Ordering Bilstein 5100's

delrmx01 · December 22, 2015

I just ordered mine today from ajusa. A few hours later I received a shipment notification. They have them back ordered on their site but I was told they received a shipment in today. Paid 93.00 and change for each, front only and 76.00 each for the rear.

jrob56 · December 22, 2015

When I set out to buy them I ordered from 4WP but after a few days, I called and they had no clue when they would be in. Next, I ordered from Suspension Connections because their site said in-stock .... They were not. Next I called Michigan Truck Springs and they confirmed they had them. Ordered, fast shipping, easy. They are a little more pricy but it wasn't worth $25 to not know when they would ship. http://www.truckspring.com/products/Bilstein-5100-Series-(Ride-Height-Adjustable)-Front-Shock-Absorber-GM__24-238304.aspx

I like them, they did the job of leveling it. I set it on the top setting and I enjoy that height. Ride is more firm but in a good, responsive way.

Here is a pic. Pretty level. I have my old wheels and tires in the bed so it's weighted down a little.

Looks great how was the install? Can you get shock tower out pretty easy?

6D9 Matt · December 22, 2015

The 5100 series will not work on a 2015 GMC Denali for a couple of reasons. Mainly, you will lose the Magna Ride feature of the truck (all four shocks have wires in them that the computer controls the ride of the truck). The 24-238304 Ride Height Adjustable, the shaft of the shock is to big in diameter to fit through the hole in the metal/rubber grommet that is in the strut plate. The 33-238319 rear will fit, but it does not have Magna Ride wiring.

Well... looks like I may be going a different route if this is the case. Damn

fondupot · December 22, 2015

Well... looks like I may be going a different route if this is the case. Damn

Yea magnetic ride makes things a whole lot more difficult. You can level, there are ways. But simply swapping out the shocks is not as easy as on a regular truck.

6D9 Matt · December 22, 2015

So if I have Denali, I need just a a basic leveling kit such as the 2" Rough Country kit:

http://www.roughcountry.com/gm-leveling-lift-kit-1307-8.html

fondupot · December 22, 2015

So if I have Denali, I need just a a basic leveling kit such as the 2" Rough Country kit:

http://www.roughcountry.com/gm-leveling-lift-kit-1307-8.html

no. These will not work either. It says right on that page, does not fit Denali with mag ride.

Because the mag ride has sensors that will be out of whack. So you need to find a kit that works with mag ride.

There is a whole thread on leveling/lifting mag ride equipped trucks. I suggest you read through it.

crushNchowda · December 22, 2015

So if I have Denali, I need just a a basic leveling kit such as the 2" Rough Country kit:

http://www.roughcountry.com/gm-leveling-lift-kit-1307-8.html

NO, as fondupot mentioned, but also keep in mind if you are to go ahead and install a leveling kit by moving sensors around & fabricating brackets etc. you'll be voiding the warranty, and those magride shocks are not cheap. I don't know exactly what they go for, but for C5 vettes they go for around $350-$400 a corner, for the C7 vettes they're about $550-$650 a corner, don't believe me? here http://store.revolutionparts.com/cultragfactoryparts.com/auto-parts/2013/chevrolet/corvette/grand-sport-trim/6-2l-v8-gas-engine/rear-suspension-cat/ride-control-scat

Now, I imagine the magride shocks on the trucks aren't the same level as the vette parts, but I can't imagine they'd be THAT much cheaper. So, you may want to look into that first before you do anything.

Depending on the value, maybe you cannibalize the whole suspension and sell it sensors/shocks and all....use the proceeds to fund a "real" lift...this is one reason I opted to get an AT vs. a Denali...not just for the ability to add a level/lift, but because if anything goes on that magnaride system out of warranty (and of course it WILL fail out of warranty lol) you're going to have some big repair bills.

Question is, can you just remove/disable the magnaride system on the Denali trucks and swap out for "regular" shocks w/o any effect, or will removing it somehow interfere w/ other electronic programs like stabilitrak etc.??

fondupot · December 22, 2015

or will removing it somehow interfere w/ other electronic programs like stabilitrak etc.??

It would be reasonable to assume that to be an issue.

6D9 Matt · December 22, 2015

Thanks guys. I remember now I had read some of this stuff but it was a while ago. I am just now considering the kit. Thanks I will go read back a little more and figure out some options.

zback · December 22, 2015

When I set out to buy them I ordered from 4WP but after a few days, I called and they had no clue when they would be in. Next, I ordered from Suspension Connections because their site said in-stock .... They were not. Next I called Michigan Truck Springs and they confirmed they had them. Ordered, fast shipping, easy. They are a little more pricy but it wasn't worth $25 to not know when they would ship. http://www.truckspring.com/products/Bilstein-5100-Series-(Ride-Height-Adjustable)-Front-Shock-Absorber-GM__24-238304.aspx

I like them, they did the job of leveling it. I set it on the top setting and I enjoy that height. Ride is more firm but in a good, responsive way.

Here is a pic. Pretty level. I have my old wheels and tires in the bed so it's weighted down a little.

What size tires you got in the picture?

Looks sharp!

OUTLAWnj · December 23, 2015

Some of the kits have relocation brackets for the Magna Ride.

OUTLAWnj · December 23, 2015

6D9 Matt, here is a thread with a ton of info in it. http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/168618-leveling-kit-for-2015-sierra-denali-magnetic-ride/

delrmx01 · December 28, 2015

Question, the front 5100's have a small piston rod snap ring-- do any of you know the purpose of it? I ask because one of them is missing from my pair and if it's important to have for installation purposes. The ring itself is pretty flimsy.

chuckl1218 · December 28, 2015

Question, the front 5100's have a small piston rod snap ring-- do any of you know the purpose of it? I ask because one of them is missing from my pair and if it's important to have for installation purposes. The ring itself is pretty flimsy.

If I understand your question correctly, the snap ring is what adjusts the ride height and would therefore be essential to installing them. The ring is what the coil spring rides upon.

delrmx01 · December 28, 2015

If I understand your question correctly, the snap ring is what adjusts the ride height and would therefore be essential to installing them. The ring is what the coil spring rides upon.

Actually is not that snap ring. It's literally on the rod. It's a very small ring. Let me see if I can take a pic of it, guess that would help. Lol