Bilsteins- 4600 or 5100? - Page 2

mbbutler · 07-03-2021, 10:48 AM

4600's on mine painted black.
5100 steering stabilizer painted black.

D W · 07-03-2021, 10:55 AM

I've run 4600's on all of my rigs for the past 35 years. Even when I lived in Fairbanks where temps are often -50°F in the winter, the shocks held up. Never had a failure. Bilsteins have a lifetime warranty against failure, but it doesn't cover rust related failures.

As far as color? Black/Silver or Blue/Yellow? Who cares?

tonyz1 · 07-03-2021, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbbutler

4600's on mine painted black.
5100 steering stabilizer painted black.

Not sure I will mind the blue and yellow but just in case, any special kind of paint you had to use to paint them black?

Theo · 07-04-2021, 11:05 AM

I know the OP has a Super Duty, but I found the 4600s to be a bit softer (more compliant) than the OEM shocks on my 25,000 mile F-150. This imparted a bit of "squishiness" when towing our ROO.

However, soon after the shocks were installed, I switched from the OEM P-metric Wranglers (the real culprit) to Michelin LT tires and that solved the issue brilliantly! Now the rig tows better, and the ride while connected/disconnected is very controlled.

I'm sure your SD has LT tires so you probably won't experience what I did at first. IMHO, if your truck isn't lifted, why waste the money on the 5100s.

tonyz1 · 07-04-2021, 04:52 PM

Thanks DW, Theo and all others that replied. I appreciate the real world experiences and insight. I don't think the color will matter much to me but I never claimed to be much of a color coordinator! Mainly interested in the difference, if any, in the ride of each. The articles and reviews are confusing. One says they are valved the same and another says the 5100 is valved firmer and gives a "stiffer" ride.
So that is why I originally posted this question, to see if there is actually a ride difference. The price difference is not that great but it is a difference. Enough to get a couple nights at a campground! Lol
My F-250 SD already rides like a super duty and definitely don't want to make it worse. Thanks to all replies again. Happy camping.

flyflotrtim · 07-04-2021, 05:29 PM

Prior to purchase I called Bilstein. They said the ride would be equivalent, the 4600s are appropriate for stock heights. Ride is a definite improvement over OEM.

Big bird · 07-12-2021, 07:07 PM

This is all B. S.

5100 will fit front and back.

The problem is, they are on the wrong angle.

I talked to Bilstein and they said do not use the 5100 on an F250, they will not give you the service you need. There web site says the same thing.

Don't listen to these nuts with there know it all advice.

Bilstein makes then and knows what works and will not work. I bought the 4600 and love them. Did I use 5100, NO, I listened to Bilstein.

NMWildcat · 07-12-2021, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big bird

This is all B. S.

5100 will fit front and back.

The problem is, they are on the wrong angle.

I talked to Bilstein and they said do not use the 5100 on an F250, they will not give you the service you need. There web site says the same thing.

Don't listen to these nuts with there know it all advice.

Bilstein makes then and knows what works and will not work. I bought the 4600 and love them. Did I use 5100, NO, I listened to Bilstein.

Wow. Just wow.
You are going to need to give some specifics about what makes your truck or suspension requirements so different that they would tell you that. The wrong angle statement makes no sense as all shocks for a given truck will be at the same angle, you just need to have the correct travel length.
Their website and their tech line have no problem finding front and rear 5100 model shocks for our F250 and F350 SD trucks on the farm. Some lifted, some not, most older.

Bhrava · 07-12-2021, 09:04 PM

According to an article I read a few years back when I bought them for my 2014, they said the valving is the same, but length of travel is increased. I had them on all 4 corners of my 2016 which had that lousy FX4 suspension, and it made a 100% improvement in handling alone, ride was a bit more form, but it no longer jumped all over when hitting an expansion joint.

IIRC for street driving, the valving worked identically to the 4600, but because of the extra length of travel it had more cushioning when off roading where the 4600 would bottom out and not be able to provide the extra cushion. More fluid and gas in the shock body to better absorb long travel shock.

IOW for street driving you wouldn't notice a difference, going off road would be where you would.

jagabom · 07-12-2021, 09:38 PM

4600's on my 2011 GMC 5.3 2WD. Took the bouncy, bouncy out of the truck. Maybe 5100's would do the same but these are fine.
Jim

Kampy699 · 07-13-2021, 09:59 PM

2016 F250FX replaced original RanchO after 36,000. Installed 5100’s in 2019. A little harsher ride in the rear, but much better overall. Not my daily driver. If I recall the FX may be lifted compared to std and require the 5100??

tonyz1 · 07-14-2021, 01:09 PM

Basically, the reason I am leaning to the 4600's is because of the look up on their web site. For my 2017 F-250SD CC it shows the 4600 for front and rear. But the 5100 shows up as 0-1" (and up) lift in rear and only for 2-2.5" lift (and up) in front. They don't list anything different for my FX4 package. I was thinking the only thing different on the FX4 were the shocks and skid plates, according to dealer when I bought the truck.
So looks like stock truck they are recommending the 4600's. Just the way I'm reading it anyway.
Thanks for all the first hand experiences. They do help in my decision making. Happy camping.

Bhrava · 07-14-2021, 01:36 PM

5100's are designed for lifts. When you level a Superduty, you raise the front 2", so that is why the front 5100 is starting @ 2" Add a 2" lift, raises the rear 2" and front 2". If you lift AND level, you can't use the 5100's.

Oh forgot to mention, the FX4 package is Skid plates, sloppy shocks, and a button for downhill brake assist. Almost forgot, fancy sticker too. After owning a few Fords, I will never ever get another FX4, not when I can add much better quality skid plates, better off road shocks, and a $10 button and Forscan to enable downhill assist, which I actually did on my F150 2WD.

If you order Max Tow on an F150, AND FX4 package, you actually are paying twice for the 3.55 E locker! Both packages include it, but neither are discounted for the cost difference of the rear end.

Windjammer16 · 07-30-2021, 10:04 PM

I have ran the 5100's on a 2013 F150 and now I have them on my 16 F350 DRW FX4, both were not lifted or leveled. It's a 1 ton so I expect the ride to be somewhat stiff. Those old ranchos it came with were worn out.
I have the 5100 as the steering stabilizer on the F350 also. Great shocks been using them for years.

dward51 · 07-30-2021, 11:34 PM

I put 4600's on my 2002 GMC Sierra 1500. I also added a Roadmaster Active Suspension to the spring packs. Both made a huge difference in both towing and daily driving. RAS took a lot of the tongue squat out of towing with the WD hitch, and my utility and boat trailer (standard hitch on those two).

You may also like: