Bilstein products - any news yet?

[theKurt]

5100’s have been launched! Awaiting the inevitable YouTube reviews….

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[Powhunter]

I can’t see the 5100s being much of an upgrade over the stock red Bilsteins.

 

[BAQ717]

I can’t see the 5100s being much of an upgrade over the stock red Bilsteins.

They provide a lift and have longer travel. Best bang for your buck for 95% of those who don’t high speed desert run.

 

[Powhunter]

They provide a lift and have longer travel. Best bang for your buck for 95% of those who don’t high speed desert run.

Do they actually have longer travel than the new stock red off-road shocks with the piggy back reservoirs that were designed with the sway bar disconnect? This may have been true for the third gen, but now the stocks and the 5100s are the same diameter, plus the stocks have the remotes. I honestly think you’d be wasting your money ripping out the stock red Off-road shocks for 5100s.

 

[Norsk]

5100 is not worth the upgrade. I had them on 3G and felt it may make no difference with the red bilstein our TRD Off-Road have. Wait for 6112.

 

[Rocko]

My old 2nd gen with 5100's felt better than my 24"OR. Harder to bottom by more than a little bit, it felt more dampened and bombing along rough fire roads was better.
How do the new 5100's handle the bump stop? internal? That may be the problem I am having with the 24 shocks.

 

[Norsk]

My old 2nd gen with 5100's felt better than my 24"OR. Harder to bottom by more than a little bit, it felt more dampened and bombing along rough fire roads was better.
How do the new 5100's handle the bump stop? internal? That may be the problem I am having with the 24 shocks.

What spring did you have?

 

[Rocko]

What spring did you have?

Stock springs, and on clip 2 I believe for just a mild lift up front.

 

[Norsk]

Stock springs, and on clip 2 I believe for just a mild lift up front.

I was running OME 887.

 

[BAQ717]

Do they actually have longer travel than the new stock red off-road shocks with the piggy back reservoirs that were designed with the sway bar disconnect? This may have been true for the third gen, but now the stocks and the 5100s are the same diameter, plus the stocks have the remotes. I honestly think you’d be wasting your money ripping out the stock red Off-road shocks for 5100s.

Granted this video is for the Tundra but the TRD lift is a rebadged 5100 kit regardless of the truck so it is relevant and likely applies the same. The external reservoir on the stock OR is more for show than anything. I love mine, but I want a lift and to keep the OEM look.

 

[HarryDaHamster]

Wait for 8112/8100 bypass.

Corrected that for you

 

[Powhunter]

Granted this video is for the Tundra but the TRD lift is a rebadged 5100 kit regardless of the truck so it is relevant and likely applies the same. The external reservoir on the stock OR is more for show than anything. I love mine, but I want a lift and to keep the OEM look.

I would argue the stock Off-road Tacoma suspension is more capable than the stock off-road Tundra suspension. I’d also strongly disagree that the remote resi is for show. It holds extra cooling oil so that more of the shock body can be used for travel. I mean it’s your money, but I would hesitate “upgrading” shocks that may or may not even be better at all. Especially if you actually like the stock suspension and want to keep it stock looking. If you want some lift, there’s several good preload spacers or springs out there that would functionally do the exact same thing as the 5100 lift clips for a fraction of the price. Not that 5100s are expensive, but it just seems odd to me.

I’m sure the SR5 and Sport guys will love the 5100s, but if you already have an Off-road you might need to wait for the 6112/5160 for an actual performance upgrade.

That’s just my $0.02, and it’s worth exactly that.

 

[Chris_2025OR]

I ran 5100s in the past on a 1g tacoma, 1g tundra, and 4g 4runner. It's hard to compare apples to apples on the shock because they were all different vehicles with different springs. But, my $.02 is that 5100s are stiffer, so they use their travel more efficiently, but top out and bottom out harder than the stock 4g OR bilsteins. Less compliant ride overall on the 5100s and definitely harsher top outs compared to OR bilsteins, but you can probably rip a whoop section with more control on 5100s. 5100s fade much quicker than the OR bilsteins. Not enough up travel on the stock OR bilsteins, static height is a little too low. Conclusion - I would not change out my stock OR bilsteins to replace them with 5100s, but I would replace the stock spring. Great option for SR, SR5, and Sport though.

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