Pending Bilstein Shock Recall

JoergH

I lost mine with the OTA update the other day.

I think I lost mine already I noticed something looks different with the start up screen the bronco on there looks pretty basic. Not like it did before.

These 6112’s are massive. Note the Bilstein springs. Bought them fully assembled which helps me immensely. Can’t wait to install. Front and rear clip setting to one for supposedly minimal lift.😃

extra toasty

These 6112’s are massive. Note the Bilstein springs. Bought them fully assembled which helps me immensely. Can’t wait to install. Front and rear clip setting to one for supposedly minimal lift.😃

I too purchased my shock set up specifically because I wanted to stay as close to stock as possible with greatly improved performance

TK1215

I too purchased my shock set up specifically because I wanted to stay as close to stock as possible with greatly improved performance

Yeah it will be interesting to see the final height. Seems like folks and Bilstein are all over the board. Mine is presently sitting almost 41” in back and 39” in front (ground to bottom edge of flares). I do have +20mm offset wheels to help combat COG.
2dr Sasquatch.

Bruinsfan

I have an appointment next week to have my rear shocks examined for the recall. I crawled under the truck and snapped a few pictures. What do you think, does this shock look like it falls within the "replace both shocks" category. I think so because the weld is cracked at the top.

Update. My dealership submitted photos of my shocks to Ford for review. Ford indicated that my shocks do not need to be replaced and factory approved repair method is recommended. I asked my dealership to resubmit an image that I took showing a crack in the weld. Ford still rejected the need to replace the shocks. 🤔 Hmmm Ford knows best???? We shall see.

Bruinsfan

Update. My dealership submitted photos of my shocks to Ford for review. Ford indicated that my shocks do not need to be replaced and factory approved repair method is recommended. I asked my dealership to resubmit an image that I took showing a crack in the weld. Ford still rejected the need to replace the shocks. 🤔 Hmmm Ford knows best???? We shall see.

Can they add fluid to the shocks, if some or most of the fluid leaked out. How can they tell?

Bruinsfan

Update. My dealership submitted photos of my shocks to Ford for review. Ford indicated that my shocks do not need to be replaced and factory approved repair method is recommended. I asked my dealership to resubmit an image that I took showing a crack in the weld. Ford still rejected the need to replace the shocks. 🤔 Hmmm Ford knows best???? We shall see.

Wow..... It's obviously cracked based on your photo...

extra toasty

These 6112’s are massive. Note the Bilstein springs. Bought them fully assembled which helps me immensely. Can’t wait to install. Front and rear clip setting to one for supposedly minimal lift.😃

Yeah, I bought the 6100's (same shock as the 6112's) and had a shop install / swap them with the stock Badlands springs. I really did not want to mess with compressing the springs and I do not have a spring compressor tool anyways.. I could have bought one but probably would have killed myself trying to do it..

When the 6100's, or the stock springs, need replacing I'll probably go with the 6112's and install myself. I'd only need an alignment after... Can save some coin by a shop not doing the install that way..

I just got my recall service performed and I'm completely satisfied... for the moment. 🙂

For the record, my dealer performed a visual inspection during an earlier visit and determined that my shocks were not leaking or showing signs of damage. They did have some icky residue on them, to which I ascribed normal road grime accrual. I returned to the dealer yesterday to have the recall service performed, which was completed for free, despite having aftermarket components (skid plates) installed. Here are a few before and after photos of my rear shocks.

Passenger Side Before & After:


Driver Side Before & After:


Driver Side Rear Before & After:


Shield Front Closeup After:

Driver Side Closeup Side View After:

Work Order Notes:


It would appear that the recall service required the technician to apply "sili" to the shocks. Silicone? Silly Putty? Who knows? Then they installed a hard plastic or rubber sleeve, a.k.a. "shield" over the existing shock and reservoir body. It appears to be fastened with nuts and bolts (not chicken wire and papier-mâché or Kleenex and spit as I originally mused) and completely envelopes the original plastic "BILSTIEN" reservoir covers. It looks somewhat sturdy in my opinion; time will tell how well it holds up.

Would I have liked replacement shocks? Yes. Did the condition of mine warrant that? No. For my needs, it is a satisfactory preventative maintenance exercise. All that said, I am entertaining the idea of replacing all four shocks with Fox 3.0 units, similar to those found on the Wildtrak and other premium trim level Broncos in the future. However, given their price tag, they may be Fox 4.0 or Fox 5.0 by the time I'm ready to afford such an upgrade. LOL

I hope my photos and description help manage everyone's expectations when it comes to the Bilstein shock recall campaign. 😎

PS - For those in the know, the dealership torqued ALL of my lug nuts to factory specs prior to my departure.

BuckYeah

I just got my recall service performed and I'm completely satisfied... for the moment. 🙂

For the record, my dealer performed a visual inspection during an earlier visit and determined that my shocks were not leaking or showing signs of damage. They did have some icky residue on them, to which I ascribed normal road grime accrual. I returned to the dealer yesterday to have the recall service performed, which was completed for free, despite having aftermarket components (skid plates) installed. Here are a few before and after photos of my rear shocks.

Passenger Side Before & After:


Driver Side Before & After:


Driver Side Rear Before & After:


Shield Front Closeup After:

Driver Side Closeup Side View After:

Work Order Notes:


It would appear that the recall service required the technician to apply "sili" to the shocks. Silicone? Silly Putty? Who knows? Then they installed a hard plastic or rubber sleeve, a.k.a. "shield" over the existing shock and reservoir body. It appears to be fastened with nuts and bolts (not chicken wire and papier-mâché or Kleenex and spit as I originally mused) and completely envelopes the original plastic "BILSTIEN" reservoir covers. It looks somewhat sturdy in my opinion; time will tell how well it holds up.

Would I have liked replacement shocks? Yes. Did the condition of mine warrant that? No. For my needs, it is a satisfactory preventative maintenance exercise. All that said, I am entertaining the idea of replacing all four shocks with Fox 3.0 units, similar to those found on the Wildtrak and other premium trim level Broncos in the future. However, given their price tag, they may be Fox 4.0 or Fox 5.0 by the time I'm ready to afford such an upgrade. LOL

I hope my photos and description help manage everyone's expectations when it comes to the Bilstein shock recall campaign. 😎

PS - For those in the know, the dealership torqued ALL of my lug nuts to factory specs prior to my departure.

Thanks for posting what the fix was Chris!

BuckYeah

I just got my recall service performed and I'm completely satisfied... for the moment. 🙂

For the record, my dealer performed a visual inspection during an earlier visit and determined that my shocks were not leaking or showing signs of damage. They did have some icky residue on them, to which I ascribed normal road grime accrual. I returned to the dealer yesterday to have the recall service performed, which was completed for free, despite having aftermarket components (skid plates) installed. Here are a few before and after photos of my rear shocks.

Passenger Side Before & After:


Driver Side Before & After:


Driver Side Rear Before & After:


Shield Front Closeup After:

Driver Side Closeup Side View After:

Work Order Notes:


It would appear that the recall service required the technician to apply "sili" to the shocks. Silicone? Silly Putty? Who knows? Then they installed a hard plastic or rubber sleeve, a.k.a. "shield" over the existing shock and reservoir body. It appears to be fastened with nuts and bolts (not chicken wire and papier-mâché or Kleenex and spit as I originally mused) and completely envelopes the original plastic "BILSTIEN" reservoir covers. It looks somewhat sturdy in my opinion; time will tell how well it holds up.

Would I have liked replacement shocks? Yes. Did the condition of mine warrant that? No. For my needs, it is a satisfactory preventative maintenance exercise. All that said, I am entertaining the idea of replacing all four shocks with Fox 3.0 units, similar to those found on the Wildtrak and other premium trim level Broncos in the future. However, given their price tag, they may be Fox 4.0 or Fox 5.0 by the time I'm ready to afford such an upgrade. LOL

I hope my photos and description help manage everyone's expectations when it comes to the Bilstein shock recall campaign. 😎

PS - For those in the know, the dealership torqued ALL of my lug nuts to factory specs prior to my departure.

I totally understand your position but it’s still just a silly 🩹 Band-Aid. Ford should have held Bilstein responsible. That said, a lot of new vehicles have many “weak spots” that the aftermarket can correct with a wide array of products. My Bronco, Mustang and Audi are prime examples. On the other hand my Honda’s don’t have that need…

extra toasty

I totally understand your position but it’s still just a silly 🩹 Band-Aid. Ford should have held Bilstein responsible. That said, most all new vehicles have many “weak spots” that the aftermarket can correct with a wide array of products. My Bronco, Mustang and Audi are prime examples. On the other hand my Honda’s don’t have that need…

I am inclined to agree with you; it is a Band-Aid® and nothing more. If I were Ford, I would have had Bilstein foot the bill to upgrade the shocks on ALL of the affected vehicles. But, this is the world we live in now. It's the path of least resistance and the cheapest possible solution to a problem. So, if the preventative medicine fails to save the patient, you can be sure I will post a follow up. 😉

Installed my new 6112’s on the rear of my Bronco today. Not a horrible job for a man with basic tools.
Wow what a difference in ride quality! 😃Can’t wait to do the fronts. I may wait until winter as they will take a bit more time. Looks to be about 1/2” lift.

Update 9/26
Fronts are installed. No more floating down the road. No more thumping over road imperfections. Brake dive minimal. Should have come from the factory like this. Wow!

Without the recall I probably wouldn’t have replaced these. Lucky for me Ford’s fix wasn’t worth the time to BandAid them.

Cheers on the DIY repair, toasty. 🤓

extra toasty

Installed my new 6112’s on the rear of my Bronco today. Not a horrible job for a man with basic tools.
Wow what a difference in ride quality! 😃Can’t wait to do the fronts. I may wait until winter as they will take a bit more time. Looks to be about 1/2” lift.

I got 1/2” in back and a little over an inch in front.almost level now

Here we go again with this...

ugh. Not looking forward to this on the badlands. I dont see any leaking on these, but I want to get the recall closed. In a perfect world, they would just give me a discount on the Fox Hoss 3 setup- that what a really want on the badlands.