the threads are part of the shock. On the Boge it's a slip-on threaded portion. Bilstiens are gold, boge's are black. Boges are tapered at the bottom, Bilstiens are not.

If you can at all possibly afford it, get the Bilstiens. The difference in handling they make is enormous.

[MPDano]

I have a feeling it's those Bilsteins becasue of the threaded portion on the shock body. I am not at home so i can't confirm this.

[MPDano]

I just found a couple pics from my website. Are these good enough pics to tell if they are Boge or Bilstein?

[Danglerb]

They look like it to me Leo, pull those ancient suckers off and take them to Bilstein in Poway and $65 each they will rebuild them like new (just no warranty).

[MPDano]

Hey Mike, yeah that is exactly what I was going to do if they were Bilsteins. I'd drop them off on my way home from work. Why wouldn't they provide a warranty? So do they also clean them up like new? Their caked with 30 year old Germany and US Road Crap.

[Danglerb]

No clue on the no warranty part. I was hoping that $65 would get them rebuilt and make me the "official" owner with a normal lifetime warranty, but no such luck. I found that out after buying two sets of used shocks.

$24 is the charge for them to dyno test a shock and make a print out of the valving curves, if a shock "seems" good that might be worth doing to check them.

You or Blythe will be the Guinea pigs, and I am very curious to see exactly what you get back etc.


*** I am still thinking REAL hard about building some kind of very basic shock tester.

[MPDano]

Oh, so you bought used shocks and inquired Bilstein by calling and that's when you found this out. No problem in being the Guinea Pig. I just have to find the time to pull them out. I drive my car at least twice a week to my work in La Jolla (50 miles roundtrip) to keep my CIS happy. It does sit a little low in the rear, but wondering now if i could just adjust that out. Maybe use a spanner wrench of some sort.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by MPDano

I have a feeling it's those Bilsteins becasue of the threaded portion on the shock body. I am not at home so i can't confirm this.

Well that would be good news. For though they are about 2x more expensive, the Bilstiens are about 10x better.

And yes, from the pix, you are the proud owner of the Bilstien sports suspension upgrade option.

As far as finding the time to pull them out, if you're doing the fronts too.....set aside about 8-10 hours for the job. If you're planning on doing it on the ground just pull out a gun and shoot yourself now.

PS: Change your engine mounts when you do the front shocks. It's a 'while you're in there' job that goes hand in hand with your shock job.

[rhjames]

a little soap and water with some brush work will give you an accurate answer....

ride height is found in the FWMs--can't remember what it is right off hand.

--Russ

[MPDano]

Well RHJames wins the prize! Took a Wire Brush and brushed the lower area of the Shock and Voila! Unless the German Language spells Bilstein as BOGE, then I think I gots the Boges. Although, how come the pics of new Boges don't have this threaded area?

[m21sniper]

The threads on the Boge "slip" on the body of the shock.

By slip i mean they're on there with 20 years of crud and must be surgically removed. These are a well known job from hell on our 928s.

Give yourself an early birthday present- buy a set of bilstiens. They are SOOOOOOO worth the money.

[Danglerb]

On second thought, looks more like Boge.

Bilsteins are sweet, but working shocks are kind of essential. How are they?

[MPDano]

They are working but kinda weak. I will probably try and adjust them so the rear sits higher for now. I agree, the future will be Bilsteins, way future.

Does the Harbor Freight carry a wrench to adjust these?

[Danglerb]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=1133



Or maybe this one from a local motorcycle shop or online.

http://www.retrocycle.com/CustomChromeParts/3736/Progressive_Suspension_Shock_Wrench.html

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by MPDano

They are working but kinda weak. I will probably try and adjust them so the rear sits higher for now. I agree, the future will be Bilsteins, way future.

Does the Harbor Freight carry a wrench to adjust these?

The adjusters WILL be siezed (and i don't mean just a little siezed either- but major league siezed). You need a spanner wrench. You can by the one you need at a ATV dealer.

This is a well known nightmarish 928 job. Have fun.

[rhjames]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Well RHJames wins the prize! Took a Wire Brush and brushed the lower area of the Shock and Voila! Unless the German Language spells Bilstein as BOGE, then I think I gots the Boges. Although, how come the pics of new Boges don't have this threaded area?

yep--you have height adjustable BOGEs, not Bilsteins. (There are BOGEs that are not height adjustable, mostly on the early OBs.)

Bilsteins would be silver and have a sticker and stamping that says Bilstein on the shock casing.

Last time I saw a price on a set of Bilsteins and Eibach springs (that's what I have on my Euro) it was about $1245 (using your hardware) from 928 Int'l, plus labor, tax, title and your first born.....

Clean yours up, adjust your ride height to factory spec, do a good 4 wheel alignment (yep, you'll need to do it again) and drive it for a week or two.....then make a decision about new?


--Russ

[m21sniper]

Bilstiens are gold, not silver.

I never did an alignment on mine after i did my shocks all the way around- it still drives straight as an arrow and the treadwear is good. I etched everything instead.

Seriously, if you can at all afford it, get the bilstiens. They're that good.

[Danglerb]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Bilstiens are gold, not silver.

I've seen both, and I have some red and some green ones too (early factory equipt).