2021 Badlands- Rear Bilstein shocks are shot!

Fomoco21

Aug 14, 2024

Took delivery of my bronco 10/21. Have had many issues (4x4 module, etc) that lasted two years. Ended up being a bad ground that took forever to diagnose.

Now, at 50,000 miles and out of the blue the rear shocks fell apart!! My wife drives this vehicle to and from work. The only time its been off road is when its on the lift at the Ford dealer!

I called my dealer this morning, as I understand Bilstein has a limited lifetime warranty.. I also see that a lot of other people are having the same issue, right around 50,000 miles. My dealer said they don't know anything about the warranty but that they cant cover that. And gave me a price to replace them. Why would I pay $1400.00 to replace them with the same crap?? I am not done fighting this, but need to get them repaired as i don't feel it is safe to drive, bouncing like crazy when hitting a dip in the road. I called the local off-road installation garage and they gave me a price at around $2500 to replace all 4 shocks, with alignment with a better product.

I know Ford canvasses this forum... what are you going to do about this, what seems to be a big problem.

I hate to be negative, I was one of the most excited about Ford bringing back the bronco and was one of the first to get it...but I've had nothing but bad luck and we baby the crap out of it.

Ford- "buy this awesome off road vehicle" (... but if you just drive it on the road the advanced shock system will fall apart).

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Aug 15, 2024

#20

raqball
Like most things you'll get a wide variety of opinions on shocks. Some will tell you that at low speed shocks don't really matter but I can personally feel and notice issues. I don't do high speed 4 wheeling - never have, never will. Not my thing.

As to the stock Badlands shocks, and why I think they are terrible off-road: Most of my off-roading is at slowish speed on deep forest routs filled with ruts, washouts, erosion and small to medium rocky areas etc.

They feel sloppy at slow speed when in deep ruts or washouts

Compression and dampening is pretty bad on them even at slow speed

Articulation is bad at slow speed (shock valving issue?)

Those are my 3 main gripes with them. . They are also terrible on washboards. Even small washboards will toss the Bronco around at low speed. I do understand that some of these issues can also be attributed to other areas.

It's not just the Bronco, on my pervious Jeep I replaced the stock shocks as well as they are equally as bad. I guess it could be that I am just picky and they are fine for most people.

I don't really blame Ford as I think these were built and tuned for on road comfort and performance.

I am going to get the 6100's installed early next week then I have an off-road day trip planned for Wednesday of next week. I'll get a good idea of the 6100's at that point and see how much better, if any, they are.

My .02

I just thought about it and if I remember correctly yours is a non Sasquatch Badlands? If that is the case I completely understand your comments. For me, I find the functionality of the Bilstiens to be pretty good and I have zero issues with leaking. (Yet)
The leaking and especially the reservoirs dropping off are inexcusable. For some it has been under 20K miles and others above 40K. I realize that shocks on any vehicle generally wear out in 50-60K miles, but the notion of losing a reservoir out on the trail is always in the back of my mind. And spending the extra money for a high end suspension doesn’t deter me but knowing that they will have to be rebuilt in 50K miles is also the grim reality with this whole off road endeavor. I can only hope that the cost of getting them removed, rebuilt and reinstalled is significantly less expensive. While I tend to do all or most of my maintenance and upgrades myself, the day is coming where someone else will be doing it all. It’s only money, right?🫣

Sven, Deano Bronc

Aug 15, 2024

#21

TK1215
I just thought about it and if I remember correctly yours is a non Sasquatch Badlands? If that is the case I completely understand your comments.

Yes mine is the non Sasquatch Badlands.

While I tend to do all or most of my maintenance and upgrades myself, the day is coming where someone else will be doing it all. It’s only money, right?🫣

I try and do a lot of stuff myself but there are plenty of times where I don't have the know how, tools or even physical strength to do them. For my 6100 install I am having a shop do it. They quoted me $500 which I don't think is all that bad.

If I did it myself, without a lift to raise the Bronco up on, it would be a struggle. Plus, I am sure it would take me a full day, maybe longer as I've read the fronts are a massive PIA..

I am old, lazy and not really insisted in fighting with the fronts. In my younger days I would have done it myself but not anymore.

I also don't have a spring compression tool so I'd need to buy one along with some other needed tools I do not have.

onX Trail Guide & Tread Lightly Member
2023 Badlands 2 door in Hot Pepper Red 🌶️ 🌶️

TK1215, Sven

Aug 15, 2024

#22

raqball
Shocks are like ~~tacos~~, you'll get different options from just about everyone you ask. Wait, everyone loves tacos right. Okay, scratch that!

The 6100's are adjustable so you can actually get a lift from them at varying levels if you want. With the Icon 2.0 you can't. I personally was not looking for a lift, and will get some regardless but something else to consider when comparing the 6100's to the Icon 2.0.

ok.... yeah I'm not interested in a lift (other than what is already on the Sas package).
I'm mostly paying attention & trying to learn here for when mine inevitably need replaced lol.
If they work, I think my preference would be to replace my OEMs with the Icon 2.0 with RR.
I'll have to do some more digging to see if those are truly universal or compatible with my Bronco.

raqball

Aug 15, 2024

#23

jtgensler
On Icon's site, just select 2.0 Shocks - I wasn't looking at entire coilover kits. So this would be the equivalent of the 6100s, reusing the existing spring I believe.

I'm certainly not an expert on shocks or anything really. Maybe these aren't compatible in the way I thought where you could just replace the OEM Bilsteins with these Icon Universals.... though I don't know why they'd mark them as compatible then.

When I zoom in to the picture of the universal shock, it's just that. Like if I were to replace shocks on my old 90's Bronco's that I have owned. And even then, look like they'd only replace the rear shocks, if I remember correctly the fronts just had the post (shaft) up top.

You'd need to look into the Icon coilover kits, like the 2.5's I listed above, or maybe the 2.0's if they re-use your springs.

I kept it simple and cheap (if we can call replacing shocks at 40k+ miles on a new vehicle). My use has to get me to and from work, tow my 12' trailer loaded with quads or firewood, and move vehicles around the yard when needed. I certainly don't need something like Icon, that's all.

Edit: And if you're not looking to spend that much (Icon money), there are cheaper kits out there like Old Man Emu, the Ford Performance lift (Bilstein shocks, maybe the 6100's).

2021 Broncos - BaseSquatch 4dr. Rapid Red V6 Soft Top
Big Bed 4dr. AMB V6 Soft Top Tow (BIL's)
Nitto tires SUCK! You've been warned.

Deano Bronc, jtgensler

Aug 15, 2024

#24

EvlNvrDys
When I zoom in to the picture of the universal shock, it's just that. Like if I were to replace shocks on my old 90's Bronco's that I have owned. And even then, look like they'd only replace the rear shocks, if I remember correctly the fronts just had the post (shaft) up top.

You'd need to look into the Icon coilover kits, like the 2.5's I listed above, or maybe the 2.0's if they re-use your springs.

I kept it simple and cheap (if we can call replacing shocks at 40k+ miles on a new vehicle). My use has to get me to and from work, tow my 12' trailer loaded with quads or firewood, and move vehicles around the yard when needed. I certainly don't need something like Icon, that's all.

Hmm. Guess I learned something today then.

raqball, EvlNvrDys

Aug 15, 2024

#25

raqball
Yes mine is the non Sasquatch Badlands.

Ahhh, I didn't realize you didn't have the Squatch shocks. Ok, makes sense now.👍

2022 Bronco Badlands, 4D, Hot Pepper Red, 2.7, Squatch, Lux, and MIC.
7/13/2020 10:04pm reservation. Blend 6/16/2022 Delivered 6/26/2022.
Dealership - Stephen's Auto Center.

raqball

Aug 15, 2024

#26

raqball
Yes mine is the non Sasquatch Badlands.

I try and do a lot of stuff myself but there are plenty of times where I don't have the know how, tools or even physical strength to do them. For my 6100 install I am having a shop do it. They quoted me $500 which I don't think is all that bad.

If I did it myself, without a lift to raise the Bronco up on, it would be a struggle. Plus, I am sure it would take me a full day, maybe longer as I've read the fronts are a massive PIA..

I am old, lazy and not really insisted in fighting with the fronts. In my younger days I would have done it myself but not anymore.

I also don't have a spring compression tool so I'd need to buy one along with some other needed tools I do not have.

@raqball i am staring into the same mirror you are brother!🤣

Deano Bronc, raqball

Aug 15, 2024

#27

Even the higher end units need to be rebuild at around 30-40k miles so 50k seems normal. These things are pretty heavy. I just look at it as now I get to/ have to upgrade.
If you want to really pull your hair out get you an air shock set up. Those things are garbage they cap out every year and at $1400 a shock it is not fun. Our suburban shocks were the Bain of my existence.

Bronco Nation 1100. Everglades, Desert Sand
Res: 7/30/20 ordered 1/22/21 reorder 10/15/21 changed to Everglades 3/9/22 schedule 8/29/22 bumped to 9/5; 9/7/22 blend, 9/9 Mods, 9/26/22 completed, 10/7 shipped, 11/3/22 delivery

Deano Bronc, TK1215

Aug 15, 2024

#28

Funny timing,I just replaced my SAS shocks with Ride Shocks, along with a few other parts like UCAs, etc. More info here: https://thebronconation.com/feature-builds-n.56/my-bronco-build-t.21158/#post-324087

OnX Trail Guide
4 Door BadSquatch | Soft-top | Velocity Blue | 2.7 Auto

Deano Bronc, raqball

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