Bilstien 4600 Shocks and Headlights questions

[88BuffYellowFSJ]

Hello. I am new to the FSJ Network. I have a 88 GW, she is a beauty she lives in Boston's and Orleans Ma ( Nauset )


I have upgraded the carb and exhaust and she is running great. I am about to upgrade shocks to Bilstien 4600, I don't want it lifted but want the smoothest ride possible. Has anyone had good luck with the 4600's

Also, do I really need to upgrade my harness for better headlights, I am about to get the sylvania silver star ultras.

Has anyone used these with success , thanks !!

[j10jim]

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthre ... ng+harness

This will help with your headlight wiring. as for the shocks, Have not tried them.

[88BuffYellowFSJ]

Thanks , I appreciate that. Debating ,making a harness or buying one. Just not sure it's even really needed. Also, I don't really even drive her a night , lol. I just added a photo under show and tell of my new wood grain...spring is here for us in New England ,,

[Gumby]

I didn't drive mine at night until I brought it to Ouray. Then I found out I really needed lights. Changed them in the camp but the old harness could not provide the energy needed to light them adequately. I bought a set from serehill and now I drive it anytime all the time.

No idea about those shocks, I do have some on mine with a lift and they are great.

[tgreese]

Re the Bilstiens, I don't have any personal experience with them, but I know that the WJ guys really like the Bilstiens or Procom MXs. There's a lot of dicussion of such high-end shocks on the WJ forums; the WJ and the SJ are about the same size and weight, though you can't compare coil springs (WJ) directly with leaf springs. I don't think you can go wrong with them, if you can afford them and pick the proper length and valving for your application. I expect they will not change the ride height any ...

Realize that leaf springs fatigue with age, and Wagoneers seem particularly susceptible to "wag sag" where the rear sits lower than the front. You may want to replace the springs to go back to factory ride height or a little higher.

A live axle car isn't ever going to have a really smooth ride - the unsprung weight of the axles is too high for ride control to be as tight as you have on cars or trucks with independent suspension.

Re your headlights, the halogen bulbs will be a big upgrade over the incandescents. Adding a relay and large gauge wire will make either type of lights visibly brighter. Lots of discussion of replacement bulbs in old posts here and likely on every car forum on the web.

[88BuffYellowFSJ]

Tim
Thank you. Good advice. I'll check the springs again. I picked up the Bilst 4600 front and rear. I'll let you know. They may add 1/2 which is fine. The 5100 is lifted and 4600 non lift. Found them online for a pretty good deal. Thanks again.

[cmaje72]

I have run the bilsteins on my old cherokee and a few ZJ's and they were great. I was actually just pricing them out for my latest wag. Let us know how they ride. Oh and just as a FYI shocks won't change your ride height at all unless they are those adjustable air shocks or "helper" shocks.

[Lumpskie]

4600s came stock on a lot of Toyotas. They are a good shock and ride well. They seem to last a long time too.

[acct21]

I have 5125s on the front of mine -- with a 3" Alcan Spring lift. The springs are so stiff right now that it's hard to tell how good the shocks are... but they sure look nice!

[powderfinger]

For headlights,

Housings like this this, bulbs like this and a harness like this.

[HOOT]

I did the harness from Serehill and the housings mentioned above. I put Sylvania Silverstar Ultras in for lights . WOWsers what a huge difference. I drive mainly at night and it lights up wonderfully now.

I just got my 4600's Bilsteins in for my J10 this week. Been running them on every thing else I own and never had a complaint. Best shock I have ever run hands down. Got another pair coming in if 4 Wheel Parts ever gets their act together. Got tired of the run around and ordered this set from Shockwarehouse in Florida. Had them in 3 days time.

[csuengr]

Headlight harnesses are hit and miss. On my CJ, I loose 400mV between the alternator and the furthest light, with the lights on. On the Cherokee it's 500mV. For me, the extra wires aren't worth it.

[88BuffYellowFSJ]

I got my Bilstiens from BJsoffroad. They say they are custome made , they are the 4600,s I spoke with Bilstien, then confirmed. bj's then let me know they meant they are custum ordered. Lol. Still , they sell them a great price. Good folks there. Sweet shocks.

[j10jim]

The headlight relay kit allows you to run wiring directly from the battery to the headlights. That way they get full 14V. The old wiring/switch just handles the relay. The wiring on these jeeps is not good. Running full amperage through the Red wire to the switch then back out via the Yellow wire then to the lights is just stupid. I highly recommend the wiring harness.

[88BuffYellowFSJ]

Good advice. Thanks

[letank]

The headlight relay kit allows you to run wiring directly from the battery to the headlights. That way they get full 14V. The old wiring/switch just handles the relay. The wiring on these jeeps is not good. Running full amperage through the Red wire to the switch then back out via the Yellow wire then to the lights is just stupid. I highly recommend the wiring harness.

X2 on the relays, one for high and one for Low mounted on by the washer fluid reservoir, next to the loom that has the high and low beam wires, then swap the probably oxydized headlight socket. The day you have to drive at night caught in a snowstorm you will be the happiest person on the block.

Relays mounted on the 74 with Hella halogen bulb H4 headlights, So I only carry lightbulbs not headlights assembly.

[HOOT]

That is a great price on the Bilsteins from BJ's. I thought they stopped carrying them for stock height is why I never went there for them. That and I was looking for instant delivery. Oh well live and learn.