Bilstein 5100 adjustable ride height

5RWill · November 27, 2014

Anyone heard any word on the release date for these or do they just keep getting pushed back?

Whiskey Bent · November 28, 2014

I believe I saw in another thread that January is when the new release date was. I'm waiting on them as well!

5RWill · November 28, 2014

Seems like they've delayed and delayed. I'm definitely looking to these to level my sierra. I already have rancho shocks that i like well enough i wonder if i keep rancho rears if it's worth it or go ahead and get a full set of bilsteins and give the rancho's to my brother.

Whiskey Bent · November 28, 2014

I've never had either but from what I've heard, people really like the ride of the bilstiens. I know when I had my jeep, a lot of those guys were running bilstiens as well.

Spurshot · November 28, 2014

Seems like they've delayed and delayed. I'm definitely looking to these to level my sierra. I already have rancho shocks that i like well enough i wonder if i keep rancho rears if it's worth it or go ahead and get a full set of bilsteins and give the rancho's to my brother.

I took out the Ranchos in the front of my AT and put in the Kings. After a few days of driving, I would say the ride is drastically improved. I have yet to install the rears. Maybe this weekend.

My opinion is that the rear factory Ranchos are too stiff and allow the wheels to skip around any irregular surface in a turn...not to mention the harsh ride. My Bilsteins in my 08 were a nice compromise. I say: loose the Ranchos all the way around.

junkyardz · November 28, 2014

I've got the 5100 rears waiting on install...still waiting on the release of the non adjustable front 5100s...

Spurshot · November 28, 2014

I've got the 5100 rears waiting on install...still waiting on the release of the non adjustable front 5100s...

Go ahead and put the rears on. It's a quick job.

5RWill · November 28, 2014

I took out the Ranchos in the front of my AT and put in the Kings. After a few days of driving, I would say the ride is drastically improved. I have yet to install the rears. Maybe this weekend.

My opinion is that the rear factory Ranchos are too stiff and allow the wheels to skip around any irregular surface in a turn...not to mention the harsh ride. My Bilsteins in my 08 were a nice compromise. I say: loose the Ranchos all the way around.

Might as well get the entire set for about 400$ I like my Ranchos though. I don't have any negatives about them but i also haven't used anything else.

Spurshot · November 28, 2014

Might as well get the entire set for about 400$ I like my Ranchos though. I don't have any negatives about them but i also haven't used anything else.

If you can find a member close by that has something other than the Rancho shocks, ride in their truck. I've had 4 trucks in a row now from 1998 to this one. Each rode differently. The last one was an 08 NHT Vmax with a towing pkg. It had shocks so soft that it bounced along like one of those bobbing head dogs, especially at freeway speeds. The Bilsteins tightened that ride up. The one before was a 99 1/2 2500. It rode stiff and the Bilsteins softened that ride.

I noticed the stiffness in this 2014 on the drive home. An irregular road surface in a turn and the tires lose contact.

junkyardz · November 28, 2014

well spurshot, I had all intentions to install em but somebody ran into my truck a few days ago. now I'm just gonna wait until it's back from the bodyshop... I'm ready cause I think the stock ranchos are way to stiff and unforgiving

5RWill · December 8, 2014

Is there anyway to get in touch with them? By Email or phone?

sugarjohnson · December 8, 2014

I've got the 5100 rears waiting on install...still waiting on the release of the non adjustable front 5100s...

I put my rear 5100 on and noticed they are different then last model. The Black plastic boot is in the down position. I looked at them for 20m and then called bilstein. They said rule of thumb is to install with the bilstein label in the correct orientation so you can read it which makes the black boot orient down. Can you let me know if yours are the same direction?

Clocked92 · December 8, 2014

Bilstein had the 5100's on display at SEMA for the 2014+ models. I should've asked them for a timeline but I wasn't too interested in them. I'm going with Fox coilovers in the front and Fox 2.0 or 2.5 in the rear when I have enough money saved up.

junkyardz · December 8, 2014

I put my rear 5100 on and noticed they are different then last model. The Black plastic boot is in the down position. I looked at them for 20m and then called bilstein. They said rule of thumb is to install with the bilstein label in the correct orientation so you can read it which makes the black boot orient down. Can you let me know if yours are the same direction?

yep. bilstein sticker legible, boot facing downwards. just looked at mine