BILSTEIN B1 add-on and service parts: dust protection sleeves and pipes!

When talking about the chassis, shock absorbers and springs are almost always in the spotlight. A high-quality and intact periphery is just as important as the condition and quality of the primary components. After all, wear and tear and defects in the alleged secondary locations can also have negative consequences. An important example are dust protection sleeves and pipes. Chassis manufacturer BILSTEIN offers these components through its B1 range for add-on and service parts. Depending on the associated shock absorber model, each set contains either dust protection sleeves or tubes as well as the appropriate pressure stops. Because all these components should always be replaced when changing the damper. "Financially, this is a small but important investment with low parts costs," explains Dimitris Kouvaras, Global Training Manager at BILSTEIN.

BILSTEIN B1 add-on and service parts

Just like intact pressure stops, a dust cover that has not been torn helps ensure that the shock absorbers achieve their technically maximum possible service life. Due to their installation position in the splash water area, the chassis components are bombarded day after day with an abrasive mixture of dust, dirt, grit and moisture. If this cocktail reaches the piston rod and locking package of the shock absorber unhindered, then after a short time it can literally sand off the hardest material, eats its way into seals and ultimately causes oil loss. An effective and, above all, controlled vibration damping then no longer takes place. "The dust cover should therefore be regularly checked for defects as part of a chassis check and replaced if necessary," says Dimitris Kouvaras.

Important "supporting actors" in the shock absorber environment

The fact that BILSTEIN also offers the right peripherals in addition to its B4, B6 and B8 shock absorbers means that car dealerships also have logistical advantages. Purchasing from a third-party provider could extend set-up times and thus increase costs, result in complications in terms of fit - and of course, parts allocation and logistics become more complicated. These problems can be reliably eliminated with add-on and service parts from the B1 range from BILSTEIN.

BILSTEIN B1: "Win-win situation for workshops and customers"

With the BILSTEIN B1, workshops receive an accessory package that is perfectly matched to the BILSTEIN shock absorbers. "The parts help ensure that the shock absorbers achieve their technically maximum service life," says Mustafa Yavuz, a trained master mechanic and responsible for global customer service at BILSTEIN. In an interview, he and Dimitris Kouvaras, Global Training Manager of the BILSTEIN Academy, explain this effect using the protective tube as an example.

It is said that every part of a vehicle is only as good as its surrounding components. What does this mean for the shock absorber replacement?

Kouvaras: That car dealerships should also keep an eye on the periphery when changing shock absorbers. The protective tube protects, for example, the piston rod of the shock absorber from stone chips and contamination from water or sand. It is extremely important for the shock absorber to be able to do its job for a long time.

What problems arise if the shock absorber is not optimally protected?

Yavuz: The shock absorber is leaking and losing oil. As a result, it will no longer work properly at some point. In addition, a defective shock absorber attacks the pressure stop. The following applies: the longer you drive with a defective shock absorber, the higher the follow-up costs. A set with protective tubes, on the other hand, does not cost much.

Apart from the shock absorber change: From what service life should workshops take a closer look at the protective tube?

Kouvaras: It is different. There are vehicles that are very vulnerable. The protective pipes fall off after just a few kilometers. If you are then on a gravel road, the slide of the piston rod gets many small wounds and the shock absorber is leaky at the end. So: better replace it in good time.

How can the customers be convinced of this? The accessories are not expensive, but there are still additional costs ...

Yavuz: That's right, but the workload is much higher than the cost of the add-on parts. If the workshop has removed the shock absorber anyway, it saves working time and measurement. This is much more efficient than having to start all over again after two months, for example when noises occur. And then the customer has a long rest again.

Isn't it more lucrative for a workshop if the customer comes a second time to have the add-on parts replaced separately?

Kouvaras: In the short term, maybe. But in the long term, a company damages its reputation. If a workshop calculates the same components and work positions a little later after a shock absorber change, those concerned will question this. Or they get a second opinion in another workshop and become suspicious. In order to minimize the risk of losing customers, I recommend the training courses at the BILSTEIN Academy: They not only convey interesting facts about sales strategies, but also other specialist know-how relating to shock absorbers. Photo credit: Bilstein

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