Send us a text How do you balance being a driver and running your own team? This week, Mike and Shane get the full story from Ryan Beat, one of short course off-road’s most driven competitors. They break down truck setup secrets, the evolution of the sport, and what it takes to build a winning program from the ground up.

Send us a text In this episode of Shock Talk, hosts Mike and Shane welcome Tech Tim Lund for an inside look at his recent visit to BILSTEIN’s Poway, CA facility. Tim shares his hands-on experience assembling a set of B8 8100 shocks for the Northridge 4x4 Jeep Gladiator giveaway build and what it was like to go behind the scenes of BILSTEIN’s legendary shock production process. The crew also dives into their favorite Jeep adventures, off-road stories, and more. Whether you’re a Jeep fanatic, a...

Send us a text In this episode of Shock Talk, Mike and Shane welcome Eddie and Joevonni from Aaron Ford of Poway to the show. Together, they dive into the heartbeat of the San Diego off-road community—covering everything from local events to the importance of strong community ties in Poway, home to both Aaron Ford and BILSTEIN’s aftermarket headquarters. The crew breaks down Ford’s latest truck offerings, helps match the right vehicle to the right buyer, and takes a deep look at BILSTEIN’s n...

Send us a text In this episode of Shock Talk, Mike, Shane, and Joseph are joined by special guest Ian from Wheel Every Weekend to take a deep dive into the art and science of shock tuning. From understanding compression and rebound adjustments to dialing in your setup for real-world performance, the crew breaks down how each setting affects your ride. They also explore the advanced tunability of the BILSTEIN B8 8112 and 8100 series, and revisit surprising results from past blind shock tests a...

Send us a text On this episode of Shock Talk, Mike and Shane are joined by Scott from BILSTEIN’s product team to dive into the raw, rewarding world of building and driving older vehicles. From the analog charm of '80s machines to early 2000s street heroes, the crew breaks down why these cars still capture hearts today. They share personal stories from the garage—Mike’s first-gen Tundra, Shane’s OBS Bronco, and Scott’s long-loved Ford LTD—and unpack the pros and cons of restoring an old ride v...

Send us a text Big things are happening. This week, Mike and Shane are joined by guest host Ryan to break down the entire next-gen Toyota off-road lineup—Tacoma, Tundra, 4Runner, Sequoia, and the Lexus variants. We go deep on trims, features, hidden differences, and which models make the most sense for different types of builds. More importantly, we’re announcing brand-new BILSTEIN shock packages designed specifically for these trucks. Some are on shelves now. Others are just about to launch....

Send us a text In this episode of Shock Talk, Mike and Shane are joined by returning guest Joseph from Product Management and Ryan from R&D to explore the booming world of camper conversions and van life. From full-size RVs to DIY sprinter van builds, the crew breaks down the key differences in suspension needs across the camping spectrum—and what BILSTEIN recommends for each setup. Ryan even shares details about his personal sprinter van build, and the team teases some exciting new produ...

Send us a text In this episode of Shock Talk, Mike and Shane are joined by BILSTEIN team member and longtime BMW enthusiast, Joseph. From years on the tech lines to now managing the product catalog, Joseph brings a unique perspective as the crew dives deep into BILSTEIN’s full street performance lineup—including coilovers and the EVO series. Whether you’re daily driving, weekend canyon carving, or chasing lap times, this episode breaks down which product is right for which type of customer, t...

Send us a text On this episode of Shock Talk, Mike and Shane are joined by Aaron, BILSTEIN’s U.S. Head of Motorsports, and Keith from the motorsports team based in Mooresville, North Carolina—right in the heart of American racing. They break down the critical role of car setup, how tuning strategies differ between dirt and circle track classes, and how cutting-edge tools like AI are shaping the future of performance. Whether you're racing on clay or asphalt, this one’s full of insight from th...

Send us a text This week on Shock Talk, Mike and Shane are joined by Fabian, the marketing team lead from BILSTEIN’s global headquarters in Germany. They dive into the latest motorsports marketing efforts happening in Germany and explore the state-of-the-art facilities at the Nürburgring, including BILSTEIN’s industry-leading 7-post rig used to fine-tune vehicle performance. They also break down the key differences between the European sports car scene and the U.S. off-road world—plus, they s...

Send us a text On this episode of Shock Talk, hosts Shane and Junior sit down with off-road racer Doug Mittag and BILSTEIN shock tuner Nathan for an inside look at the world of UTV racing and suspension tuning. Doug shares insights into his business, where he builds high-performance UTVs and chassis for desert racing, and reflects on his incredible 2nd place finish at the King of the Hammers Desert Challenge in his Polaris Pro R. The conversation dives deep into shock tuning and the evolution...

Send us a text For this special episode of Shock Talk, Mike and Junior take the show to the rugged lakebed of Johnson Valley during King of the Hammers! They’re joined by BILSTEIN shock tuner Nathan and legendary racer Brian Deegan for an action-packed conversation covering Brian’s journey in motorsports, his approach to car setup and race strategy for KOH, and an in-depth tech dive into BILSTEIN’s Black Hawk Powersports shocks. Using a cutaway model, the crew breaks down the adjustability an...

Send us a textThis week on Shock Talk, Junior and Steve are joined by Class 11 desert racer Cameron Brantz to explore the world of vintage VW Beetle racing. They break down the history of Class 11 in off-road racing, the unique challenges of competing in nearly stock Bugs, and Cameron’s journey as a racer. From brutal desert terrain to the camaraderie of the Class 11 community, this episode is packed with insight and passion for one of the most iconic racing classes in off-road.

Send us a textIn this episode of Shock Talk, hosts Mike and Shane welcome special guests Ryan and Miguel from BILSTEIN’s R&D team to explore the intricate world of shock test fitting and design. Discover the unique challenges of developing shocks for a variety of vehicles and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into ensuring a perfect fit.Ryan shares insights into his Sprinter van project, while Miguel talks about his hands-on experiences supporting BILSTEIN’s efforts at Baja races. This...

Send us a textIn this thrilling episode of Shock Talk, hosts Mike and Shane welcome back-to-back Baja 1000 champion Justin Park. Justin shares jaw-dropping stories from this year's Baja 1000, reflects on the grit and strategy needed for a perfect racing season, and reveals what it takes to complete every grueling mile of Baja's legendary courses. But that’s not all—Justin also switches gears to share his expert tips for safe off-roading and winter travel, including how to navigate snowy terra...

Send us a textIn this episode of Shock Talk, hosts Shane, Junior, and Nathan are joined by special guests Tyler and Evan Schmidt from Schmidty Racing Suspensions to talk about their dynamic new partnership with BILSTEIN. Tune in as they dive deep into the latest advancements in UTV suspension, focusing on the powerful BILSTEIN Black Hawk Powersports shocks. Tyler and Evan share insights on how these shocks enhance performance, stability, and comfort in even the toughest terrains. Whether you'...

Send us a textIn this special episode of Shock Talk, hosts Mike and Shane welcome Steve, BILSTEIN’s head of marketing, to discuss the latest addition to the BILSTEIN lineup: the 8100 DSA for Jeep JL. Known for pushing the boundaries of shock technology, BILSTEIN’s new 8100 DSA promises to elevate Jeep JL performance with cutting-edge Dual Speed Adjustability (DSA) for unmatched off-road and on-road control. Join us as we dive deep into the design, engineering, and real-world benefits of the 8...

Send us a textIn this exciting episode of Shock Talk, Mike and Shane are joined by new guest host Mark as they welcome an extraordinary guest: Nicole Johnson! A professional monster truck driver, King of the Hammers finisher, and host of Nicole Johnson's Detour, Nicole shares stories from her action-packed career. From dominating the monster truck circuit to pushing limits in off-road racing, Nicole dives deep into her life on and off the track. Tune in for an inside look at her adventures, p...

Send us a textJoin hosts Mike, Shane, and Junior in this exciting episode of BILSTEIN's "Shock Talk" as they dive into the details and give a first look into our newest product: the 8112 DSA+ for Ford Bronco. Get an insider’s look at its cutting-edge features, unparalleled benefits, and how it can elevate your off-roading experience. Whether you’re a seasoned Bronco enthusiast or just curious about what’s new in the world of shocks, this episode is packed with insights, expert tips, and a who...

Send us a textJoin Junior, Mike, and Shane on this episode of BILSTEIN’s Shock Talk Podcast as they tackle all things tires! We’ll break down the key differences between P Metric and LT (Light Truck) tires, explain load ratings, discuss proper sizing, and dive into tire pressure tips. Whether you're upgrading for performance, comfort, or off-road adventures, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you choose the perfect tires for your needs. Tune in and roll with confidence!