- First Name
- RJ
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2024
- Threads
- 7
- Messages
- 76
- Reaction score
- 443
- Location
- California
- Vehicle(s)
- 22 badlands
- Your Bronco Model
- Badlands
- Thread starter
- #1
Good morning everyone, today I wanted to address one of the most common questions about the race build that I get.
What shocks am I running, are these the same shocks that the general public can purchase, and is it worth the price.
As most of the people that have been following me along this ride know I use the Bilstein 8112 Blackhawk Shocks. The decision to run these shocks was made pretty early on because of the quality and performance that Bilstein is known for. That and we heard how capable these things were because of the technology that goes into them. These shocks were a perfect fit, literally and figuratively. These shocks are a direct fit to factory equipment so no fabrication required. When we first installed these shocks we actually had them installed on all factory suspension components including the uppers and lowers. While we now have upgraded upper/lower control arms from Solo Motorsports it is still all factory width. Hell, we are still even running the factory trailing arms in the rear.
While there are some slight changes to the shocks we run on the race vehicle, they are still essentially the exact same thing that you would purchase from Bilstein. When it comes to changes we do have some slight things that have been done differently to get this thing ready for Baja. When it comes to reservoirs we do run a larger set than what is currently available (Yes, I said currently. things are in the works). When it comes to racing Baja, heat is a huge concern. We push these things harder than what most people will ever push their vehicle for up to 36 hours straight. This obviously causes concern for shock fade so we run a larger reservoir to help dissipate heat. We also run stiffer springs in the rear but that was a requirement resulting from the massive amount of increased weight in the rear from running a 40 gallon fuel cell and having two spare 37" tires. Other than that we run race oil and have them tuned to run better with our Broncos unique center of gravity.
Now, the big question almost everyone asks me. Are they worth the price? My honest opinion... After running these I don't want to run anything else. These shocks are incredible and the things you are now capable of doing in a basically stock Bronco are pretty mind blowing. These are the only OEM replacement shocks that are Baja 1000 tested and proven, and there is a reason for that. Adding these shocks to you build does multiple things. They have internal limiters, internal bump stops, and they have technology in them that essentially make them position sensitive. What does that all mean? With all of this technology jam packed into one bolt on package you are now no longer required to spend the money on bump stops, limiting straps, or triple bypasses. Not to mention not needing to spend the money or time on the fabrication to add those parts. So, if you plan on blasting through the desert in your Bronco these things are incredibly hard to beat.
Hope this answers some questions, and please... If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask.
Believe it or not, other than SCORE required safety equipment almost everything on this Bronco is bolt on products. So, if you're hoping to build something similar to the 301 Race Bronco it isn't a very difficult thing to do!
What shocks am I running, are these the same shocks that the general public can purchase, and is it worth the price.
As most of the people that have been following me along this ride know I use the Bilstein 8112 Blackhawk Shocks. The decision to run these shocks was made pretty early on because of the quality and performance that Bilstein is known for. That and we heard how capable these things were because of the technology that goes into them. These shocks were a perfect fit, literally and figuratively. These shocks are a direct fit to factory equipment so no fabrication required. When we first installed these shocks we actually had them installed on all factory suspension components including the uppers and lowers. While we now have upgraded upper/lower control arms from Solo Motorsports it is still all factory width. Hell, we are still even running the factory trailing arms in the rear.
While there are some slight changes to the shocks we run on the race vehicle, they are still essentially the exact same thing that you would purchase from Bilstein. When it comes to changes we do have some slight things that have been done differently to get this thing ready for Baja. When it comes to reservoirs we do run a larger set than what is currently available (Yes, I said currently. things are in the works). When it comes to racing Baja, heat is a huge concern. We push these things harder than what most people will ever push their vehicle for up to 36 hours straight. This obviously causes concern for shock fade so we run a larger reservoir to help dissipate heat. We also run stiffer springs in the rear but that was a requirement resulting from the massive amount of increased weight in the rear from running a 40 gallon fuel cell and having two spare 37" tires. Other than that we run race oil and have them tuned to run better with our Broncos unique center of gravity.
Now, the big question almost everyone asks me. Are they worth the price? My honest opinion... After running these I don't want to run anything else. These shocks are incredible and the things you are now capable of doing in a basically stock Bronco are pretty mind blowing. These are the only OEM replacement shocks that are Baja 1000 tested and proven, and there is a reason for that. Adding these shocks to you build does multiple things. They have internal limiters, internal bump stops, and they have technology in them that essentially make them position sensitive. What does that all mean? With all of this technology jam packed into one bolt on package you are now no longer required to spend the money on bump stops, limiting straps, or triple bypasses. Not to mention not needing to spend the money or time on the fabrication to add those parts. So, if you plan on blasting through the desert in your Bronco these things are incredibly hard to beat.
Hope this answers some questions, and please... If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask.
Believe it or not, other than SCORE required safety equipment almost everything on this Bronco is bolt on products. So, if you're hoping to build something similar to the 301 Race Bronco it isn't a very difficult thing to do!
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