Bilstein & First Service Questions

[LJ]

Thanks, guys! The Bilsteins you recommended are everything you said they would be. The stock shocks are indeed junk.

At the same time (5,000 mi) I changed my oil the first time (Rotella w/ AC/Delco Filter), changed the Allison Spin-on Oil Filter, and the Fuel Filter.

Incidentally, on the Allison Filter... I went to Advance Auto and bought one. When we took the original off, the holes in the top were closer to the middle than the original. The original had the holes for the fluid to come through closer to the outside. Why? Well, if you put the large round magnet back, you can see the holes w/ the original- the magnet covers the aftermarket one's holes, so there might be some restriction of the flow. Maybe the aftermarket one assumes you'll do away with the magnet.... who knows. I went to GM and bought the proper one.

Anyways, here's the little issue that makes me nervous- now I have a vibration in my brake pedal that I never had before. When I push the brake to stop, you can feel what is like a pulsating ABS or something- only, when you are still, it still does it. It's like an engine vibration is now present where it was not before.

Anyone experienced this phenomenon, or am I being too picky??

Larry Jones

[redrider#1]

I have noticed this vibration just exactly as you described it on my truck. I have had no problems with the tranny or brakes, so I figure it is just ME being too picky. ;)

[madmatt]

Maybe it's that Rotella your runnin' ;) :D
Amen on the hondas redrider! My ride is a 530cc CRF engine in a Walsh MX quad chassis. Yeah it's fast :eek:

[Kennedy]

The magnet-hole observation is a non issue as the baseplate curves considerably under the magnet opening up plenty of area for flow. The Baldwin units are/were like this, but it looks like they've altered the plate so as to avoid questions etc.

[DmaxMaverick]

I noticed the same thing with some Wix filters I bought. As JK said, the curve under the magnet allows for plenty of room for flow. The ATF flow through the filter is not very much. At a closer look, it appears the "other" design would force all the fluid across the magnet, and perhaps allow it to catch more contaminants. The original Allison design, although effective according to the amount of material I've found stuck to the magnet, appears to jet the fluid around the magnet. It may make no difference at all, or it could mean something. The new aftermarket design may be intentional with that in mind. I've done one flush/fill using the "disconnect the cooler line" method since I started using the wix filter and there doesn't seem to be any difference in flow, compared to the Allison filter before.

[ 08-17-2005, 08:54 PM: Message edited by: DmaxMaverick ]