Bilstein B6 struts and shocks. If you are installing them, post impressions and questions here....

[scotman]

It's recommended that the pinch bolt in the knuckle and the two large pinch bolts for the strut be replaced. The. Camber is not affected if using the stock strut mount. There just isnt much wiggle room for camber gain. Welcome back to the lair FiEscort!

 

[FiEscort]

It's recommended that the pinch bolt in the knuckle and the two large pinch bolts for the strut be replaced. The. Camber is not affected if using the stock strut mount. There just isnt much wiggle room for camber gain. Welcome back to the lair FiEscort!

Good to know. I figured it didn't since I hadn't seen any posts about it, but thanks for responding. I haven't been on in quite awhile but good to be back!

 

[FiEscort]

Due to the rear shocks being on backorder (unknown to me when I bought them), I drove around with the new font B6 struts for a few months. The ride was much more stable all around. There was no leakage, but I have to assume that the stock struts were blown with approx 40k miles on them. The ride is firm, but better controlled. Steering feel is also better. When the rear shocks were finally installed, I didn't notice much of a difference in ride as compared to the front struts. FYI, I have Eibach prokit lowering springs on my car.

 

[scotman]

Nice. It seems like the Bilstein B6 eliminated some of the "mushy" ride feel. Especially when i drive it over uneven pavement. It just has a more planted feel.

 

[FiEscort]

Nice. It seems like the Bilstein B6 eliminated some of the "mushy" ride feel. Especially when i drive it over uneven pavement. It just has a more planted feel.

I actually thought my ball joints/tie rods were starting to go out, but it was the struts!

 

[scotman]

The O.E. dampers are 36,000 mile parts if the roads are
not very rough. That they were tightly bolted into the chassis is about all the praise i will lavish on them.

 

[FiEscort]

The O.E. dampers are 36,000 mile parts if the roads are
not very rough. That they were tightly bolted into the chassis is about all the praise i will lavish on them.

😂 sounds accurate. They probably went out less than a year after putting in the lowering springs, (probably around 30,000 miles). And that is even with the springs being made to be used with stock dampers.

 

[derosa129]

Hello every one. It is my first attempt on a forum. I am Taiwanees, please forgive me bad english skill.

i'm wondering to know what coil spring will you suggest for bilstein B6? the FRPP spring will fit the B6 and work well?

here is my situaction

My car is Fiesta hatchback(CB1/CCN) 1.0t with automatic transmisson(south pacific asia version). This version use the same front Shock and Coil spring with Mazda 2, not Eour or Us version Shocks.

I bought the brand new Bilstein B6 Shocks (22-245199+22-245205+24-239318) for upgarte my suspension, but the Front OEM spring of my car is not fit for this B6, so i bought the Fiesta 1.4 automatic OEM spring(part no: 1547179(F)+1523225(R) for insteall.

After finish install, i go test drive, the car feel very stiff and bouncing, uncomfortable. After 4000km drive, i decide buy the FRPP handling pack (M-FR3-FA) to change out the B6. But FRPP is too soft for me....the handling of Frpp Kit is terrible, i want Change back B6, so i want to know any suggestion spring for B6?

best regard

Lorenzo Tang

 

[scotman]

Hello Lorenzo. Is the problem in the front struts only? Does it ride hard primarily at the front? Please post up a couple of images of your dampers on the car.
B6 is a firm riding damper. The piston is larger than any of the other struts we have found.
The FRPP kit is the base European spec for mk7 and 7.5 fiesta. And you are right, it is on the softer side of the scale of ride quality.
What is your intended plan with this? Are you just wanting to renew the suspension? Or are you wanting a firmer, more controlled ride? Or are you wanting to lower the ride height?
Also, what size and type of wheels/ tires are you using?

 

[derosa129]

Hello Scotsman, Thanks for getting back to me. Fiesta 1.4(at) oem spring combo B6, make stiff feel problem happening in both Front and rear, especially rear shock. Some times,when speed go 80km up, i feel my car were bouncing back and forth.



As a daliy driver, due to bad road quality in Taipei city of Taiwan, i don't want make my shocks too stiff or harsh; but also want improve more controlled ride than oem shocks. So i plan my car can get the blance in ride comfor quality and handling, the ride height can keep or dont lowering too much(1 inch maxima).



I have tried changing the B6 to a FRPP kit, but FRPP is too soft for me



Is it possible to use the FRPP spring go with B6? the Front FRPP spring(Left green white dot) and Rear FRPP spring(white dot)



i use the oem alloy rim 16*6.5J with Goodyear ATM2 195/50/16(oem size)tyre.



Regard
Lorenzo Tang

 

[scotman]

Ok. I am understanding more clearly now. The FRPP springs should be ok to use. They are not a heavy duty or performance type of spring. Your problem with spring and strut/shock choices is exactly why we have begun these brand specific threads. Everyone is trying to get a good choice for their fiesta. If i were you, i would adjust tire pressures closer to the label on the door jamb. The tire max psi statement on the sidewall is probably several bar greater than the door jamb decal. Try lower tire pressures in rear first. Fiesta is not very heavy in the rear. Small tire pressure adjustment can make noticeable ride quality improvement!
In front, i would be looking at the tire pressures and then also inspect the anti sway bar end links and the frame bushings on the subframe. Those endlinks are not the best thing for long life on rough roads. Those are very good images you posted! Please keep us updated here!
The silver end link below is the Ford original part. Not so great in rough road conditions. Black one next to it is a replacement part from Moog that is much stronger and is Grease-able as well! I think that those Moog parts are offered in Pacific rim markets too. Not sure.

 

[derosa129]

Appreciate for your detailed explanation.

I've tried adjusting the tire pressure and also already upgrade STABILIZER LINK ,Great minds think alike ,i chose MOOG , higghest CP product of aftermarket part.
i got those from ROCKAUTO.

Unfortunately the bouncing and uncomfort problem still bother me.



Has anyone tried FRPP spring with B6 combo?
or
Suggestion any spring for B6 combo for dailt use ??

By the way, has anyone tried to put ST Fiesta lower contral arm on the Non-ST Fiesta hatchback? Does it help with control?

 

[scotman]

FRPP springs on Bilstein B6 you will be the first! I am sorry I can't give you more insightful advice. But, we are just recently starting to look at and get ideas about what the various brands are like on a given spring.
The Moog links are a real bargain!
Fiesta ST lower arms are not an improved part. Eurathane bushings and new ball joints are a bigger upgrade. But if you want a soft ride they will not make you happy.
I am trying to get a pair of new KYB Excel G front struts. They are about to be released to north America. I already have the KYB Excel G rear shocks waiting. Originally, i was going to install the KYB dampers on my project hatchback fiesta I am building. But found out that they had never released Excel G struts for fiesta. So, i went to Bilstein B6 as the next choice. Being a global company. Maybe KYB Excel G, if soon available, would give you the desired compliance, if the B6 and FRPP setup is still too harsh?

 

[Handy Andy]

I'm watching this with interest for I have more issues with front strut mounts failing - by the struts stem popping out the rubber inner portion of the mount. Causes a hockey puck - which floats above the socket it normally is held in, and the weight of the car - that coil spring compresses - and the strut itself can't absorb shocks smoothing out the ride, anymore - instead it feels jerky and makes a horrible racket.

The only solution is to replace the puck, by using a new mount, but if possible - I'd like to know if the coil spring can be swapped with a stiffer one that "raises" the car (which goes against many of the users desires for a "low rider") because to me the stem of the strut and the strut mount - if the spring was slightly taller - would prevent the puck issue for the throw or strut shock stem, won't bottom out against a weaker spring - a stiffer ride results but that is not what many people - including myself - want.

You can see a type of irony in this, that to obtain a level of ride performance, the stiffness required - forces one to lower the car, while the softer ride makes a bouncy, noisy and expensive mess out of the struts own mounting but keeps the car from getting damaged by road rash from potholes and poor roads.

So, I appreciate knowing others are trying efforts to solve their drivability issues.

 

[scotman]

Poor roads have a huge impact (sic) on the longevity of the asb links, ball joints and tie rod ends. We really need to be aware that the nibble controls on Fiesta have a talent for covering up the steering wheel shake that you get from worn- loose tie rod ends! The dead giveaway is front tire tread wear and roughness or cupping. You can destroy a good tire with a worn out tie rod end and not realize it until it's too far gone!

 

[Dave88LX]

Hey all, I posted briefly about my desires to increase the ride quality of my 2015 S-model sedan with 80K miles in my intro thread.

I previously had a GTI, and now a new Camaro, so that is the type of quality and compliance I'd like to find if possible. Planted yet not jarring for my 150 mile round-trip commute.

I am pretty sure I want to go with the Bilstein B6 shocks/struts, or possibly the B8 if there's a great choice of matching lowering spring that would necessitate the B8 instead of the B6.

Is there a better-than-OEM spring @ OEM height that would give the ride I'm looking for? Or a lowering spring of ~1" that would pair with the B8?

Still need to dig into spring isolators, the boots, the bump stops, shock mounts, strut bearings etc. Lots of options on Rock Auto etc, as well as aftermarket.

 

[2RedHorses]

I was reading the Bilstein website product description. They state that the B6 is matched to O.E. shock and strut Dimensions. I took that to mean that the valving for the basic Fiesta with normal ride height would differ from the ST version which is slightly lowered. My comparison of the part numbers says nope!
I just wanted to confirm or deny a difference between the two, if any. There is none.
So, those B6 shocks and struts, #22-245199 is Left front. #22-245205 is Right front. #24-239318 is for the rear. Are the correct application for either basic fiesta or ST. If you are planning to install mild lowering coils on your basic fiesta, these should work just fine. They can be considered to be the Bilstein competitor to the Koni STRT.
The rear shocks seem to be averaging $118 each. The front struts averaging $127 each. But shock surplus.com has them available in a pair for $250 bucks. The B6 is a step up from the O.E. replacement B4 and a cut below the premium B8 product. I plan to install a set of these on my 2011 Fiesta Jolly project.


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I know this thread has some age on it, but it's one of the only ones I can find anywhere that is exactly what I need help with.

I have a 2011 SES with 146,000 miles on it. Bought it last year. The drivers side strut is shot and the suspension rattles around. It looks like the front struts are OEM (shocked that they're still on the car, no pun intended). The rears have been changed and are Sachs, so el cheapos. I've decided to replace them all with the B6s, and I'm curious how your setup turned out.

It looks like the coil springs are fine visually, but they could be shot. The drivers side sits a little lower than the passenger side (1/2") under the top of the fender, but that's probably due to the blown out strut, right? But who knows. I'd like to replace the springs while I'm doing the work, but the only ones I can find for a 2011 SES (non-ST) are the typical hard core lowering springs, which I don't think I want. Since this model is relatively constant up to 2016, I'm wondering if I could get the OEM style springs for a 2014 ST and use them to get the slight lowering effect. The tires are 195/50-16's, so they're only 0.22" taller than the 17s that came on the ST.

I know this is long winded, but your feedback and experience would be greatly appreciated.

 

[FiEscort]

I know this thread has some age on it, but it's one of the only ones I can find anywhere that is exactly what I need help with.

I have a 2011 SES with 146,000 miles on it. Bought it last year. The drivers side strut is shot and the suspension rattles around. It looks like the front struts are OEM (shocked that they're still on the car, no pun intended). The rears have been changed and are Sachs, so el cheapos. I've decided to replace them all with the B6s, and I'm curious how your setup turned out.

It looks like the coil springs are fine visually, but they could be shot. The drivers side sits a little lower than the passenger side (1/2") under the top of the fender, but that's probably due to the blown out strut, right? But who knows. I'd like to replace the springs while I'm doing the work, but the only ones I can find for a 2011 SES (non-ST) are the typical hard core lowering springs, which I don't think I want. Since this model is relatively constant up to 2016, I'm wondering if I could get the OEM style springs for a 2014 ST and use them to get the slight lowering effect. The tires are 195/50-16's, so they're only 0.22" taller than the 17s that came on the ST.

I know this is long winded, but your feedback and experience would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, you can use the ST springs as they will slightly lower your vehicle and should have enough space with that tire size.

 

[scotman]

The B6 dampers are very good. If you need a beefy damper that can hold together on rough roads or handle loads they are the most heavy duty dampers I have found for the Fiesta.