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05-29-2013, 04:07 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 149
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Bilstein shocks for Solera
Hi, anyone changed out the Solera stock shocks with the Bilstein 4600 series?
I think a little more damping could help in cross winds.
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05-29-2013, 04:46 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 342
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Larry,
Read up on some posts in here where Solera owners changed out the MB OEM rear sway bar with a thicker demension one. As I recall, they noticed quite an improvement in crosswind sway. Also, it seemed reasonable in price and bolts up easy. IMHO that would have more impact from sudden side wind force putting side load forces on the suspension, than a higher end shock like Bliesteins, which would somewhat dampen, but not as much as a beefed-up sway bar IMO.
Might even be cheaper than four shocks, but not sure. I recall it was around $250. Just a suggestion.
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05-29-2013, 09:05 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Florida/Thailand/Texas
Posts: 238
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06-03-2013, 01:36 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 632
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptDan
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I just ordered this for our Solera. Will get it installed sometime in June. I'll post and let you know if there is a difference in the handling of the coach.
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06-03-2013, 02:51 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Southwest Louisiana
Posts: 747
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just ordered mine. plan to self install.
__________________
2016 Forester 3171DS
Work 28 and 28 around the world.
Camp every chance we get
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06-03-2013, 03:22 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jacksonville Florida
Posts: 1,264
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I don't know about Soleras, but I put Bilsteins all around on my 06 Ram 1500, and it helped some. The factory is now installing Bilsteins as stock on Rams. The thing that helped me the most on sway was the addition of LT tires. Those "P" rated tires have too soft of a sidewall- LT's fix that very well. Also added Hellwig helper springs to the rear.
Randy
__________________
/SIGPIC]'08 V-lite Flagstaff 30WRLS
'06 Ram 1500 QC hemi  Reese dual cam sway control,
K&N series 77 intake, Hellwig helper spgs. LT tires,
Flowmaster "true duals", 380 h.p., Bilstein shocks
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06-03-2013, 03:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 632
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Quote:
Originally Posted by papap
just ordered mine. plan to self install.
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 As I've said before, I need a manual to change a lightbulb. Putting the swival on the passenger seat (with the help of Displaced2) was about as far as I will go installing anything!
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06-03-2013, 03:50 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Southwest Louisiana
Posts: 747
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Flag how hard were they to install on truck?
__________________
2016 Forester 3171DS
Work 28 and 28 around the world.
Camp every chance we get
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06-27-2013, 03:19 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 775
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 13larry
Hi, anyone changed out the Solera stock shocks with the Bilstein 4600 series?
I think a little more damping could help in cross winds.
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I'm with 13larry on this. I did install the Hellwig Sway Bar, and the difference is really fantastic. I'm considering ordering the Bilstein shocks for the rear when I get my welfare check next month. I normally like to do my own work, but wonder how difficult the installation is. I have a good floor jack, but my jack pads are pretty lightweight and I wouldn't trust them to support the Solera. But would this be necessary? Do I need to get the wheel off the ground. Never installed shocks before, so I'm totally in the dark.
__________________
Ed (N4RWU) & Becky Taylor
Mistie (Walks 4-down)
Greensboro, NC
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06-27-2013, 09:32 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 149
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Bilsteins are installed.
We just took our first trip with the Bilstein shocks. It was an improvement seems to be less bothered by passing semi's and some improved on wind gusts.
Did not change swaybar. May also do that.
Shock installation was not difficult. 2 bolts on each shock. Did not need to raise vehicle only used my stablizer jacks as high as they would go. Did not raise tires off of ground. Most difficult part was compressing shock. I had my wife pump the floor jack on the bottom of the shock after top bolt was hand installed until I could position and insert the bottom bolt. Then did a final torque on both bolts.
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06-27-2013, 09:40 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jacksonville Florida
Posts: 1,264
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Papap, they weren't very difficult at all- they come with a plastic strap holding them in the collapsed position- mine was just a matter of a few washers and rubber grommets, 2 nuts on the bottom, and one on top. The hardest thing I found is getting the old ones off- they want to spin when trying to remove the nuts. Mine helped a lot in ride quality and controlling bounce when loaded. Randy
__________________
/SIGPIC]'08 V-lite Flagstaff 30WRLS
'06 Ram 1500 QC hemi Reese dual cam sway control,
K&N series 77 intake, Hellwig helper spgs. LT tires,
Flowmaster "true duals", 380 h.p., Bilstein shocks
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06-27-2013, 09:43 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 149
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Bilsteins have 2 models Yellow mono tube and Black twin tube
I installed the yellow monotube which I could not compress by pushing on them. These are the heavy duty models.
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06-28-2013, 02:07 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,348
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I also just ordered the Hellwig sway bar. From what everyone who's gotten one on the forum is saying it sound like a good option. Will install it next week after it arrives. 
__________________
Henry & Tena
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06-29-2013, 09:31 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Southwest Louisiana
Posts: 747
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Road trip
Taking ours out tomorrow for a week of camping at Toledo Bend.
__________________
2016 Forester 3171DS
Work 28 and 28 around the world.
Camp every chance we get
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06-29-2013, 11:39 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 632
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Quote:
Originally Posted by papap
Taking ours out tomorrow for a week of camping at Toledo Bend.
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Sounds like fun! Catch some fish and be safe.
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