Bilstein Shock Absorbers Heritage of Performance

For as long as off-road racing has been around, Bilstein Shock Absorbers have played a significant role. Desert racers and off-road vehicle builders were typical garage tinkerers with a natural ability to identify performance parts and adapt them into their new duties. Bilstein shocks were one of the products that could be found on most of the early racers back then and they are still being utilized now. 

Looking far back into the early establishment of competitive off-road racing, we can see there were many brands that played a significant role in producing race winners. Now enshrined with a heritage of performance, only a handful of those brands are actively involved and still producing high-performance race-winning off-road products. Even fewer are capable of innovating and continuing to enhance motorsports at a high level like we see Bilstein doing. 

Bilstein Adapting Innovation To Performance

Bilstein is a 140-year-old company that worked hard to produce innovations across various industries. Over the years, they became highly specialized in the manufacturing of automotive parts. It was not until 1954 that it crossed over and began experimenting with a newfound discovery that identified oil and gas molecules being proportionally bonded under sustained pressure. That is a fancy way of saying they were able to overcome the cavitation of the oil used to absorb movement. Based on this technology, the company engineers the world’s first monotube gas pressure shock absorbers. By 1957, they were being installed on automobiles for the first time. 

Off-Road History: Bilstein’s Shock Absorbers Heritage of Performance

This revolutionary damping technology will always be recognized for changing the game in vehicle safety and performance driving dynamics. Ever since, Bilstein has been a favored partner and supplier to the automotive manufacturing industry. Across the globe, Bilstein Shock Absorbers are used on both on-road and off-road vehicle applications. The catalog of parts can be found installed by many car manufacturers favoring reliable high-performance including; Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Bugatti Veyron, Ford, Jaguar, Lamborghini Gallardo, Land Rover, Lotus, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Porsche, Subaru, and Volkswagen.

Off-Road History: Bilstein’s Shock Absorbers Heritage of Performance

Bilstein’s Entry Into Motorsport

As a brand manufacturing high-quality performance shock absorbers, Bilstein naturally found themselves with a winning reputation in various motorsports competitions. Amassing prestigious accolades from victories in the rally world championships, earning legendary titles at the most important 24-hour races, to victories in Formula 1, Bilstein is truly a cornerstone of motorsports. 

Bilstein Performance Monotube Shocks Technology

In the early days of off-road, Bilstein shocks were integrated into the small light-weight buggies. As the rumor goes, it all started when a Mercedes Dealer, who was also an off-road enthusiast, proposed using the extremely durable Bilstein monotube shock in an off-road application. It could be configured and mounted upside down, as opposed to the existing twin-tube shocks being the only other option of the day.

Bilstein Performance Monotube Shocks Racing In Baja

Despite being a huge international company at the time, Bilstein closely attended to the needs of the small off-road racing community. It was in the early ‘70s when they identified the need for a more robust shock absorber. Something purpose-built and designed to maintain performance for the thousands of brutal off-road miles stretching down the Baja peninsula. 

Bilstein’s Influence On Off-Road Racing

This off-road technology grew to support larger heavier trucks with BILSTEIN’s M 7100 Classic Series shocks. By the late 1970s, most winning off-road racers were running on these performance monotube shocks. Independent race efforts turned into factory-backed world-class programs advancing every aspect of performance technology. Bilstein was there all along pushing innovation and pioneering the sport of off-road racing. This influence was essential in their technology development and helped established the empire that Bilstein has become today.

Even now, they are still heavily used and continue to serve vintage racers in events like the Mint 400 and the NORRA Mexican 1000 where period correct equipment is required. Astoundingly, the very same Bilstein shocks that were originally used when the vehicles first ran in competition can and often are simply refurbished to be raced on again many years later.

Bilstein Performance Monotube Shocks Racing In Baja

Here you can see off-road historian and race car restorer Rory Ward making what was once old all new. Back in 2016 on Race-Dezert.com, he began documenting his restoration of an Ivan “Ironman” Stewart’s 1984 PPI Toyota SR5 desert racing truck

The who’s who of off-road has run on Bilstein shocks including Larry Ragland, Bobby Ferro, Johnny Johnson, Bob Rodine, Rob MacCachren, Malcolm Smith, Bud Feldkamp, The McMillins, The Gordons, Frank Vessels, and of course Motorsports Hall Of Fame Of America inductee Ivan Stewart.

Real Recognizes Real

As Bilstein’s power and influence expanded within the motorsports community, so did its generosity. Back in the late 1970s and 1980s, various motorsports were truly popular and widely accepted as mainstream entertainment. There were prestigious racing events and highly acclaimed accolades often attached. Prominently owning a heritage of performance, and wanting to recognize special achievements by their own accord, Bilstein initiated their very own Madonna Award.

Beginning in 1984, the Bilstein Madonna Symbolic of Excellence award would start to memorialize prominent motorsports figures in the United States. First, it was to recognize the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship winners and has evolved to recognize the accomplishments of individuals in many areas of motorsports. The Madonna award is given to “an individual who wins a championship in a major American racing series, displays sportsmanship and positive character traits on and off the track, and possesses an intense desire to win while overcoming adversities.” Past winners of the award include Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip, Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Ivan Stewart, Mark Stahl, and Mark McMillin among others.

Bilstein's Heritage Of Performance Is Symbolized in the Madonna Award

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Off-road Shock Technology Continues The Product Evolution

Still today, at the pinnacle of innovation, you can find modern state-of-the-art machines racing and winning with Bilstein shocks. Ryan Beat, Jerett Brooks, Cole Mamer, Darren Hardesty, and Doug Mittag are all world-class off-road short course competitors racking up the championships and accolades. They all insist on the very best equipment and rely on Bilstein shocks.

Bilstein Performance Leads Ryan Beat To Victory

The high-performance off-road damping technology trickles down from race-only products to bolt-on shocks found on factory-built automobiles. For example, Bilstein’s B8 8100 Bypass shocks are traditionally used on exotic performance-oriented off-road vehicles. Under the microscope, the internals and components of Bilstein’s B8 8112 coil-overs designed as a bolt-on shock application are near identical and achieve the same level of performance. Shared on both of the above mentioned, the Zone Control system with position-sensitive damping features three independent pistons, three different compression zones, and two rebound zones all in one highly advanced shock package. These are super trick shocks made vehicle specific for Jeep Wranglers, Toyota 4Runners, and more!  

Now with the introduction of factory-built super off-roaders like the RAM TRX, and the new Ford Bronco, Bilstein’s advanced shock technology is the choice cornerstone of these new modern machines. The heritage of performance is engrained into the genealogy of these flagships championed by the OEMs.

Bilstein Performance Black Hawk e2 Dampers Fitted On The TRX

For the RAM TRX, Bilstein was tasked with specific performance goals and expectations. What they ended up with are some very awesome Black Hawk e2 dampers with Active Terrain Dynamics. These puppies offer unrivaled performance far exceeding the design parameters and the main reason why the TRX literally rips through the ruff stuff. They are fully loaded and there is nothing else like it out there on the market.

Bilstein Performance Blackhawk Shocks on the RAM TRX

Black Hawk e2 Dampers Main Features:

  • Precision-Machined Single-Piece Aluminum Body
  • Mil-spec Anodizing
  • Directionally Machined Cooling Fins
  • High-Strength Rock Shield
  • Dual Electronic Proportional Valves
  • Nitrogen-Charged Remote-Reservoirs 
  • Triple Rod Seal
  • Case-Hardened Steel Piston Rod
  • Zone Control Jounce Cut Off

Bilstein Performance Blackhawk Shocks on the RAM TRX

Bilstein’s ESCV Dampers Fitted On The Bronco

On Ford’s new full-size Bronco, the BILSTEIN Shock Absorbers feature position-sensitive End Stop Control Valves (ESCV). This is featured on both compression and rebound zones. There is a lot going on in these little workhorses, but essentially they offer on-road comfort and control with no compromise off-road performance.

The main components are the three independent pistons with the hydraulically tuned ESCV. Plus, all of the tried and true Bilstein built-in longevity is included. The high-strength piston rod, the best sealing technology, and the external reservoir are what make these shocks extra capable.

Bilstein Performance Shock Absorbers With End Stop Control Valve Main Features:

  • ESCV Compression Zone
  • ESCV Rebound Zone
  • 46 mm Tube / 14 mm Piston Rod
  • High-Strength Stone Shield
  • Nitrogen-Charged External-Reservoirs 
  • Triple Rod Seal
  • Case-Hardened Steel Piston Rod

Ford Bronco utilizes BILSTEIN Performance Shock Absorbers with position sensitive End Stop Control Valves (ESCV)

What Will The Next Evolution Off-road Shock Technology Deliver

Bilstein leads the automotive industry with technical and manufacturing knowledge. They cut the path partnering with the OEMs and were the first to deliver groundbreaking performance suspension in motorsports. As a technical innovator always on the cutting edge of damper technology, what can we expect to see next?

Adjustable systems, advanced active control on the fly, and computer sensing technical integration are just some of what the future holds. As vehicles become more advanced, we can expect to see advanced dampers become widely available for street, light truck, off-road and motorsport vehicles that require that ability to be fine-tuned for various terrain conditions.

Just recently, in early 2022, Bilstein announced a partnership with famed off-road racer and now brand ambassador Brian Deegan. This new deal brings an opportunity to develop & promote Bilstein’s new Black Hawk Powersports brand. There new UTV specific dampers are expected to debut at the Sand Sports Super Show in September.

Bilstein Shock Absorbers Heritage Of Performance

Throughout time and history, various instruments are used to measure achievement and excellence. Looking at Bilstein’s history, we can benchmark where they came from, where they are forging ahead, and what they accomplished along the way. The unique company’s existence was not hinged on off-road racing, but it did pin its interest in off-road racing and invested in a burgeoning category. Known and appreciated as a long-time sponsor of the sport, Bilstein made significant contributions, innovations, and enshrined off-road racing with its heritage of performance. That is something we have all benefited from as off-road enthusiasts. 

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About the author

Micah Anderson

Micah is a 20 year authority in the off-road industry with extensive experience founded on marketing, events, and racing. Professionally skilled in all things creative, Micah is passionate about faith, freedom, and anything powered by adventure.
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