Bilstein shocks thread

Snowcamo · June 6, 2019

I feel that given the total cost $400+ bills of either model should address the issues with gm trucks. Yea sure they are better then stocks, but hey which ones aren't? I like them to an extent given the money spent. I still feel as though kings which are tailored and have that cloud like ability are a better choice to rave about. Either way a better setup is needed for the stable/ cush ride saught after when folks come to this forum.

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diyer2 · June 6, 2019

I see a lot of lip service about this.

A lot of info and opinions.

So would it be wise to say the Racnchos and the 5100 or 6100 are a stiff shock?

The 6100 is stiffer than the 5100?

Pivot · June 6, 2019

5 hours ago, amxguy1970 said:

That's the thing, when you lead everyone to thinking these are the greatest things since sliced bread and more people start realizing they aren't, word will get around and people will start trying other brands; it does the opposite when someone is too much of a fanboy or advocate. That is what has happened to BFG tires...

For example, people mention how it just floats over speed bumps or pot holes, that is absolutely not the case. On the way to work there is a torn up man hole cover that is rough, there was no change in how the truck felt when hitting it, maybe even slightly worse. Ditto with the speed bump near my office. The only change is if I hit it at a fast enough speed to launch the truck up (not going over it at the speed limit), it will then not rebound much at all after the hit which is what a shock is supposed to stop. That is to be expected though, my shocks had 60k miles on them of a not easy life. My truck didn't pogo much when new. I chalk up the overly positive reviews to the placebo effect.

The biggest changes I saw with these are pulling in to my driveway it did mostly stop the side to side motion and bigger bumps at faster speeds. If I were to assign a number on improvement from stock to worn out to these new shocks on the same big bump at highway speeds. I would say stock was 7 out of 10, worn was maybe 3 or 4 out of 10 and these are maybe 9 out of 10. Small bumps all are equal at maybe 6 out of 10, might even the bilstein's down one to 5 out of 10 since they are a little rougher in many cases compared to new and especially worn. I have mine set at the 3rd notch (one from the top) for what it's worth.

Maybe more people will give these honest reviews so people realize they are a nice upgrade but not to expect too much out of them, I have already heard from many stating they didn't get anywhere near the change they were expecting out of them. Some see more change when replacing worn out shocks with 50k+ miles on them. I can't imagine I would be very satisfied if I replaced them when the truck was new at nearly $400 and an afternoon of wrenching, granted each person is different but I am not wearing rose colored glasses either.

Tyler

Tyler, nice write up with details. So much of this stuff is subjective and people love to spend money, modify, change things up. Some guys will drop decent coin for marginial improvements. Take the Cold Air Kits guys love to buy and install. Few hundred bucks and an hour to install. Some say it's a waste of money, no change in performance. Probably correct, but damn, it looks badass and I pulled a bunch of plastic crap and baffles that dominated the front of the engine bay and tossed it in the trash. Cleaned things up and I swear I hear the increased whooshing sound when I step on the gas over stock. Some of it could be in my head.

I think a lot of guys start looking at 5100's as an inexpensive replacement or a better route to level vs a spacer. Guys looking for both, (replacement+level) than it's even a better deal. I think a lot of the interest, questions, excitement, has shifted to the 6112. Yes, a price increase but also higher expectations.

I'll be one of those guys that's pulling new shocks off and replacing. Installation happens on Tuesday. I've been looking for setting info on the front adjustable, plus looking at wheels. I'll know after Tuesday and will be sure to comment. I hope the 6112 will be a big improvement over my stock struts and coils. It's a much thicker strut with a larger piston rod and body size that should provide more damping over what I have. More importantly, I'm interested in the new springs designed to match.

My expectations aren't huge. I looked around a lot. Quite a few options, with Bilsteins, Eibach and Fox 2.0 being lower mid range. Prices really start to ramp up to the $1.5k-$2k+ range after that with the more exotic options available like Kings. Wasn't worth it to me, but I'm sure others would argue they are worth every penny. That's what makes these forums great. I basically wanted to just lift the front a bit. I like a firm ride and thats what I expect. Hoping to correct a few behaviors I don't like. I have the Z60 with 20 inch rims. The current ride is firm. Some of the biggest differences I've seen over the years in ride quality came down to rims and tires. Lots of guys will trade ride quality for looks. A lot of my experience is with sports cars. Those larger rims that look bad ass, beat the hell out of me. The tires have tiny shoulders that are susceptible to damage. The ride is tough, but I keep doing it. I can feel the road through the tires and my steering wheel. Sometimes I wince when going down crappy roads, but most the time I love it. Hope that suspension settles in. Would be curious to know what size rims and tires you are running.

manderson7015 · June 6, 2019

Have you been over a railroad crossing yet?
Be prepared to loose your teeth! LOL
I am just so thankful feeling that I'm not the only one with these negative opinions.

I forgot. I hit my head going over a RxR crossing.[emoji846]

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rah7777777 · June 6, 2019

Maybe i'm one of the few....

I have a stock 2018 Z71 and I have no issues with the suspension. I got no beef with the Ranchos.

Its a truck, it goes over bumpy roads, plows over potholes, jumps railroad crossings, all in a way that has never made me think " this suspension is crap".

But my old truck was a 2002 with all original suspension, that was a bumpy ride, so maybe i've just adapted.

Now, I would like the 5100's so i can raise the front end to level it for some 33" BFG's :-)

Yondu · June 7, 2019

I feel that there is a lot of difference in rake with our trucks. I didn't have nearly as much as some had. I put my 5100s on the 3rd setting and it looked nearly level, top setting would have probably been perfectly level.

I'm not a fan of leveled trucks so I left it at the 3rd setting and replaced the 1.25" block with a 2". Still has rake so when I put a full load in the back or am towing my car it's perfectly level.

I'd really like to hear Frome so done who goes from good 5100s to 6112s. I'm part of the group that says the 5100s are decent but far from blow my mind outstanding. It's firmer than I want. I do have 20s, but with a P rated 33.

Edited June 7, 2019 by Yondu

amxguy1970 · June 7, 2019

I have stock 18's on a P265/70/18 General Grabber AT2 run at 32psi (had them at 36 for a little while to compensate for winter temps but started getting some center wear so I brought them back down).

Tyler

Pivot · June 7, 2019

7 minutes ago, amxguy1970 said:

I have stock 18's on a P265/70/18 General Grabber AT2 run at 32psi (had them at 36 for a little while to compensate for winter temps but started getting some center wear so I brought them back down).

Tyler

Interesting. I was guessing you might have 20" or even 22". Those 18" rims with tires should be considerably softer than 20". Tire your running is not 10 ply either. Pretty sure thats standard load. I've even looked at the 18" rims a few times when shopping wheels. That extra rubber, bigger shoulders, offer a little more protection on curbs, softer ride. I'll still probably stick with 20's, might try and avoid a 10 ply, but not sure I could tell the difference. It's a truck. I have 20"s on a car with summer bandaids on rims. Grips like the devil, but always dodging potholes. I feel everything, but car is tight.

Sierra Dan · June 7, 2019

17 hours ago, rah7777777 said:

Maybe i'm one of the few....

I have a stock 2018 Z71 and I have no issues with the suspension. I got no beef with the Ranchos.

Its a truck, it goes over bumpy roads, plows over potholes, jumps railroad crossings, all in a way that has never made me think " this suspension is crap".

But my old truck was a 2002 with all original suspension, that was a bumpy ride, so maybe i've just adapted.

Now, I would like the 5100's so i can raise the front end to level it for some 33" BFG's :-)

Which was one of my points earlier.

Ranchos may be fine for some of you but does not offer any adjustability despite how you think they handle on their own.

Sierra Dan · June 7, 2019

Looks like at least one person from the T1 section agrees with me

Gearhead1000 · June 7, 2019

Serra Dan I have procomp pro runner.

Yondu · June 7, 2019

Bilstein says the 6112 springs have a spring rate of 750lbs, linear. I've read oem is 560. To me it sounds like these would be much, much firmer but I've read it doesn't quite work like that.

Maybe someone smarter than me will be able to explain why, but I figured I'd share the info.

Red_5 · June 9, 2019

Here's a 6112 thread already started, maybe we should leave this thread 5100s to avoid confusion.

Sierra Dan · June 10, 2019

On 6/7/2019 at 1:11 PM, Gearhead1000 said:

Serra Dan I have procomp pro runner.

How do you like them Phil?

I know they only have 2 settings on the front shocks.

0" lift (stock) and 2". You basically flip the collar/lower spring seat one way or another.

Otherwise they look similar to the 5100 on the outside and cost is comparable.

Also come with a 90 Ride Satisfaction Guarantee

Edited June 10, 2019 by Sierra Dan

Gearhead1000 · June 10, 2019

Sierra Dan, I thought they did a good job of managing the loads. Maybe a bit stiff empty but I never am so I would have bought them again if not for the premature seal leak. I think the ultimate shock would be adjustable. So I could soften it up for empty and then dial it up for loaded. But I can say they were night and day compared to stock.