My attempts at modifying & upgrading shocks - OEM GT / Bilstein B4 / Bilstein B6

[markboris]

…. that’s in the neighborhood of $750, plus shipping….pricy…but, I wonder how these dampers would work with Eibach progressive lowering springs ..

while I,ve never considered lowering this car, the thought of the Bilstein’s plus the Eibach springs, in conjunction with the Eibach anti-roll bars already on the car is tempting….

If you were to have them shipped here from Europe, the shipping would be at least $300 and that does not include tariffs if there are any. Personally, I would wait for them to come to the US before I would have them shipped from another country.

For the last few years we have been installing Eibach's progressive lowering spring NOT to lower the car but to give a better ride which they have. Because of their lower initial spring rate like the Rally springs, they give a better ride. However the negative side is they lower a car that already has a very short suspension travel. This causes the body to bottom out earlier even when shortening the bump stops. Can't tell you how many of those springs I installed but way more than the Rally's I've installed. The Rally springs have an even lower spring rate than the progressive Eibach's and give more suspension travel making for a much nicer ride.

To answer you question, the B6's will complement any springs on the Mach-E. OEM, Eibach and Rally. It is a very heavy car and the springs need to be controlled. The sway bars have nothing to do with the shocks but no matter what you do even if you keep the OEM spring/shock setup, they greatly improve the handling and to a lesser degree the ride.

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[Tampamike]

Did you have to pay a tariff purchasing products from Europe? I've ordered parts from the UK and Italy several times this year (most recently a month ago) and there haven't been any tariff charges from those countries. My wheels come from Thailand and just got a set yesterday. Second set this year and no tariffs. From China however, I get a tariff on even the smallest $12 item.

Yeah, I ordered some solar panels for my boat from Italy. When they arrived in Cincinnati at DHL’s hub, they sent me a notice that I had to pay them the 10% tariff before they would deliver them.

 

[markboris]

Yeah, I ordered some solar panels for my boat from Italy. When they arrived in Cincinnati at DHL’s hub, they sent me a notice that I had to pay them the 10% tariff before they would deliver them.

Interesting. I buy olive oil from Italy every 6 months and so far no tariffs.

 

[rreddy3]

If you were to have them shipped here from Europe, the shipping would be at least $300 and that does not include tariffs if there are any. Personally, I would wait for them to come to the US before I would have them shipped from another country.

For the last few years we have been installing Eibach's progressive lowering spring NOT to lower the car but to give a better ride which they have. Because of their lower initial spring rate like the Rally springs, they give a better ride. However the negative side is they lower a car that already has a very short suspension travel. This causes the body to bottom out earlier even when shortening the bump stops. Can't tell you how many of those springs I installed but way more than the Rally's I've installed. The Rally springs have an even lower spring rate than the progressive Eibach's and give more suspension travel making for a much nicer ride.

To answer you question, the B6's will complement any springs on the Mach-E. OEM, Eibach and Rally. It is a very heavy car and the springs need to be controlled. The sway bars have nothing to do with the shocks but no matter what you do even if you keep the OEM spring/shock setup, they greatly improve the handling and to a lesser degree the ride.

I agree Mark, the expense of the Eibachs ordering from Europe isn't worth it, for me at least.

While I suspect the Bilstein B6s would be a nice addition, I don't mind the ride as it is. It's a little like driving a 50s era Morgan that has been electrified and is way faster, bigger, and taller, but rides much better than a Morgan from that era with it's Armstrong lever arm rear dampers, live axle, and leaf springs, and sliding pilar front suspension. Think coal buggy.

I know. I've had eggs break that were in egg cartons, that were in a bag from the grocery, "safely" placed in the space behind the Morgan's seat "squab", above the real axle, that passed for luggage space (more or less the capacity of the MME frunk), after hitting some rough patches in a road. Oh well, such was life.

I totally agree, the suspension travel is an issue with lowering springs on the Mach Es. On the flip side, making the car taller isn't to my liking, particularly since I don't quibble with its ride as is.

I think the Eibach anti roll bars improve the "ride feel" ... although, they aren't springs or dampers. The way I think of it, Mark, is with the anti-roll bars "freed up" to work as they're supposed to work, the car just feels smoother in its motions, more supple or fluid. Hard for me to find the right word. it's just way better than stock.

Maybe when/if the Bilstein B6s wash ashore here I'll get a set.

 

[AnimalChin]

There is no rear axle bounce in this car. You guys are OCD to the max. You need to chill.

 

[4sallypat]

........

If you are enjoying the improved handling with the B6's, you would really like how the car handles after changing out the OEM anti-roll sway bars with the Eibach bars. There is a big difference and I've consistently mentioned in many threads how this should be the number one mod to the Mach-E everyone should do if they are interested in better handling. Not only does it improve the handling but also the ride, however to a lesser degree than the Rally springs or the B6's do. The bushings on the OEM bars are vulcanized to the bar not allowing it to freely move. This causes a spring effect and increases the bounce a bit. The Eibach bars have polyurethane bushings that allow the bars to freely rotate giving you a slightly smoother ride while improving the handling.

........

+1 for Eibach anti roll sway bars!

I love them - they allow the car to stay level on power turns and evasive maneuvers.

Makes them "road magnets" like the BMW of the 1990's I used to drive...

@markboris
I am now looking at getting Bilstein B6 all the way around - would they work even on a set of Eibach 1.5" lift springs ?

 

[markboris]

+1 for Eibach anti roll sway bars!

I love them - they allow the car to stay level on power turns and evasive maneuvers.

Makes them "road magnets" like the BMW of the 1990's I used to drive...

@markboris
I am now looking at getting Bilstein B6 all the way around - would they work even on a set of Eibach 1.5" lift springs ?

Hey Pat, while I did test B6's back when I was modifying the Koni's, they were not specifically designed for the Mach-E and those would not have had enough travel height. Since I've not had the new B6's that are specifically for the Mach-E I cannot tell you if they are long enough to extend at least 1 1/2" extra inches without topping out that shock.

This would be a question for NateZhao. Hey Nathan, can you measure the rear B6 you have fully extended from the center of the bottom mount to the very top of the shock? I can compare this to my car which has the OEM Rally springs and can add one more inch for Pat's car which would not be any higher than that and most likely less.

 

[azerik]

There is no rear axle bounce in this car. You guys are OCD to the max. You need to chill.

Correct, it’s tire bounce from the wheels not rebounding fast enough and the weight of the car. This is by far my biggest button pusher for this vehicle. The jeckel and Hyde’ness of it due to temp swings during the day here. I started thinking about finally grabbing a pair of 25 rear shocks only to find out they sell them as a whole kit and no longer just the shock. I’d spend $125 ish to play around with this, but not nearly $300+ sadly.
I’ve been playing with lightening the rebound on the Koni’s but the near freezing temps cause the ‘punch to the kidneys’ as I call it with the compression over sharp short bumps. This is resolved with higher fire pressure but 15 minutes later the tires are 4 psi higher and thus it flips to Hyde mode. Let air out and get back to ‘normal, later in the day the tires are warm (and softer) so they are somewhat better but the pressure changed again. Let out again for night and come 8pm they’ve gone from 39 in the garage (morning) to 43 to 40 to 43 to 39 to 35. This juggle of tire character is handled by magna ride. It could be handle with air springs maybe.
Btw Ford supposedly removed maganride from the 26 GT?
Any way, I al in the same boat that I won’t raise the car because currently I don’t like the looks of a raised mme. But they recently repaved my roads around here (which ai though was going to solve 75% of my issues) but they made them worse. So I went and talked to Art about a GT, but they only had one and I didn’t like the way it was kitted out, and the damn seat. He told me the 26’s would actually arrive soon.
I still have QA1’s (single adjust) and Viking (dual adjustment) that I could toss on but already know the amount of road noise they create. Sadly nothing has changed over here with the suspension, I just drive it.

I can have a buddy weld up offset plates for other shocks so they:
1. Fit the stroke right
2 Fit the angle right

but, and it’s big, you’d lose 10 to 15 mm of space between the rear wheel and the mount/shock. This is ok with a +44 rear wheel, but not for most people

 

[markboris]

Btw Ford supposedly removed maganride from the 26 GT?

Erik, for 2026, MagneRide is no longer standard on the GT. You must get the GT Performance & Handling Package to get the MagneRide suspension. That package also includes the GT Performance Upgrade (100 ft lbs more torque) and 20" Machined-Faced Aluminum Wheels with Carbonized Gray-Painted Pockets

 

[azerik]

FYI I've been getting hit with tariffs on brass I import from Pakistan. Even triangle shipping it UPS ends up sending me a bill. And it's kinda crap at about 10% of purchase even if the VAT is declared low. They've gone so far as to open the box and find the invoice and bill off that. I'm ok with it ias it's not a huge amount of money but it's something to keep in mind.
For the price I don't think I'll be the one to try to get B6's for the front of mine, anytime soon.
(I'm sure my stock prem struts are about done as over 1/2 the miles on them have been with Eibach lowering springs).

Erik, for 2026, MagneRide is no longer standard on the GT. You must get the GT Performance & Handling Package to get the MagneRide suspension. That package also includes the GT Performance Upgrade (100 ft lbs more torque) and 20" Machined-Faced Aluminum Wheels with Carbonized Gray-Painted Pockets

The 2024 IS the sweet spot. Now If I could find one and swap the Premium vented sets. lol.

 

[NateZhao]

+1 for Eibach anti roll sway bars!

I love them - they allow the car to stay level on power turns and evasive maneuvers.

Makes them "road magnets" like the BMW of the 1990's I used to drive...

@markboris
I am now looking at getting Bilstein B6 all the way around - would they work even on a set of Eibach 1.5" lift springs ?

Hey Pat, while I did test B6's back when I was modifying the Koni's, they were not specifically designed for the Mach-E and those would not have had enough travel height. Since I've not had the new B6's that are specifically for the Mach-E I cannot tell you if they are long enough to extend at least 1 1/2" extra inches without topping out that shock.

This would be a question for NateZhao. Hey Nathan, can you measure the rear B6 you have fully extended from the center of the bottom mount to the very top of the shock? I can compare this to my car which has the OEM Rally springs and can add one more inch for Pat's car which would not be any higher than that and most likely less.

I am sorry for missing this message, Pat. And I can‘t mersure the length due to I don't have a car lift. But I don't think the B6 will have a different tension and compresion travel with OE shocks. They are designed to be compatible with OE springs.

 

[4sallypat]

I am sorry for missing this message, Pat. And I can‘t mersure the length due to I don't have a car lift. But I don't think the B6 will have a different tension and compresion travel with OE shocks. They are designed to be compatible with OE springs.

Thanks!

Appreciate the follow-up.

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