Bilstein 5100 adj shocks (front and rear)

crushNchowda · March 23, 2015

I wish I had a picture to show you the OEM ranchos. after 16k miles, they were rusted as shit.

mine too @ 33,000

nadrojcote · March 23, 2015

Be sure to do so. Get the 7000mt I just want to see how high they lift it.

No I agree it's not going to be that big of a difference. Just simply stating what I had read.

As to my comment about fox or king I was just conveying that I wasn't touting Bilstein as the end all be all. I and many others simply have heard more positives about them than rancho. They're obviously not comparable to a fox, king, icon, coil over.

I would like to try dirt logic coil overs or a 4" fabtech lift way down the road. It's about 2000-3000 for a 2" fabtech lift with coilovers or a 4".

The thing about the 7000mt is that they don't come with new coils, which is part of the reason I want the 9000xl. To me the 7000 sounds like its comparable to the 5100's.

If I had the money I would definitely get something nicer, a long travel kit would be awesome.

Edited March 23, 2015 by projectsummit

5RWill · March 23, 2015

I think the 7000mt is a direct competitor to the 5100. I almost went with them but couldn't find any info about them. I know they listed to fit my truck but couldn't find how much they would lift it.

Long travel suspension would be ideal. Just costly, but it would be epic.

fondupot · March 24, 2015

Drove a little more this morning, about 10 miles or so. I took the truck to my local shop for an alignment.

I was driving pretty cautiously, carefully listing for clunks and the like (didn't hear anything). From what I can tell, the truck seems overall a lot better planted on the road. Rides nice on smooth roads and handles the bigger bumps and crappy roads A LOT better. I am definitly happy with the install.

diggman08 · March 30, 2015

anyone add 5100 with leveling kit combo?

fondupot · March 30, 2015

anyone add 5100 with leveling kit combo?

Not a good idea of stacking leveling kits.

5RWill · April 3, 2015

I have to say i love these shocks. Granted i never did this with my Ranchos, but then again they were so bouncy i wouldn't have tried it. I was going down one of our turn roads at 40+ yesterday hitting bumps just to see how it would handle. It was impressive most bumps that would have me starting a vibrating bounce in the ranchos, the bilsteins floated over. The larger bumps are still there of course, it's not a coilover or med-long travel suspension setup but there isn't much jarring or displacement inside the cab. Color me a Bilstein fan. If they ever come out with a true coilover with remote res for 600$ a piece i'll be on it lol. I think years from now i am going to put a Bajakit long travel suspension kit on my truck and some more engine upgrades. Do i race? Nope. I'm just a suspension whore, would love to have that capability.

Really need to get a camera. It was beautiful yesterday on the farm and could've had some very nice pics if i wasn't stuck with a dad gum phone camera.

Edited April 3, 2015 by 5RWill

Newm · April 3, 2015

I'm just a suspension whore, would love to have that capability.

I had to laugh at this....only because I know what you are saying. I am starting down that path a$ well.

redbeast24740 · April 8, 2015

Just got all 4 in today hopefully i have time to get them put on this weekend will post again after..

redbeast24740 · April 12, 2015

well I put them all on.. was a piece a cake.. the front went up around an 1.5 inchs not far enought for me.. but the ride is nice.. a little firmer.. seems to stick to the road better now.. handles turns better.. I think i will add a slight body lift to get the rest of the lift i want..

5RWill · April 13, 2015

Pics redbeast? I know some still look like they have a lot of rake. A particular member with a chevy still looked like he had over an inch of rake. I have about 1-1.3" of rake. Which is perfect to me. Looks pretty much level and i can still tow when i need too.

fondupot · April 13, 2015

I was going over my front suspension over the weekend. Now that I have a couple hundred miles on the new shocks I wanted to go back and give the stuff I undid another torquing. Just to make sure everything is tight.

I went to check the torque on the tighten the center strut hat nut, but it basically just spins the threads along with it. The spec is 35 ft/lbs, which isn't exactly a whole lot. But I probably have about 4-5 threads showing on each strut hat nut. Is this normal? Can anyone else comment on the "tightness" of their strut hat nuts.

If you are wondering what nut I am talking about it is that center nut shown below, except now everything is installed on the truck and I was trying to check the torque on it.

5RWill · April 13, 2015

I'll try and look at mine tomorrow. Though i had the dealer do it, i'm not sure what they torqued them to. 35ft-lbs isn't much at all with no thread locking compound. I torque scope rings and actions screws more than that.

nadrojcote · April 13, 2015

You will need to use two wrenches one thats offset to get down in the groove to tighten it down and one to hold the strut from spinning. They should be tightened down all the way with no threads showing.

Edited April 13, 2015 by projectsummit

fondupot · April 13, 2015

You will need to use two wrenches one thats offset to get down in the groove to tighten it down and one to hold the strut from spinning. They should be tightened down all the way with no threads showing.

Well there has to be threads showing...when the nut tightens down it exposes more and more of the thread coming thru the strut hat.

The way I tightened mine off the truck, was with two wrenches. One holding the threads on the grooved part and another turning the nut. While I had the coil spring compressed, i tightened the nut down as much as I could by hand. But still am not able to actually "torque" it because of the way the strut is designed, You have to hold the grooved part, and that blocks a torque wrench from getting on.

All I am looking for is for people to post pics of what the top threads look like on their installed setups.