Bilstein B8 5100 adjustable struts

[ETB1]

Im starting this thread as i have the new struts installed and have about 400 miles on them. 75 of those miles are offroad the rest are a combination of highway and back roads. Dont let the title fool you. These struts are only adjustable before you puut them together. In order to adjust you have to take them apart move thr clip and reinstall. These struts have been good. The ride quality is much better and handlng has improved. I will keep updating as time goes.

[CHEVELLE598BB]

I just found these today while searching around for replacements. I have been running the regular bilsteins for years up front and they are starting to get tired. I have been running 5100 rears for years also and the different front and rear valving is starting to wear on me. I’m definitely going to try a set of the 5100s for the front.

[ETB1]

They are a nice ride

[Slowrider]

So if someone wanted they could get these and the z71 rear springs and not have to buy a lift kit?

I’m still trying to figure a lot of stuff out for my truck. This sounds like the best way to get the 2” lift. But then later if more lift is desired the lift kit could be put on in addition to the shocks.

I noticed that bilstein says more wheel travel. Would you be running the risk of over extending you CVs?

The extra travel seems to be in the compression stroke on these as the fully compressed length is overall shorter than the 4600 bilsteins. The full extended length is not as much as the 4600 has 16.96in vs 16.41 in on the 5100. The compression length for the 4600 is 12.13 vs 11.26 on the 5100.

[cpyonker]

Could you stack these and a lift? That would be sweet


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[Slowrider]

Well in ETB1’s build thread he has listed the he is running mark’s 3” lift with theses so I would think you could use them with a lift.

[mason10198]

Yeah you definitely CAN do it. Mechanically it will assemble. But you might blow something up if you start cranking over 3.5"

[cpyonker]

Hmmm


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[cpyonker]

Would be interesting


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[Slowrider]

So if I wanted to just use these up front with 87 springs and z71 springs out back, could I use the 5100 shocks for the Tahoe since they are for a 0-1” lift for the Tahoe?

[ETB1]

Sorry i havent updated my build thread lately. I currently have 4500 miles on the new bilstiens now. I would not recommend runni my marks lift unless you have the ring set in the stock position. But it is not necessary to have marks lift. Thee can be set to maximum height which is 2.25 inches. And the 81114 front aprings gave me about an extra inch after settling. So im at 3.25 inches. I do plan to put a 1/2 inch spacer on top to try out for a bit. I did it with my old set up (marks 3 i bc h front) and it ran fine.

[ETB1]

On the rear probably. I run shocks 3 inches longer then stock. But. Run z71 springs and 3 inch blocks in the rear.

[ETB1]

Also as a reminder, dont try putting these struts with marks if you do anything more then the stock setting on the strut. I literally nly have maybe a 1/2 inch between each ring n the springs at the top setting(2.25).