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DIY Bilstein Shock Replacement: Mopar Warranty & Install Guide

Writer: Muddy Ruttzz
Muddy Ruttzz
Sep 3, 2025
7 min read

Updated: Aug 29

Affiliate Disclosure: This post is unsponsored, I don't take products for free to do reviews on them. To support the studio, I use affiliate links from Amazon and eBay. If you click and purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.


TL;DR: Quick Summary

  • The Issue: A routine oil change uncovered hydraulic fluid leaking from the banjo fitting on a front Bilstein remote reservoir shock from a Mopar lift kit.

  • The Warranty Win: Submitting clear photo documentation through Quadratec to Mopar secured a free replacement shock, saving $500 in parts costs.

  • The DIY Fix: Swapping the blown shock and mounting the reservoir requires basic metric hand tools, jack stands, and a couple of hours in the garage.

  • The Protection: Replacing the faulty shock immediately prevented uneven tread wear before mounting a fresh set of tires.


What You Will Learn In This Post

Discovering a blown shock covered in hydraulic fluid is an unwelcome surprise, especially when you are gearing up for long-distance driving or heavy towing. In this guide, you will see how to identify a failing banjo fitting on remote reservoir shocks, the symptoms of fluid loss, and why letting a bad shock linger can quickly destroy expensive off-road tires.

You will also learn the exact steps required to navigate a Mopar warranty claim through an authorized dealer like


Quadratec. Getting replacement parts covered under warranty requires knowing who to talk to, what photographic evidence to submit, and how to manage the timeline so you can keep hundreds of dollars in your pocket instead of paying out of pocket for a replacement unit.


Finally, this post breaks down a straightforward, garage-tested DIY installation process for your front suspension. From properly supporting a heavy rig and removing oversized wheels to unbolting the shock body and securing the external reservoir bracket, you will get the practical steps and tool recommendations needed to complete the repair safely at home.


https://youtu.be/yAsnaqKLl4I
📺 Watch the Video: The video and this article are best when used together. Watch the step-by-step video above on the Muddy Ruttzz YouTube Channel!

Discovering a Shock Leak: Mopar Bilstein Warranty Replacement

A routine oil change had my head under the front of my Gladiator Ecodiesel. I noticed the Bilstein shock had been leaking out of the banjo fitting. Felt worse than seeing a hole in a new pair of coveralls! $ signs flashed before my eyes! Luckily I could still invoke my Mopar Bilstein warranty.


Silver Jeep Rubicon parked with a wooden crate labeled "Jeep" on the ground. Text reads "Parts Crate Containing Mopar/Bilstein 2" Lift Kit."
Cool Jeep Crate That Can Be Repurposed

How My Gladiator Ended Up with Bilsteins: The Backstory

I chose this lift kit for our Jeep Gladiator for 2 main reasons:

  • It was specifically engineered for the extra weight of the Gladiators heavier Diesel Motor.

  • Parts in the kit was covered by the Mopar Bilstein 2 year warranty.

I purchased the kit from Quadratec the online Jeep Parts seller who had heavily discounted it. Probably something to do with Jeeps discontinuing Diesel motors. It arrived in this cool parts crate. (See Photos)


Garage with vehicle parts spread on a wooden table; tools and stickers on shelves; Jeep sign on wall; text reads "Kit Spread Out On Table."
Photo From My Old Garage - I Have Upgraded

I made a video unboxing and showing the parts in detail that were included in the Mopar Kit. You can see that video here: Mopar Bilstein 2" Lift Kit For Jeep Gladiator Ecodiesel/Wrangler

Car suspension with newly installed shocks and lift kit, featuring coil springs. Text reads "New Shock Installed with Lift Kit." Outdoor setting.
This is the shock that came with the lift kit that would eventually spring a leak from the banjo fitting.

Bilstein Shocks Are Quality Products: The Jeep Drives Perfectly On Road And Performs Awesome Off-Road

The leaky Banjo Fitting may have tried to rain on my parade, but it hasn’t soured me on Bilstein or Mopar Performance Parts! I was tickled pink with the quality of the kit! That brand new coil spring and shock in the photo are pretty, and perform as good as they look.


Close-up of a vehicle's suspension showing a shock absorber with oil leakage. Text states: "Noticed shock leaking oil from banjo fitting."
An Oil-Covered Shock Is an Unpleasant Sight: Replacing Them Is Costly!

The Warranty Process With Quadratec And Mopar: Have Patience And Get The Right Person On The Phone

When I first contacted Quadratec, they gave me the phone number for the Bilstein representative. He was a nice guy, but when I asked for help with the warranty, he politely informed me that was Mopar's responsibility. I mean, who knew warranties were like a game of hot potato? I called Quadratec again and spoke with an amazing lady who seemed to know the ins and outs of the procedure better than my GPS knows the backroads. She instructed me to send photos of the oily shock to her ASAP so she could submit the request to Mopar. She also mentioned that it might take some time for them to respond—because who doesn’t love waiting for a response in the age of instant everything? Several weeks later, I decided to follow up with her, and a week after that, my new Bilstein was delivered via FedEx to me in New Mexico. I saved about $500.00 thanks to the warranty! Who knew a little patience could pay off in such a big way? Next time, I might just try to get a warranty on my patience!


Person holds a Bilstein box with a replacement shock on a workbench. Text reads "Took Almost 2 Months But I Finally Received The Replacement Shock From Mopar."
Getting a free replacement part is a good feeling. Still it is always a good idea to compare the new with the OEM.

Step-by-Step DIY Bilstein Shock Installation

1. Secure the rig: Chock wheels, break lug nuts, lift axle onto jack stands

2. Wheel removal: Handling heavy oversized off-road tires safely

3. Unbolting the shock: Removing hardware & remote reservoir bracket

4. Installing the new Bilstein unit: Mounting shock body and securing the reservoir

5. Torque, reinstall wheel, and test clearance


Silver Jeep on a green jack stand in a garage, tools nearby. Text reads: "Chock the wheels, jack up the vehicle, remove tire."
Wheels Chocked, Jack stand in place.

Tools Needed for Jeep Gladiator Shock Replacement  

  1. Metric wrench & socket set (Amazon)

  2. Heavy-duty floor jack (Amazon)

  3. Jack Stands (Amazon)

  4. High-torque impact wrench (for heavy wheel removal) (Amazon)

  5. Heavy-duty zip ties (for remote reservoir lines) (Amazon)


Man using an impact gun to tighten nuts on a car tire in a garage. Text reads "Impact Gun Is A Real Time Saver." Rugged tire visible.
Break the lug nuts loose while the tire still has weight on it. Impact gun really helps this process.
Man with gloves removing a large tire in a garage. Wooden wall background. "Muddy Ruttzz" logo visible on the image corner. Brake Rotor visible.
Lift the vehicle, remove the tire. These Nittos are Heavy! Not hard to get off, hell to lift back on!

Shock absorber setup with old leaking and new non-leaking banjo fittings highlighted by arrows. Text notes improvements. Wood background.
It's easy to see where the oil was coming from. That Banjo fitting should never leak oil.
Gloved hand using tools to install a shock absorber on a vehicle. Text reads: "Shock is an easy install with basic tools." Brown floor.
A good set of metric sockets and wrenches make quick work of this shock replacement.

Bilstein shock absorber in a vehicle's suspension system, with branded logos visible. Text reads: "New Shock Comes Fully Assembled With Reservoir Connected".
I'm sure it take specialized tools to fill a shock with oil and attach the banjo fittings and properly torque them. I gave the the banjo fitting a extra turn. I don't think it moved.


Vehicle suspension with a new shock bracket near a reservoir. Text reads, "Shock Included New Bracket For Reservoir But Reused The Existing One." Logo: "Muddy Ruttzzz."
I had to completely remove the reservoir bracket, there was no clearance to lift the reservoir out. Couple of zip ties hold the hose in place.

Done! The New Bilstein Shock Is In! Sweet, Time For New Tires!


Close-up of a vehicle suspension system featuring Bilstein shocks and springs. Dusty metal components fill the image, suggesting a workshop setting.

New Shock Absorber Allowed Me To Go Ahead And Replace The Nittos On The Gladiator: What Tire Did I Choose As Replacement?

I didn't want to install a new set of tires on the Gladiator with the faulty shock, as I was concerned it might lead to uneven tire wear. Once I got the new Bilstein installed, I went to the tire shop and bought a set of Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/Ts. When I discovered the shock was bad, I was in the midst of moving from California to New Mexico and renovating. I really didn't need the added trouble of a Jeep repair. It all turned out fine, but I was worried about towing Uhaul trailers halfway across the country with a faulty shock. For a time, I considered buying it myself, but I'm glad I waited and got the new one for free!


Jeep off-roading on rocky terrain under blue sky, showcasing rugged tires and front bumpers. Badge reads: "Outdoor Adventure Muddy Rutzzz."


Conclusion

Dealing with a leaky shock before it messes up your tires or messes with your ride's handling is super important, especially when you're towing heavy stuff or hitting those off-the-beaten-path trails. Finding an oil-soaked banjo fitting is a pain, but going through the Mopar warranty process saved me $500 on parts, and doing the swap in my garage meant I didn't have to pay for labor. Changing out a remote reservoir shock is a pretty simple garage project if you've got some basic metric hand tools, sturdy jack stands, and a bit of patience.

With the new Bilstein in place, the front suspension is back to full strength, keeping the Gladiator stable, level, and ready for its new set of tires.


Join the Conversation & Support the Build

  • Watch the Full Step-by-Step Install: Check out the complete walkthrough on the Muddy Ruttzz YouTube Channel and subscribe for more real-world Jeep builds, trail gear tests, and DIY tech guides.

  • Have You Dealt with Leaking Reservoir Shocks? Drop a comment below with your experience handling aftermarket or Mopar warranty claims—or what shocks you run on your rig.

  • Support the Studio: If you found this guide helpful, use the links below to pick up the tools and shop gear used in this project at no additional cost to you.


About the Author

Muddy Ruttzz is a digital creator, overlander, and DIY builder documenting rugged vehicle builds and outdoor adventures. Backed by a career in industrial sheet metal fabrication, heavy infrastructure construction, and mechanical maintenance, he provides practical, trade-tested technical guides for real-world off-road performance.


Merch Section

Affiliate Disclosure: This post is unsponsored, I don't take products for free to do reviews on them. To support the studio, I use affiliate links from Amazon and eBay. If you click and purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Amazon Shopping

✅ - Torque Wrench (Amazon)

✅ - Impact Drill (Amazon)

✅ - Variety of Zip Ties (Amazon)

✅ - Amazon Purchases - Use This Link To Shop On Amazon


Ebay Shopping

✅ - Impact Drill (eBay)

✅ - Off-Road Floor Jack (eBay)

✅ - Shop on eBay For Anything - Click Here!

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Click Here To Find Parts On Ebay Motors!


✅ - Zarges Aluminum Cases - Best Made Overlanding Storage Cases. When you require the best protection for you gear. Bear Resitant available. (Zarges)


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Zarges Aluminum Cases

✅ - MERCH Availabe on Spreadshop - Awesome Original Design Shirts and Merch - Muddy Ruttzz Clothing.

Click Here to See my Zarges Blogpost.


As a Amazon Affiliate and Ebay Partner I receive a commission if you use my links to make a qualifying purchase. It does not raise the price you pay.





Keywords: Steel wheels, steelies, off-road wheels, best off-road wheels, Jeep wheels, truck wheels, wheel setup, off-roading, wheel durability, wheel repair, steel vs aluminum wheels, DIY wheel setup.

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