Bilstein 5100 at stock height opinions

nadrojcote · September 2, 2015

I'm considering going back down to stock height, I'm just not pleased with my rancho quicklifts. I'm thinking I may go with 5100's at the stock setting and then remove my rear block to level it. People who've replaced their shocks with 5100's and kept them at the stock height setting can you let me know what you think of the ride? Particularly in comparison to the stock z71 shocks. Theres two commons between the stock z71 shocks and the rancho quicklifts.

a. rancho brand

b. oem spring

Both of these ride too stiff for me, nothing like the z60 shocks in my opinion. Very harsh over cracks in the road and rail road tracks, very springy feeling.

you can see in my picture below that the quicklifts are longer than stock and the spring is comressed compared to stock. I'm hoping that 5100's with stock height setting will allow the spring to not be so compressed and I'm also hoping the variable valving of the 5100's is better than the rancho 9000's

DeePa · September 2, 2015

My 5100s on all 4 corners and at the highest setting have been the best upprase to my truck. Even my mid 60s mom commented on the difference vs oem z71s.

Stock setting should be smoother as the spring perch is lower, thus making the spring softer right? Im no suspension guru but my ass knows what feels more comfy and the truck is like my old 04 slt...riding on a cloud.

DeePa · September 2, 2015

Another note, there was one bump on rt 4 in ri which my old z71 junkos would bottom out on. Since the 5100s i can hit full speed and it just soaks it up.

Another 14 sierra truck was behind me one morning so i watched in the rear view...he bounced around like crazy.

nadrojcote · September 2, 2015

My 5100s on all 4 corners and at the highest setting have been the best upprase to my truck. Even my mid 60s mom commented on the difference vs oem z71s.

Stock setting should be smoother as the spring perch is lower, thus making the spring softer right? Im no suspension guru but my ass knows what feels more comfy and the truck is like my old 04 slt...riding on a cloud.

Did your z71 ranchos feel the same as mine? very harsh over man holes, cracks, expansion joints and rail road tracks? Almost seems like the shocks cant handle that fast of a movement and they just stiffen right up. if so how does it handles them now?

DeePa · September 2, 2015

Yep...junk rancho stock...it would jarr the truck over anything. Suspension was stiff and still is, but the shocks now are doing their job. I didn't do the labor for the fronts, but i honestly feel they were failing at 26k. The rears had different rebound rates off the truck when i swapped them.

After putting the rear billys on in may and waiting for the fronts which came in early aug, the truck seemed to ride worse every day bc of the front shock failing imo.

nadrojcote · September 4, 2015

Seeing how the 5100's aren't currently available in Canada and our dollar conversion is brutal right now I've gone ahead and ordered 4600's. They're the same internally as 5100's without the lift snap rings. Considering I'm going to be running them at stock height anyways I figured I might as well. I'm just not a fan of the yellow on my white truck.

I'm going to sell my quicklifts and rough country control arms. Depending on how the billies play with my rancho rears I may have to get some 4600's for the rear as well. Hoping that one of the nine settings on the rear shocks feels similar to the front 4600's

I'll post some pics when I've got them installed. Plan on removing the rear blocks and it should sit level, but a couple inches lower than it is now.

andyg16 · September 4, 2015

How much did the 4600s end up costing you? I've been able to find the 5100s off this website:

http://www.bilsteincanada.com/index.php?cPath=306_774_16449_16450

For $510 CAD, plus shipping etc. I'm looking at upgrading the shitty Ranchos on my denali just waiting on a good price for them.

nadrojcote · September 4, 2015

How much did the 4600s end up costing you? I've been able to find the 5100s off this website:

http://www.bilsteincanada.com/index.php?cPath=306_774_16449_16450

For $510 CAD, plus shipping etc. I'm looking at upgrading the shitty Ranchos on my denali just waiting on a good price for them.

That's where I got my 4600's, but they said they don't have the 5100's in stock until mid next month.