Bilstein 5100 Shocks

seadoons · July 31, 2008

Spoke to a guy at four wheel parts today and told him I am looking to have new shocks installed. I told him that my front end sits higher because I had the torsion bars turned a while back. He recommended the Bilstein 5100 series because they are a taller shock and will accomodate for the additional height in the front.

Does anyone have this shock? How does it compare to the Bilstein HD that everyone else seems to have? I think he might have been talking about the 5100 series height adjustable shock.

Thoughts???

seadoons · July 31, 2008

Anybody? I am hoping to order them today.

silverad03 · July 31, 2008

I don't know the technical specs on the shocks, but I replaced my Z71 Tennecos with Bilstein 5100's shortly after I installed the Ford keys and the front shocks are still the limiting factor in the front suspension travel. Even with the Bilsteins, my truck rode pretty rough until I lowered it down a little. You can still tell I lifted the front end when looking at it, but the ride is still a bit rougher than the factory ride. I wish Bilstein made a shock for 1-3" lifts and I'm surprised they haven't since so many guys crank their t-bars. That said, I don't think the Bilsteins are really any shorter than the factory Tennecos.

Another option I considered is the 2" shock mount risers that come with some of the newer leveling kits, but someone at one of the companies that makes them told me that the ride will be even worse with these on a 1/2 ton because the shock doesn't extend far enough in its operating range to properly dampen the suspension, even with the factory length shocks. I was surprised that he told me this, but glad the guy was honest and didn't give me the "I don't care whether it works or not but I'm promising you it will just so you'll buy this and I can get a fatter commission check this month" answer.

If you're looking for a better ride, the best thing I can recommend is put the factory replacement Bilsteins on and tweak your front-end down until it rides well enough for you.

seadoons · July 31, 2008

I think they do have height adjustable shocks and that is what I am talking about. Check this link:

http://www.bilstein.com/offroad.php

Scroll down and you will see "Bilstein 5100" and "Bilstein 5100 Ride Height Adjustable". If you look at the height adjustable ones it looks like those are there to adjust from 0 to a few inches to accomodate additional height in the front end.

Thoughts?

silverad03 · July 31, 2008

I think they do have height adjustable shocks and that is what I am talking about. Check this link:

http://www.bilstein.com/offroad.php

Scroll down and you will see "Bilstein 5100" and "Bilstein 5100 Ride Height Adjustable". If you look at the height adjustable ones it looks like those are there to adjust from 0 to a few inches to accomodate additional height in the front end.

Thoughts?

The 5100 Ride Height Adjustable shocks won't work if you're putting them on your '02 Z71. Reason being that the height adjustable shocks are designed for coil-over front suspensions - they allow you to raise the height of the front end by raising the bottom spring seat, which indexes your front end higher. Your '02 Z71 doesn't have coil-over springs, it has torsion bar springs and they are not compatible with what this shock was designed for.

On the other hand, if you follow the links for the 5100 series (not the Ride Height Adjustable one) application chart on the link in your post, Bilstein is making a shock for trucks with torsion key lifts like yours and mine. See part number "BE5-C153-H0" for the front shock - this one is applicable on '99-'06 4wd 1/2 ton GM trucks. I would order these.

seadoons · July 31, 2008

Thanks for all of the replys. I ordered the straight 5100 series shocks (not the height adjustable). The way I understand it is that the shocks I ordered are basically the same as the yellow and blue ones but accomodate for the additional height in the front.

I put new tires on the truck last week - I got 75,000 out of the old BFGs. I put BFGs on again and they are WAY quieter than the last ones. New shocks go on next week...and after an alignment I'll be driving a new truck with 115,000 miles on it!

silverad03 · July 31, 2008

Thanks for all of the replys. I ordered the straight 5100 series shocks (not the height adjustable). The way I understand it is that the shocks I ordered are basically the same as the yellow and blue ones but accomodate for the additional height in the front.

I put new tires on the truck last week - I got 75,000 out of the old BFGs. I put BFGs on again and they are WAY quieter than the last ones. New shocks go on next week...and after an alignment I'll be driving a new truck with 115,000 miles on it!

Gotta love the BFG's!! I'm still working on my first set.

Good info about the 5100's - I was thinking about ordering them myself now but was concerned that they might be innately more harsh because they are "off-road", which it sounds is not the case.

Let us know how the install goes and what you think about the ride, etc.