Thanks. I think my main concern is that the back end is light and with no load the 5100s will be too harsh. With a load I'm sure they're great but unloaded (which it is 95% of the time) I believe I need a softer shock in the rear. Any thoughts?
Any reviews of the new Bilstein 6112's?
- Thread starter flyfisher4822
- Start date
Thanks. I think my main concern is that the back end is light and with no load the 5100s will be too harsh. With a load I'm sure they're great but unloaded (which it is 95% of the time) I believe I need a softer shock in the rear. Any thoughts?
YetiX
New member
The 5100's are a little bit harsher, but it's not overly harsh. But you can easily start with the 6112's and see how those feel and if you need to firm up the rear, you can easily and cheaply do it.
jdmsneakerz
Member
I installed 6112 on my 05 2WD two day ago, along with Prothane sway bushings and they feel great. It minimized the nose dive by a great amount. As for the rear i did go with 5160 with Icon 2" coils. The ride itself is so much better.
very interesting. Glad to hear the 61112/5160 combo ride well. I read that quite a bit on other posts. Just didn't know if I really wanted to invest in new rear shocks.
I read some good reviews of both the Bilstein 5160 and the Icon 2.0 rear shocks. Since mine is daily driver to/from work mostly and with the wife, we're looking for comfortable street ride over off road performance.
I read some good reviews of both the Bilstein 5160 and the Icon 2.0 rear shocks. Since mine is daily driver to/from work mostly and with the wife, we're looking for comfortable street ride over off road performance.
YetiX
New member
Well, if you want to wait a month or so, I will be replacing my Icon 2.0's with Bilstein 5160's. I'll let you know what I think when I do.
I will try to be patient enough to do that thanks. If anything I may go with the 6112s up front and leave oem Tokico shocks in the rear for now and see how it goes.
Macallan
New member
I have the same setup! Been happy with it for a while now...
jdmsneakerz
Member
Totally! Eliminating much of the nose dive seems to be my favorite part.
I was curious and on the edge of getting Icon 2.0. But i thought i'd stick with Bilstein with Bilstein. You didn't like the 2.0's?
YetiX
New member
I do like them. However, they have to be re-built every 40k miles (or less). Bilsteins are install and forget. Plus, like you, I'm inclined to have the same shocks on both ends.
The Icons, as they are presently set up, are a little harsh when the 4Runner is unloaded, but perfect with a load in the rear. One nice thing about Icons is that you can send them in and have them re-valved to suit your preferences.
Just as a follow up to all these great responses...mine is 2wd V6 and will spending 99% of the time on city streets/freeways as daily driver. For those who currently have the Bilstein 6112 and previously had either the stock oem shocks or the Bilstein 5100, how is the onroad comfort for the 6112 and is it worth it for pavement only use?
Specifically any comments on how they compare for speed bumps, rough street pavement, etc?
thanks!
Specifically any comments on how they compare for speed bumps, rough street pavement, etc?
thanks!
YetiX
New member
For strictly on road use, I would stick to the 5100's. I feel like the 6112's are more directed towards absorbing the bigger hits and more frequent hits.
Terminator03
New member
Hmm... I just made it through all 20 pages, and the main takeaway for me from previous posts was that the 5100s were harsher for the street, and the 6112s were just all around better. Mine is 100% street at this point and I was originally planning to go with the 5100s since they are priced well, but after following this thread, I’ve been second guessing whether it was worth spending the extra coin for the 6112s. Just as a point of reference, I’m currently running the yellow Toyota labeled Bilsteins which were installed by the previous owner, along with heavier springs. The front sits level with the rear unloaded, but with all the tools I carry daily for work, there is a reverse rake, which is why I’m researching options. I was originally going to go with spacers, but then, I was thinking maybe just going with 5100 rears and better springs to gain more lift and load capacity, which in turn would require doing something different up front. And down the rabbit hole I go...:nono:
Macallan
New member
I've had both, the 6112/5160s are the better ride (and less jarring) both on street and off, than 5100s front and rear.
Terminator03
New member
Thanks, that’s what I gathered so far from this thread, but it’s great to get confirmation from someone who has actually run both.
YetiX
New member
I concur, they are better. It's why they're more expensive. But they won't help the reverse rake issue with your tools in the truck. You need heavier springs in the rear, like OME heavy duty. Only problem is they'll be slightly harsh when unloaded.
Have you thought about putting airbags in the rear springs? I put Airlift 1000's in mine for when I haul my dirtbike and they're perfect. 5 psi for daily driving and I don't even know they're there. 25-30 psi when the dirtbike is on the hauler and I don't even know it's there.
Terminator03
New member
I have thought about air bags after someone in a previous thread suggested them, but don’t have direct experience with them yet. Someone else said that they won’t add enough lift to get it back level, so I was confused by that since it was my understanding that is what their purpose kind of is... to add enough extra spring rate so as not to allow the sagging from the extra weight. If I had to guess, I’d say I carry an extra 200lbs back there with the 3/4” plywood platform/cargo shelf, and all my cordless drills, saws, hand tools, etc. when I bought it, it was already leveled so that’s why I have the reverse rake now. My current measurements from wheel center to wheel wells are:
LF 20 1/8”
RF 20 1/4”
LR 19 1/4”
RR 19 1/4”
I just wish I knew what was used for springs by the previous owner so I’d have a starting point when buying other components. The shocks from what I have been able to gather are the Toyota yellow Bilsteins that were from the Tacoma, but I don’t know if the springs are Tacoma, FJ, or something else. They aren’t stock because they are at least an inch higher in front than most of the stock V8 4x4 height measurements I’ve found in other threads. The rear has the Bilsteins too, but may have the stock coils, once again, not sure...
Last edited:
YetiX
New member
That's got to be tough not knowing what you have. I'm surprised that 200# in your cargo area makes that much of a difference. We have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks that weigh a combined 175# and I notice zero difference with them in the cargo area. Given that you're noticing a difference, I'd bet you have the stock springs in there.
Fwiw, my dirt bike plus carrier weigh around 400#. Without the airbags, I had serious reverse rake, I looked like a trophy truck and my handling was very squirelly at freeway speeds. With the airbags, I would just add air to them until my 4Runner was level again (usually between 25 and 30 psi) and the handling would be perfect again.
Terminator03
New member
Yeah, who knows, I may be way underestimating the weight, but I probably do have the stock springs in the rear because the height seems close to other stock rear heights. The previous owner probably just did the front to level it. I may have to try the bags as that would probably be enough. I am torn at this point though with wanting to increase everything a bit taller AND maybe some larger tires as well since I plan to get new wheels and tires this season anyway. At this point I may just get some lift springs in the rear, with 5100s, then I’m kind of leaning toward the 6112s for the front to balance out whatever height I need to get it leveled again, or maybe a slight rake in the rear when loaded (which is pretty much full time).
:
First, I ditto jonb's post, above.
Secondly, I disagree completely: merely installing new 5100's in place of the OEM shocks on the front is not making a significant change. I did that with 140K miles [easy ones] on my 2wd 07 model and it made virtually ZERO diff in the ride [I did front and rear, +0.85 on front seting]. Was effectively waste of time/expense for a LITTLE, TINY bit of improved damping on the front. virtually unnoticeable and of no improvement on the most irritating characteristics of the ride.
jonb I too have looked and looked for comparative reviews that seem to be 'real' concerning ride quality - The problem, or reality of many of the reviews is that the reason for the change was to get a lift, not to deal with ride quality issues. So if it looks cool and rides ok, its a win. I'd really love to hear from someone who has put significant miles/hours on the vehicle since going to the 6112's and tell us about rough backroads, broken pavement, etc hazards of everyday life.
I'm slowing coming around to the idea that the way to address the floppy ride is springs first, shocks second... If it were a motorcycle [I have a couple] that's the way the issue is approached. but I dunno much about 4runner suspension
YetiX
New member
I think we're talking about two different things with the 5100's. If all you do is swap the shocks to get a lift and don't change the springs, I agree it will not make a significant difference in ride unless your old shocks are worn out. If that's the case, you'll get more damping which will give a more controlled ride, but it will not affect the harshness.
I had 5100's on my 2WD for about 40k miles and had them on my 4WD for about 20k miles. In both cases, I also mounted up springs from a 4WD FJ Cruiser. This made for a great ride on the street, although a little harsh at times, and drastically reduced nose dive under braking. For about $550 all in, it was a vast improvement on the street. Off-road, I felt, and others who have done this swap agreed, the the 5100's lack sufficient rebound damping off-road which makes for a very bouncy ride in whoops. I also felt they blew through their travel way too fast on bigger hits off road and would bottom out way too easily.
I have now had the 6112's on my 4Runner for 12k miles, including a four off road weekend trips. On road, the 6112's feel a bit softer than the 5100's, but nothing drastic. It's sort of a, "Oh, that wasn't as hard a hit as I expected from that speed bump," type of thing. To me, as in this is my opinion only, the 6112's with their spring did not make enough of a difference over the 5100/FJ spring combo ON ROAD to justify the price difference.
OFF ROAD it's a whole 'nuther matter. I very much recall the first time I went off road with them (the weekend after they were installed). We were rolling down a trail and there was a tight 180* bend in the trail with some whoops in it. I didn't spot the whoops until it was too late to slow down as much as I wanted and I thought, "Oh damn, this is not going to be fun." I was amazed by how the 6112's just absorbed the hits while I tracked smoothly through the turn. If I had still had the 5100's, I would have absolutely bottomed out the front end and likely gone outside the turn into the bushes.
Keep in mind, this is a comparison between the FRONTS only, and between the 6112's with their springs and the 5100's paired with FJ cruiser springs.
Hope that helps explain the differences as I perceive them.
