Does anyone have aftermarket Bilstein B6 offroad shocks/Bilstein front dampener

[TheDocAUS]

These shocks were developed in Australia and are made in Germany.

Does anyone have them fitted to a Grenadier? What is your feedback please. Please comment, if possible, on:

1. on and offroad performance;
2. towing a van.

Ineos Grenadier : Improved By BILSTEIN - Bilstein Suspension Australia

The Grenadier’s simple & rugged chassis gives the Ineos a wealth of reliability when off road. Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own

bilstein.com.au

BILSTEIN Product Overview - Bilstein Suspension Australia

Products Archive - Bilstein Suspension Australia

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[TheGoodHeartedgreen]

Check out the off-road guys.

 

[TheDocAUS]

I have only been able to find the B6 in Prados so far, with no decent review. Plus a vague AI summary

 

[TheDocAUS]

AI summary confirmed by someone who has had the Bilsten's fitted, as well as other brands.

 

[TheDocAUS]

BILSTEIN B6 SHOCKS
The Bilstein B6's were installed yesterday. Too early for any informed comment. They do weigh less than the OEM shocks removed.

They have been fitted for a trip to The Kimberley later this year. The first trip will towing the van in about 2 weeks.

BILSTEIN DAMPENER
I also had a Bilstein steering dampener installed with a Heasman’s wheel alignment. Heasmans are the Australian Bilstein importer and also do R&D for them. They are also behind Polyair airbags, on my car and van.

Wally now returns to centre nicely. It has a rubber protector over the dampener, so it will never become a cow bell.

I nearly got caught out at the first tight roundabout because the return was so quick and decisive – more like a passenger car than a Grenadier. Turning is easier and the turning circle smaller.

The Falken AT4 tyres, new Bilstein dampener and wheel alignment are a material improvement when taken together. The car is steering more like a car now, with a better turning circle, quicker return to centre and more responsive.

An initial impression is: the tighter the turn, the quicker the return to centre (compared to the OEM dampener). But I need more testing to confirm that. This is what caught me out. It has happened twice now. EDIT: SEE NEXT POST FOR MORE DETAILS AND A WARNING.

 

[TheDocAUS]

AFTER INSTALLING THE BILSTEIN DAMPENER AND THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT - WARNING
I can confirm the return to centre is much better, the steering noticeably lighter and more responsive. However, you need to be careful driving the car until you adjust to the new steering characteristics, they have changed.

The warning: the tighter the turn and the higher the car speed, the faster the steering wheel returns to centre, and it can catch you out.

It is not an issue when doing a three-point turn at walking speed, but very different when going around a tight corner or roundabout over 20kph. In a tight roundabout the wheel can spin back to the centre quite fast and catch you out.

The Grenadier's steering is now much more like my car and I am adjusting how I hold and steer the Grenadier accordingly.

This is the dampener and wheel alignment the factory should use. Then all the noise around the wheel returning to centre would disappear.

MODEST CHANGES CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT
The combination of the Bilstein dampener, Heasman wheel alignment, new Falken AT4 tyres, Bilstein B6 shocks, Polyair Suspension airbags and the EVCx X401 throttle controller have made the car a pleasure to drive. Wally has never driven better, despite the extra weight.

The next big test will be towing the hybrid van to Melbourne. So I should not celebrate too early.

The car and van are nearly ready for the The Kimberley trip. Only PPF film to go.