Bilstein 5100 Settings

[snivilous]

Last week I installed a set of Tundra 5100s with the 5 adjustable settings. They're on the lowest setting and it's fine, I'm just curious why people say that you get a harsher ride if the setting is moved up? It looks like the shock should just be extended further in it's natural state at higher settings, but why does that change how the ride quality is?

Thanks.

 

[ryhi]

the higher the setting you choose, the higher the preload on the coils get.

 

[snivilous]

the higher the setting you choose, the higher the preload on the coils get.

How are the springs being preloaded? The spring will compress the same amount no matter what setting it's at, so if it's on the highest the shock should just extend pushing the lower arm further down so that the spring can sit in the same position it normally would. The only thing that should be changing is the extension of the shock when the truck is sitting, which I don't see/know why that would affect the ride quality.

Unless I'm missing something about the whole IFS geometry, but since the top hat isn't fixed relative to the shock body the spring's natural amount of compression shouldn't change.

 

[tre9er]

I'm curious as well because the spring isn't changing it's load any that I can figure. The only thing I can figure is that often times shocks are valved to respond in their sweet spot (somewhere near the middle of travel) and if you extend beyond that you won't get the same response.

 

[dixie_boysles]

How are the springs being preloaded? The spring will compress the same amount no matter what setting it's at, so if it's on the highest the shock should just extend pushing the lower arm further down so that the spring can sit in the same position it normally would. The only thing that should be changing is the extension of the shock when the truck is sitting, which I don't see/know why that would affect the ride quality.

Unless I'm missing something about the whole IFS geometry, but since the top hat isn't fixed relative to the shock body the spring's natural amount of compression shouldn't change.

You are changing the length of the spring when you adjust it. The spring is no longer at rest when you shorten it by moving the lower spring perch up.

Coilover Spring Preload Explained | ZoomSquared

 

[snivilous]

You are changing the length of the spring when you adjust it. The spring is no longer at rest when you shorten it by moving the lower spring perch up.

Coilover Spring Preload Explained | ZoomSquared

Same thing, unless the top hat (where the top of the spring sits) stays in the same position relative to the bottom of the spring where it connects to the shock, then moving the perch doesn't preload the spring. And as such, if it was setup so it did preload the spring then it wouldn't make the truck ride any higher because the spring was being forced to be compressed (so it would ride lower and be a harsher ride).

 

[the great him]

you guys are correct, it does not change the ride, it only changes the height -as long as you are using a stock coil. now if you are using a after market coil that might be taller than a stock length coils then you risk over extending the shock/strut(ask me how i know)... but the different settings is solely for ride height. you do not change the pre-load on the springs by moving the C-clip on the body of the shock up or down, the rod/piston will travel to acomidate the different settings -so long as its a stock coil and not an extended length coil.

 

[curtperry]

There are two reasons that it rides harsher.

The first is that shocks have multiple valving zones depending on where in its travel the piston is sitting.

The second is that as you go higher you use up your available down travel (droop) and are therefore much more likely to have the shock top out (fully extending) when driving over bumps, which has a jarring effect on the chassis.


You are correct that no matter what preload setting or what spacers you have installed the spring sits at the same amount of compression at static ride height (assuming the weight of the vehicle is constant and heavy enough to compress the coilover assembly at all). What changes is the location of the piston in the shock.

 

[snivilous]

you guys are correct

There are two reasons that it rides harsher.

Cool, thanks for the info you guys!

 

[tre9er]

Now, I can't remember off the top of my head, but are the Tundra 5100's a longer shock than stock T4R's? I think they are...I think...