Yup. I put them on my old k2500 and noticed the difference. I liked them so much i plan on putting bilsteins on my ram. But i want 5100s because i have 35s and a 6" lift
I think 4600 came stock on my 98. When they wore out, i put yellow Monroe on. They were ok. About 10 yr ago i found out AutoZone sold Bilstein. I bought a set for the rear and love them. If i remember correctly, going through AutoZone they have a limited life time warranty. But i love my Bilstein shocks. When i get my front end rebuilt, im putting new Bilstein all the way around.
I remember your 5100 installation video like it happened yesterday! 4600 is amazing installed on 2002 Crown Victoria lowred for 4 years and still ride like a new while another brands not stand for more 1 year!
Bc this is not a paid sponsored review … people need to understand that when it comes to a vehicle and its maintenance… no one pays attention to the suspension until they have a catastrophic failure let alone will they pay attention to oil changes and other fluid maintenance So it’s good to see a review based on how one feels their vehicle should be running and the mileage one puts on certain components of their vehicle
I confirmed on the phone with bilstien there is no difference from the 5100 to the 4600 except the 5100 can work on a truck lifted up to 2 inches. Otherwise they perform exactly the same and the 5100 works the same at stock ride height.
I believe there are some minor valving differences between the 4600 and 5100s. I'm also on a set of mixed and matched Bilsteins 4600s up front and 5100s in the rear (mostly because retailers were out of the 5100s when I was buying the fronts). But they seem to work well together anyways so happy with it as is.
they are the exact same shock - the 5100 is designed for slightly lifted vehicles while the 4600 is designed for oem spec. Internally they are the exact same.
Both fantastic shocks. Different valveving slightly. The other issue is the stock ride height of a lift capable shock. May have been bottoming the 5100’s at times.
Yes the 5100's have slightly stiffer damping from what I've read. As far as bottoming out it would at least depend on the vehicle I believe. I just put 5100s on my truck 2 days ago. Its a stock height 2016 Ram 2500. The collapsed length of the 5100 is only like 0.13" longer so I'm certain it would still hit bump stops before bottoming the shock. Very pleased with the ride improvement on bigger bumps on the highway and speed bumps in parking lots.
@1ROAD there’s nothing wrong of swapping g from 5100 to 4600. It’s still an upgrade monotube shock absorbers. Honestly Bilstein B6/4600 is still a must have shocks. 2: When are u gonna upgrade ur front 3157 turn signals, ur rear 3156 turn signals with sylvania zevo amber , and a Novita - LED flasher relay, and a Sylvania - zevo 3157 red led bulbs for ur 03’ Chevy suburban? Ur truck needs a full complete zevo bulb upgrades ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 We would love to see them how they perform well for ur Chevy application content 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
can you explain the process. are you saying tighten the new shocks bottom bolts after you drop the cars weights on it? . im going to replacing mine soon
The 5100's are more for off road, like out on a ranch etc. . The 4600's are made for paved roads and I had them on my 1996 Ford F150 with a towing package and my current Toyota Tacoma.
Nope. Call Bilstein and talk to them. The 4600 and the 5100 are the exact same on the inside with the exception that the 5100 are make for up to 2 inches of lift. If you are stock height, save your money and just get the 4600s. The 5100s will also work, but you are paying for something you won't be using. And the 5100s look different on the outside. I think the shocks were just worn out on the vehicle.
@@stickbeard I'm maxing out the 5100s to the 7th ring position in front and adding a 1 inch spring lift in the rear. I'm shooting for 3 inches of lift. I won't be running 35s but I will be close at 34 inch tires. This is more for a lift than anything, I just don't want to use spacers. I'll change the control arms and linkage also.
I put Bilstein 4600 on everything. Got them on a small blazer,which at first I put Monroe's on because I didn't have the money, and literally 6 months later I put the bilstein's on it, what A difference. Same with a 84 1 ton Chevrolet van put Monroe Magnums on it(again money problems but it cost me more in the long run), yeah they were just barely better than the blown ones, 30 ft Class c motorhome on a Ford chassis that was the biggest difference right there. So when I'm getting at is save your money and get the Bilsteins from the get-go.
The 5100s are used more in the front with the spring perch, that has a coil spring mounted, allowing for adjustablity to give a 1-2" (or more) lift to the vehicle. Your system uses torsion bars so adjustable shocks are not needed. Honestly, should have gone with the 4600 the first time around and would have save a few bucks. Like you said, internally, basically the same single tube, gas filled, digressive valve shock. The 5100s are zinc coated steel, while the 4600s are painted. And the paint can wear off just as quick as the zinc can look dirty. Also, the 5100s are longer since they tend to be used with vehicles that have been lifted. If you crank your torsion bars to lift the front end, you might have needed the 5100s; not having lifted the front end makes the 5100 appear to be too long. But in some cases, length only matters at certain times.
Amazing video; I just bought two 5100’s for the front of my 2020 F350. But I’m not lifted, so I’m returning them and throwing in some 4600’s. Might need to spray paint them tho haha
I think the blue AC Delco shocks are the best. I replaced mine on my 2006 GMC Yukon 4x4 with over 140K miles a few months back. They felt very stiff when pushing down and came back up smoothly. I sold them of facebook market place for 60.00. I used the 4600 and I opted to buy the bushings from GM as they are beefier and include a heavy nylon sleeve to help eat up that very large hole on the top frame mount. I still have the stock Nivomat self leveling shocks in the rear. I do have the 5100 on my 2018 Z71 Crew Cab Sierra.
The two is designed for two very different ride and control. You can't make a judgment on pushing in on them because of course they are going to react differently.
The 5100s are meant to be less stiff. My truck came stock with the 4600s. I was off-road a lot so I wanted something with a little bit more cush. So I swapped to the 5100s and it helped a lot.
@@bullheimer the truck was an odd configuration. It was a trd sport 4x4 crew cab long bed with a small leveling lift kit, tow package, leather seats, and oversized tires. The valves are slightly different in the 5100s and they are designed for lifts and oversized tires in mind so that's probably the difference.
Plus google search for 4600 vs 5100 gives one lots of results Stating that the 4600 is for more daily driving vs 5100 are for altered suspension and bigger tires over factory specs
The 5100's are valved with softer compression and rebound curves for offroad comfort and less wheel hop on grave, dirt, or wash board surfaces. Compared to the 4600's valved with higher compression and rebound curves for on-road and highway driving that requires more overall damping response to control the springs and bounce at high speeds. This is a great video with real life samples. I wish modern Chevy's Z71 package was built on the 4600's not the Ranchos as they are even softer than a 5100.
The 4600s are the best , I ran them on my 05 Silverado 2wd . The ride is nice , and smooth . I’m planning on purchasing a set for my 2023 rcsb 5.0 f150 .
Great stuff Jimmy! I'm at that point with my Suburban. I've replaced the fronts before but not with the original Billsteins. The rear are still original if you can believe that and still have that iconic blue and yellow look to them. I remember when you put those 5100's on and thought I needed to also but, thanks to this video (like many others) I think I'll stick with the 4600's. Thanks for sharing and I can't wait to see what's next.
This is a great video. I just wanted to ask if your Suburban is stock height? I recently purchased the 5100 on sale for my stock 01 Tahoe not realizing it was for 0-2" lifts. Would this be an issue?
Both the 4600 and 5100 come in a variety of lengths. Big plus for the 4600 is the paint is much more rust resistant than the zinc coating on the 5100. Note that OEM Bilsteins are not the same as aftermarket even if they have the same looks and yellow paint. OEM shocks have the vendors' specific valving (probably softer), aftermarket has the Bilstein (probably stiffer) valving.
I removed the mag ride shocks on my 17 Yukon and went with a pretty cheap set and have not been happy with them at all. The ride is very floaty and doesn’t feel under control, especially when we are loaded down with all our gear for a trip. The other thing I can’t stand is that they don’t feel like they soak up any of the bumps. Everything transfers into the truck. One last thing, the ride height. In the front it was a strut assembly and the company said the ride height would be basically level but it’s not. The front springs never settled so it’s squatting while driving, which I hate. After watching this video I’ll be swapping out to the 4600’s in the front and going back with air ride in the rear.
The 5100s on my 13 F150 are adjustable by moving a snap ring. I used them to level my truck and handle an A/T tire. Even they I went up 2" plus a bigger tire, bory roll was reduced.
I had a full set of 4600s on my 97 F250 HD for about 20 years before I noticed a rear leaking. I replaced the rears with new 4600s. Then I noticed the front bouncing down the road with my slide in truck camper on the back. So I replaced the fronts with new 4600s. I figured if the first set lasted 20 years, that was reason enough to buy them again.
I had 4600s on my Frontier, they rode perfectly fine. I now have 5100s because I'm lifted and feel fine too. I did how ever put 100lb steel bumper on front and I put stiffer springs
Easiest way to figure out if you need new shocks is the bounce test. Just push down on the front (or rear) of your vehicle a few times then step back. If it continues to bounce up and down more than a couple of times you probably need new shocks. Good shocks should be able to stabilize your vehicle rather quickly. Worn shocks won't.
Are your coil springs the same age on both vehicles? They do start to sag over time, transferring more work load to shocks, thus reducing efficiency/longevity. 5100s have a lifetime expectancy of 50K miles
Do automotive shocks generally have a stack of shims inside? Like a dirt bike shock does. For instance are automotive shocks like the Bilstein 4600 a "cartridge type" shock or are they all the old-school type with just a damping rod with oil holes in it? Because on a dirt bike the old damping rod shocks are absolutely terrible and once you feel the difference of the cartridge design, the difference is obvious.
I have my 2015 jeep grand Cherokee that is lifted with the aid of the 5100 leveling shocks and they have been great. I also have a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually that is leveled with 2 inch springs in the front and I have skyjacker shocks that are doing fine in the rear but are leaking in the front after only 6 months. Unfortunately they do not have the 5100s available for my truck but was wondering if the 4600 would be ok even if the front is leveled.
I'm pretty sure the 4600's have a different loading profile. It's been a while but I went through the same journey years ago. The 4600's have a soft start and damp progressively firmer as they compress (progressive?). The 5600's have a firm start then soften a bit (digressive?)... Regardless of why. I like the 4600's more also. (02 Avalanche 1500)
Love my 5100s on my '07 Lincoln Mark LT in which the 4600s would fit too. Also, the Bilstein company recommends the "boot" side bolted to the wheel side.
Well, thanks @stephenmonroe7541 @don_moody for the GM clarification as I am familiar with Ford and Honda. Why would Bilstein want their shocks installed boot side down if they couldn't be? 🤔🤦♂️
I’ve always heard about Bilsteins but someone told me that they were really expensive. But they r not bad. I wonder if they have a pair that will fit my 2013 VW Passat. Thanks for sharing
i have tryed a few rear shocks on my 2006 chevy cobalt and all i get is a stiff bang bang bang feels like having know shocks trying out some bilstein shocks for the rears just ordered them hope they do the trick.
Wait, the 5100 you said has been on vehicle for 2 years? And the 4600 is brand new? If that's correct if course the 4600 will be more harder to push in, am I right?
Maybe the new keys from the 95 makes it stiffer than the original keys in the 03, so the keys have the tbars in the original position. So they sag too. Just my 2 cents
its because the 4600s are a higher pressure shock, so less shockfade but also a stiffer ride quality, the 4600s also have less hydrolic fluid so if your going off-road and flexing the suspension a whole lot, the 4600s could overheat and wear out faster on the trails
You keep talking about FADE. I do not think you know what this means. "Fade" is from heat during heavy use and is why high-end off-road trucks have shocks with external reservoirs and baja truck shocks have radiators. Sure, they'll wear out over time but that has nothing to do with the "Fade" that you read about on the 4600 brochure.
Correct. Fade also corresponds with stroke/frequency. Short stroke shock shafts, as in the case of a auto/truck shock, don't really heat up the shock like a full-on off road vehicle (think trophy truck or motocross), where the stroke can be as much as a few inches both ways for mx or wayyy more for a trophy truck. Hence the piggy-back reservoirs to store more fluid and aid in cooling. The fluid in those shocks takes a beating, and is changed out regularly.
I have a set of Rancho 5000 shocks on my 79 Dodge W150. They seem decent so far, but with the factory leaf springs, it's got a stiff ride. When I get my lift kit, I kinda want to try Bilstein. Also considering a Bilstein coil over kit for my 2020 Civic too.
i have front leafs too and i dont think my new 5100's did diddly over the ranchos i had or the rough countrys i had. pretty sure the leafs just cant be helped unless i take one out. Rough Fn ride!
I've used both but prefer 5100 cause I didn't notice a difference and I don't like that the 4600 get all the weight from suspension pulling down on them when the front end is raised.
that's what my trd-offroad tacoma has stock. they do great off-road and great on road. I have another tacoma with 6112's and 5160's in the rear. And prefer driving on the 4600
@@xephael3485 Honestly the part that took longest for me was deciding if the extra cost of the Bilsteins was worth while, so would have been a guide for that I suppose. The actual process of putting the shocks in was so easy I spent longer greasing my caliper slide pins while I was there than doing what I was there for.
Thanks, i was about to buy 5100s for 06 2500hd… im going with 4600s. I have them in an 04 2500hd already and they are great… i was thinking the 5100 is an upgrade but that is not the case with more research…. 4600 more road firm over 5100.
The longer shocks are designed for a taller vehicle. They are probably compressed to much and not able to work as they are designed to for a suspension with more travel
Here's what I. Will say bill steins are awesome.I love them but As far as the back goes throw a set of nivomats on there and you will never look back. They are self-adjusting and they hold the back of a suburban planted like no other shock, not even a bilstein, will compare.
those are supposed to be matched to nivomat springs. did you do this. and, they are coil springs. anybody have any idea if these shocks would work with a leaf spring rear vehicle?
I recently installed 4 new 4600's on my single cab Silverado feels really stiff. Not sure if it's due to them being new. I can literally feel every bump.
@@autoshaman4319 try a set of Monroes and find out. I have the struts and rear shocks and they ride a lot smoother than my Bilsteins ever did. My Friend🤣
4600 are amazing on my 03 Tahoe. Ride on highway is like a modern vehicle. LOVE the reliability of these Tahoes and Suburbans.
GMT800 👍👍👍
The pinnacle of GM excellence
Yup. I put them on my old k2500 and noticed the difference. I liked them so much i plan on putting bilsteins on my ram. But i want 5100s because i have 35s and a 6" lift
Crapp I just put 5100 on mine they are kind stiff at low speeds but high speed ride good
I have a 01 denali a 07 tahoe and a 07 escalade and my 01 denali with 323,000 miles on it and it rides better than both 07 escalade and tahoe
I think 4600 came stock on my 98. When they wore out, i put yellow Monroe on. They were ok. About 10 yr ago i found out AutoZone sold Bilstein. I bought a set for the rear and love them. If i remember correctly, going through AutoZone they have a limited life time warranty. But i love my Bilstein shocks. When i get my front end rebuilt, im putting new Bilstein all the way around.
I remember your 5100 installation video like it happened yesterday! 4600 is amazing installed on 2002 Crown Victoria lowred for 4 years and still ride like a new while another brands not stand for more 1 year!
Bc this is not a paid sponsored review … people need to understand that when it comes to a vehicle and its maintenance… no one pays attention to the suspension until they have a catastrophic failure let alone will they pay attention to oil changes and other fluid maintenance
So it’s good to see a review based on how one feels their vehicle should be running and the mileage one puts on certain components of their vehicle
I confirmed on the phone with bilstien there is no difference from the 5100 to the 4600 except the 5100 can work on a truck lifted up to 2 inches.
Otherwise they perform exactly the same and the 5100 works the same at stock ride height.
I believe there are some minor valving differences between the 4600 and 5100s. I'm also on a set of mixed and matched Bilsteins 4600s up front and 5100s in the rear (mostly because retailers were out of the 5100s when I was buying the fronts). But they seem to work well together anyways so happy with it as is.
A lot of people run 5100s in the rear for towing, you've got a good combo there.
they are the exact same shock - the 5100 is designed for slightly lifted vehicles while the 4600 is designed for oem spec. Internally they are the exact same.
Both fantastic shocks. Different valveving slightly. The other issue is the stock ride height of a lift capable shock. May have been bottoming the 5100’s at times.
Yes the 5100's have slightly stiffer damping from what I've read. As far as bottoming out it would at least depend on the vehicle I believe. I just put 5100s on my truck 2 days ago. Its a stock height 2016 Ram 2500. The collapsed length of the 5100 is only like 0.13" longer so I'm certain it would still hit bump stops before bottoming the shock. Very pleased with the ride improvement on bigger bumps on the highway and speed bumps in parking lots.
Plan on replacing my stock shocks on my F350 with 4600s. great video.
@1ROAD
there’s nothing wrong of swapping g from 5100 to 4600. It’s still an upgrade monotube shock absorbers.
Honestly Bilstein B6/4600 is still a must have shocks.
2: When are u gonna upgrade ur front 3157 turn signals, ur rear 3156 turn signals with sylvania zevo amber , and a Novita - LED flasher relay, and a Sylvania - zevo 3157 red led bulbs for ur 03’ Chevy suburban?
Ur truck needs a full complete zevo bulb upgrades ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
We would love to see them how they perform well for ur Chevy application content 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
The bottom bolt is the one you need to leave loose until loaded, the top isn’t nearly as critical in that way.
🤔
@@1RoadGarageyea you preloaded the bushing
can you explain the process. are you saying tighten the new shocks bottom bolts after you drop the cars weights on it? . im going to replacing mine soon
@@youorlast4296 yes.
The 5100's are more for off road, like out on a ranch etc. . The 4600's are made for paved roads and I had them on my 1996 Ford F150 with a towing package and my current Toyota Tacoma.
yep
Nope. Call Bilstein and talk to them. The 4600 and the 5100 are the exact same on the inside with the exception that the 5100 are make for up to 2 inches of lift. If you are stock height, save your money and just get the 4600s. The 5100s will also work, but you are paying for something you won't be using. And the 5100s look different on the outside.
I think the shocks were just worn out on the vehicle.
@@stickbeard I'm maxing out the 5100s to the 7th ring position in front and adding a 1 inch spring lift in the rear. I'm shooting for 3 inches of lift. I won't be running 35s but I will be close at 34 inch tires. This is more for a lift than anything, I just don't want to use spacers. I'll change the control arms and linkage also.
I put Bilstein 4600 on everything. Got them on a small blazer,which at first I put Monroe's on because I didn't have the money, and literally 6 months later I put the bilstein's on it, what A difference. Same with a 84 1 ton Chevrolet van put Monroe Magnums on it(again money problems but it cost me more in the long run), yeah they were just barely better than the blown ones, 30 ft Class c motorhome on a Ford chassis that was the biggest difference right there. So when I'm getting at is save your money and get the Bilsteins from the get-go.
The 5100s are used more in the front with the spring perch, that has a coil spring mounted, allowing for adjustablity to give a 1-2" (or more) lift to the vehicle. Your system uses torsion bars so adjustable shocks are not needed. Honestly, should have gone with the 4600 the first time around and would have save a few bucks. Like you said, internally, basically the same single tube, gas filled, digressive valve shock.
The 5100s are zinc coated steel, while the 4600s are painted. And the paint can wear off just as quick as the zinc can look dirty.
Also, the 5100s are longer since they tend to be used with vehicles that have been lifted. If you crank your torsion bars to lift the front end, you might have needed the 5100s; not having lifted the front end makes the 5100 appear to be too long. But in some cases, length only matters at certain times.
Amazing video; I just bought two 5100’s for the front of my 2020 F350. But I’m not lifted, so I’m returning them and throwing in some 4600’s. Might need to spray paint them tho haha
Don't bother they are exactly the same even at stock ride height.
I think the blue AC Delco shocks are the best. I replaced mine on my 2006 GMC Yukon 4x4 with over 140K miles a few months back. They felt very stiff when pushing down and came back up smoothly. I sold them of facebook market place for 60.00. I used the 4600 and I opted to buy the bushings from GM as they are beefier and include a heavy nylon sleeve to help eat up that very large hole on the top frame mount. I still have the stock Nivomat self leveling shocks in the rear. I do have the 5100 on my 2018 Z71 Crew Cab Sierra.
I’m thinking about putting those Nivomats back in just out of curiosity… still in good shape.
Delusional.
The two is designed for two very different ride and control. You can't make a judgment on pushing in on them because of course they are going to react differently.
Yes 5100s are digressive and 4600s are progressively damped. Basically offroad vs street
I recently put 4600 on a 99 Jeep TJ. I also put in an OME steering stabilizer. The Jeep rides awesome.
The 5100s are meant to be less stiff. My truck came stock with the 4600s. I was off-road a lot so I wanted something with a little bit more cush. So I swapped to the 5100s and it helped a lot.
sounds backwards to me. as for valve rates it's supposed to be the same for both per other shock comparo
@@bullheimer the truck was an odd configuration. It was a trd sport 4x4 crew cab long bed with a small leveling lift kit, tow package, leather seats, and oversized tires. The valves are slightly different in the 5100s and they are designed for lifts and oversized tires in mind so that's probably the difference.
@@colt1815I have a 92 sierra extended cab step side z71. Do you think the 5100’s will work for my pick up?
I just looked it up... They carry a lifetime warranty 😊
Exchange the old ones and have them for backups
Plus google search for 4600 vs 5100 gives one lots of results
Stating that the 4600 is for more daily driving vs 5100 are for altered suspension and bigger tires over factory specs
The 5100's are valved with softer compression and rebound curves for offroad comfort and less wheel hop on grave, dirt, or wash board surfaces. Compared to the 4600's valved with higher compression and rebound curves for on-road and highway driving that requires more overall damping response to control the springs and bounce at high speeds. This is a great video with real life samples. I wish modern Chevy's Z71 package was built on the 4600's not the Ranchos as they are even softer than a 5100.
From everything I researched. The 5100s are for lifted vehicles
Yes that is the difference between 4600’s and 5100’s
The 4600 shocks are great for towing! I run them on my 98 Chevy K1500!
The 4600s are the best , I ran them on my 05 Silverado 2wd . The ride is nice , and smooth . I’m planning on purchasing a set for my 2023 rcsb 5.0 f150 .
5100s on my 2019 GMC Sierra AT4 have been a perfect replacement for the stock Ranchos
Great stuff Jimmy! I'm at that point with my Suburban. I've replaced the fronts before but not with the original Billsteins. The rear are still original if you can believe that and still have that iconic blue and yellow look to them. I remember when you put those 5100's on and thought I needed to also but, thanks to this video (like many others) I think I'll stick with the 4600's. Thanks for sharing and I can't wait to see what's next.
Fronts have the engine sitting on them, so they'll wear more. Bilstein makes a great shock. I have 4600s.
I love my 5100s in my 04
Had a '93 Suburban 4WD and had 4600's all the way around for many 1000's of miles with no complaints.
This is a great video. I just wanted to ask if your Suburban is stock height? I recently purchased the 5100 on sale for my stock 01 Tahoe not realizing it was for 0-2" lifts. Would this be an issue?
No
Both the 4600 and 5100 come in a variety of lengths. Big plus for the 4600 is the paint is much more rust resistant than the zinc coating on the 5100.
Note that OEM Bilsteins are not the same as aftermarket even if they have the same looks and yellow paint. OEM shocks have the vendors' specific valving (probably softer), aftermarket has the Bilstein (probably stiffer) valving.
I removed the mag ride shocks on my 17 Yukon and went with a pretty cheap set and have not been happy with them at all. The ride is very floaty and doesn’t feel under control, especially when we are loaded down with all our gear for a trip.
The other thing I can’t stand is that they don’t feel like they soak up any of the bumps. Everything transfers into the truck.
One last thing, the ride height. In the front it was a strut assembly and the company said the ride height would be basically level but it’s not. The front springs never settled so it’s squatting while driving, which I hate.
After watching this video I’ll be swapping out to the 4600’s in the front and going back with air ride in the rear.
The 5100s on my 13 F150 are adjustable by moving a snap ring. I used them to level my truck and handle an A/T tire. Even they I went up 2" plus a bigger tire, bory roll was reduced.
I had a full set of 4600s on my 97 F250 HD for about 20 years before I noticed a rear leaking. I replaced the rears with new 4600s. Then I noticed the front bouncing down the road with my slide in truck camper on the back. So I replaced the fronts with new 4600s. I figured if the first set lasted 20 years, that was reason enough to buy them again.
I had 4600s on my Frontier, they rode perfectly fine. I now have 5100s because I'm lifted and feel fine too. I did how ever put 100lb steel bumper on front and I put stiffer springs
Easiest way to figure out if you need new shocks is the bounce test. Just push down on the front (or rear) of your vehicle a few times then step back. If it continues to bounce up and down more than a couple of times you probably need new shocks. Good shocks should be able to stabilize your vehicle rather quickly. Worn shocks won't.
Are your coil springs the same age on both vehicles?
They do start to sag over time, transferring more work load to shocks, thus reducing efficiency/longevity.
5100s have a lifetime expectancy of 50K miles
Do automotive shocks generally have a stack of shims inside? Like a dirt bike shock does. For instance are automotive shocks like the Bilstein 4600 a "cartridge type" shock or are they all the old-school type with just a damping rod with oil holes in it? Because on a dirt bike the old damping rod shocks are absolutely terrible and once you feel the difference of the cartridge design, the difference is obvious.
I have my 2015 jeep grand Cherokee that is lifted with the aid of the 5100 leveling shocks and they have been great.
I also have a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually that is leveled with 2 inch springs in the front and I have skyjacker shocks that are doing fine in the rear but are leaking in the front after only 6 months.
Unfortunately they do not have the 5100s available for my truck but was wondering if the 4600 would be ok even if the front is leveled.
After you put on the torsion keys on the suburban 03 did you put extended shocks or stock height shocks?
I have 4600 on the f250
I had them on my pro4x Xterra for years. Our 02 Tahoe came with some 5100s on it and they are great too
I'm pretty sure the 4600's have a different loading profile. It's been a while but I went through the same journey years ago. The 4600's have a soft start and damp progressively firmer as they compress (progressive?). The 5600's have a firm start then soften a bit (digressive?)... Regardless of why. I like the 4600's more also. (02 Avalanche 1500)
Love my 5100s on my '07 Lincoln Mark LT in which the 4600s would fit too. Also, the Bilstein company recommends the "boot" side bolted to the wheel side.
Wonder if it’s because gravity would help keep debris from working into the cylinder if the boot failed.
Front shocks on those GMs only install one way.
Yes this reduces unsprung weight.
You can't flip the shocks to the boot side down on the front of this truck. Different mounts on each end
Well, thanks @stephenmonroe7541 @don_moody for the GM clarification as I am familiar with Ford and Honda. Why would Bilstein want their shocks installed boot side down if they couldn't be? 🤔🤦♂️
I’ve always heard about Bilsteins but someone told me that they were really expensive. But they r not bad. I wonder if they have a pair that will fit my 2013 VW Passat.
Thanks for sharing
U get what u paid for.
Remember. Quality isn’t cheap, and cheap isn’t quality.
If its still slushy check your jounce bumpers. When I replaced mine it made a big difference because one was gone.
i have tryed a few rear shocks on my 2006 chevy cobalt and all i get is a stiff bang bang bang feels like having know shocks trying out some bilstein shocks for the rears just ordered them hope they do the trick.
Hey Teacher can you put them on my HHR. Are they better then the struts
Jimmy has a nice hat 😊
awsome vid, wondering how many miles you put on in the 5 year span
Wait, the 5100 you said has been on vehicle for 2 years? And the 4600 is brand new? If that's correct if course the 4600 will be more harder to push in, am I right?
I'm anxious to see how these 4600s hold up in the same amount of time. Surprised the 5100s seemed to weaken so fast.
If I have a leveling kit do I need to go with the 5100s?
How about the KYB mono max or one of the koni shocks that are meant for a pick up trucks or SUVs?
The bilstein will still be better with 4600 compare to others. Because of that 46mm digressive internal piston.
Have u ever considered using Coilovers?
Maybe the new keys from the 95 makes it stiffer than the original keys in the 03, so the keys have the tbars in the original position. So they sag too. Just my 2 cents
its because the 4600s are a higher pressure shock, so less shockfade but also a stiffer ride quality, the 4600s also have less hydrolic fluid so if your going off-road and flexing the suspension a whole lot, the 4600s could overheat and wear out faster on the trails
Just throwing it out there I'm not a huge fan of Bilstein shocks if you like them that's great whatever you like really that's what matters.
Can confirm that the internals are the same.
What kind of rims do you have on the truck?
You keep talking about FADE. I do not think you know what this means. "Fade" is from heat during heavy use and is why high-end off-road trucks have shocks with external reservoirs and baja truck shocks have radiators. Sure, they'll wear out over time but that has nothing to do with the "Fade" that you read about on the 4600 brochure.
Correct. Fade also corresponds with stroke/frequency. Short stroke shock shafts, as in the case of a auto/truck shock, don't really heat up the shock like a full-on off road vehicle (think trophy truck or motocross), where the stroke can be as much as a few inches both ways for mx or wayyy more for a trophy truck. Hence the piggy-back reservoirs to store more fluid and aid in cooling. The fluid in those shocks takes a beating, and is changed out regularly.
will 4600 fit my 02 tundra with a 2in leveling kit?
Estimate the mileage put on the 5100 shocks? I am curious.
Mileage is critical information - 5 years of use has nothing to do with it. Shocks generally have a 20,000 mile life.
@@mikemcf918920,000-50,000 miles in general. And especially for twin tube shocks.
Can you recomend me some good shocks for 1995 suburban V6.5L Diesel? thanks
Great video . I think the 4600 is for trucks that are not lifted.
I have a set of Rancho 5000 shocks on my 79 Dodge W150. They seem decent so far, but with the factory leaf springs, it's got a stiff ride. When I get my lift kit, I kinda want to try Bilstein. Also considering a Bilstein coil over kit for my 2020 Civic too.
i have front leafs too and i dont think my new 5100's did diddly over the ranchos i had or the rough countrys i had. pretty sure the leafs just cant be helped unless i take one out. Rough Fn ride!
@@bullheimer fair enough. That's good to know though.
Hi . brother like the awesome videos good job . Wanted to know if this would work on my GMC Yukon 98. I have the 3 inch lift kit rough country .
I've used both but prefer 5100 cause I didn't notice a difference and I don't like that the 4600 get all the weight from suspension pulling down on them when the front end is raised.
I thought the Bilstein shocks were lifetime warranty?
Different lengths of shocks cause the shock to work in different areas of the stroke
And it depends of how u use them
that's what my trd-offroad tacoma has stock. they do great off-road and great on road. I have another tacoma with 6112's and 5160's in the rear. And prefer driving on the 4600
Aren't the 4600s for stock lift height and 5100s require 2-4 inch lift rear and 4-6 inch front. That's how they are for my 1997 suburban.
Hey man I’ve been looking for some of these shocks and since you won’t use them can I buy them off you?
Why not look up at shock surplus? They got u covered
Just finished putting Billstein 4600 front shocks in my 03 suburban about 3 hours ago. Would have loved to had this video as a guide.
Unfortunately it was less of a guide and more of an opinion piece.,
@@xephael3485 Honestly the part that took longest for me was deciding if the extra cost of the Bilsteins was worth while, so would have been a guide for that I suppose. The actual process of putting the shocks in was so easy I spent longer greasing my caliper slide pins while I was there than doing what I was there for.
Those slide pins… 👍 just did that too.
@@1RoadGarage Stripped one out on 5/6 sides of both the bolt and my tool. That cracking noise was the best sound I've hear in my entire life.
Thanks, i was about to buy 5100s for 06 2500hd… im going with 4600s. I have them in an 04 2500hd already and they are great… i was thinking the 5100 is an upgrade but that is not the case with more research…. 4600 more road firm over 5100.
Nice Tahoe!
Pleas anyone can recomend me the Blisten part number for a GMC 1995 Suburban L65 V8 6.5 Diesel. 4x4. Thanks! I have a lot of confusion
Clear coating when they are new will keep the nice
Interesting. I like my 5100s on my 01 Burb
I really liked the 5100.
4:25 просто ты поставил новый амортизатор.а не модель) это 1-трубные аморты) нам всегда говорили , что американцы любят мягко)
For the price of them they should last a lot longer than 2 years. Also try sos pads on the other shocks to shine them up
Maybe he was on stock height with 5100, and overtime that can compress a bit too soon.
It’s been 5yrs. I’m happy with that length of time. 🤙
The longer shocks are designed for a taller vehicle. They are probably compressed to much and not able to work as they are designed to for a suspension with more travel
anyone know where i can buy 5100’s?
Excellent !
Maybe if you don’t cranked up the torsion bar the 5100 works shorter than they must. If you lift the suspension the story will be different
Damn i just bought the 5100 for my suburban thinking they were better but now im regretting my choice
5100 are super stiff on 2006 Silverado 1500 z71 4wd & on my 2005 2500hd 2wd duramax . 4600s are the way to go .
Here's what I.
Will say bill steins are awesome.I love them but As far as the back goes throw a set of nivomats on there and you will never look back. They are self-adjusting and they hold the back of a suburban planted like no other shock, not even a bilstein, will compare.
those are supposed to be matched to nivomat springs. did you do this. and, they are coil springs. anybody have any idea if these shocks would work with a leaf spring rear vehicle?
@@bullheimer I used precision HD 1/2 ton springs and nivomat shocks.
Also Arnott makes a front replacment shock that is stouter than the bilstiens
The 5100s quickly corrode. They look like they wouldn’t but they do. This is my experience with multiple pairs and I don’t live in the rust belt.
I’m just sad they don’t make any for my Dakota 😢
I recently installed 4 new 4600's on my single cab Silverado feels really stiff. Not sure if it's due to them being new. I can literally feel every bump.
Because your tires are now on the road instead of floating . You have better control now .
Does not Bilstein have a lifetime warranty?
Yes they do. But it depends on where u bought it from
@toyotabrony it say on their company website
@@master6435true. But whatever u bought from, they will covered ur warranty.
Unless u kept the proof of their purchase than u can.
@@master6435we know.
But it also has other warranty they have of whatever website u bought for those shocks.
@@master6435 well of course it does.
But it also depends on which which website u bought that sells aftermarket shock absorbers.
These shock couldn't be more stiff. I couldnt wait to get them off my Xterra. Getting jolted every small pot hole etc. shocks are supposed to flex
Put 3m clear protection on the 5100.
Hey man I’d love to talk to you about the 95 Burban build, I got a 1996 burb and I want to ask you a few questions
I hope I’m missing something but you’re seriously comparing not only two different shocks but comparing a new shock to a worn out shock?!
Sorry I just came over here to troll so I'm apologizing in advance..
What they have in common is : Neither are Fox.....
I've used Monroe for over 40 years and I'm not paying that much for something that isn't any better than the Monroe's.
My friend. You don't know what your talking about. There is no comparison
@@autoshaman4319 try a set of Monroes and find out. I have the struts and rear shocks and they ride a lot smoother than my Bilsteins ever did. My Friend🤣
5100 is not designed to be used with stock height vehicles
Yeah they do.
It has options u can use from stock height to lifted applications.
There are different 5100s.
It's not longer! Just a long stem.
upside down valves in strut