Bilstein 5100 thoughts
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I've had 5100s installed for about a year. Definitely stiffer than stock (XREAS in my case) and the ride can be rough sometimes.
I would compare the "stiffness" of the ride to that of my daily driver, an '07 BMW 335i w/ Sport package. The difference is that the BMW has an extremely rigid unibody frame; the car feels like it's been carved out of a solid block of steel. Quick, transient hits like manhole covers or small potholes are absorbed by the suspension and not felt by passengers. The 4Runner, however, is a body-on-frame truck. The body is not nearly as rigid as the BMW's. You can sense this the moment you close the door after getting in and you can sort of hear the whole body reverberate. When the 4Runner hits a manhole cover, the fact that the suspension/wheels/tires are heavier (unsprung weight) coupled with the less-stiff body structure means more of these small impacts are transmitted directly to your backside, UNLESS you have really cushy springs/shocks (which the 5100s are not).
The 4Runner is a truck. It is what it is. I'm okay with it. The ride is actually okay once you get it up to highway speeds. I've done 10+ hour driving days and walked away without feeling the need for a chiropractor. But if you're looking for that factory, creamy ride quality, you won't get it with 5100s.
I would compare the "stiffness" of the ride to that of my daily driver, an '07 BMW 335i w/ Sport package. The difference is that the BMW has an extremely rigid unibody frame; the car feels like it's been carved out of a solid block of steel. Quick, transient hits like manhole covers or small potholes are absorbed by the suspension and not felt by passengers. The 4Runner, however, is a body-on-frame truck. The body is not nearly as rigid as the BMW's. You can sense this the moment you close the door after getting in and you can sort of hear the whole body reverberate. When the 4Runner hits a manhole cover, the fact that the suspension/wheels/tires are heavier (unsprung weight) coupled with the less-stiff body structure means more of these small impacts are transmitted directly to your backside, UNLESS you have really cushy springs/shocks (which the 5100s are not).
The 4Runner is a truck. It is what it is. I'm okay with it. The ride is actually okay once you get it up to highway speeds. I've done 10+ hour driving days and walked away without feeling the need for a chiropractor. But if you're looking for that factory, creamy ride quality, you won't get it with 5100s.
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Thanks for your input and explanation. I make frequent round trips from Portland, Oregon to the San Francisco Bay Area and like the current OEM setup. So, since my current front struts are leaking and have a 101,000 miles on them, I think I will replace them with stock Toyota shocks. Thanks again!
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JB40
New member
Yes so I did mine yesterday and I would like to revisit my earlier statements too.
The OPs pics look normal to me now that I have done mine and can see the pics on a larger monitor.
I would like to ask, how many miles were on the OPs OE shocks when replaced?
I can tell you that on mine at 120k, the ride is similar/slightly more firm, but not uncomfortable in the least. The major change is that I don't get the second (or third) bounce after hitting a dip. One and maybe a half bounce and I'm trucking again.
If you've ever seen an old, worn out boat of a car wallowing all over the place, those things soak up bumps pretty well. Put a set of Bilsteins on one, and the wallowing will be gone but the car won't absorb hitting a curb like it would with a worn out suspension. It will be a helluva lot safer though. OP may have been in the same situation even if he replaced with new OEM...
Anyway I'm very pleased with mine, but I've always had great luck out of Bilsteins.
Haas08Lmted
New member
Just put Bilstein 5100s on just the front with stock coils, would love to know more about your build to work towards. looks good
Thebeastlives
New member
It isn't the 5100 you have something else going on with your suspension or something wrong with your shocks. I run 5100 on my 2018 Trd pro 4 runner, 2008 4 runner and Tundra all the way around. In all cases the ride was much improved on the road and definitely off the road. The 08 needed to have the springs changed and depending upon the type of spring that will definitely make your vehicle stiff or soft. The bushing on both the upper and lower control arms should be checked as well. If it was me take them back to whoever installed them and tell them what you are experiencing. No good offroad shop will agree with your accessment of the 5100 and will find the real issue in your suspension. They are the gold standard of shocks for vehicles that spend most of the time on the road and some time off the road.
i concur. mine paired with the lowest lift old man emu springs are fantastic.
HOJeepster
New member
If you want a softer shock that doesn't break the bank, sounds like the Eibach kit might be another option.
Thebeastlives
New member
On the 08 4 runner we run Eibach springs front and rear because they have so many different types which I guarantee will meet your driving needs but we use the 5100 shocks. They are much better shock for on the road and offroad occasionally riding. That 4th gen rides just as well as our 5th gen Trd 4 runner with 5100 all the way around. Both vehicle are smooth comfortable ride even on these terrible pothole Tucson roads. They absorb every road side hazard incredibly well. For example, last after a heavy monsoon rain the roads were full of dirt berms which caused a jeep to crashed and flip over. I hit the same berm right behind the Jeep and my 4 runner caught a little air but when I came down at 55 mphs I was still under complete control and was able to break and get off the road to avoid him. They will not turn your vehicle into a trophy truck but when paired with the right springs and good OEM bushing and arms they will perform better than any OEM shock including my 2018 brand new ones. I'm going to remove the 5100 on my Tundra and go to King shocks but I'm going to a 2.5 reservoir and by pass setup which is totally beyond the 5100 for offroading. For mostly on the road driving the 5100 is just one of the best for the money.
5100's
I just put a set of 5100's on my 2008 4Runner V8, and it transformed the vehicle. I put on the new .85 rear springs, and stock front springs, with 160,000 miles. The vehicle is far more controlled, and the ride is not rough at all. I just did a 500 mile road trip with my wife and daughter, and neither one of them complained about a harsh ride. I think quite the opposite, it was very comfortable. I guess YMMV.
I just put a set of 5100's on my 2008 4Runner V8, and it transformed the vehicle. I put on the new .85 rear springs, and stock front springs, with 160,000 miles. The vehicle is far more controlled, and the ride is not rough at all. I just did a 500 mile road trip with my wife and daughter, and neither one of them complained about a harsh ride. I think quite the opposite, it was very comfortable. I guess YMMV.
Whalerman1
New member
I put them on my 06 Sport in 2014 and they have been fantastic. The ride is smooth.
Jad
Jad
I'm curious how many people are installing 5100's with the stock springs...
I just bought a 2007 with 150k miles on it and looking at the CARFAX it seems to have been regularly maintained but no mention of shocks/springs replacement and I notice the truck is a little sluggish in the handling department as I presume the suspension is still the same as the day it was bought and so I was going to install 5100's (likely with 0" lift or maybe 0.85") but keep the stock springs. If anyone has any reasons they'd advise against that I'd love to hear them. Not planning on off-roading, just taking long and rough roads out to camping spots in the woods from time to time and more concerned with the truck's handling to be sharper than it is now.
Thanks!
I just bought a 2007 with 150k miles on it and looking at the CARFAX it seems to have been regularly maintained but no mention of shocks/springs replacement and I notice the truck is a little sluggish in the handling department as I presume the suspension is still the same as the day it was bought and so I was going to install 5100's (likely with 0" lift or maybe 0.85") but keep the stock springs. If anyone has any reasons they'd advise against that I'd love to hear them. Not planning on off-roading, just taking long and rough roads out to camping spots in the woods from time to time and more concerned with the truck's handling to be sharper than it is now.
Thanks!
Heffernan
Member
I was leaning that direction before looking into a little more.
I ended up buying some used 4x4 FJ springs off of FB marketplace to pair with the 5100s, keeping the perch at the 'stock' setting. I think the pre-load of using the stock springs on either the 2nd or 3rd setting would make the ride noticeably worse, IMO.
With a 2wd, assuming a v6 as well, with 4x4 FJ springs your probably look at an 1" or so of lift... but it's hard to say for sure. The condition of your current suspension will play a factor as well.
Read this entire page regarding the drawbacks of running 5100s and stock springs. 4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ
that is a safe route im pretty sure. people arent supposed to use the lift settings when pairing them with lift springs anyway. the .85 setting levels out your front end i think too
Thanks. I may get the springs after looking at a link above but to start, I think just grabbing the 5100 shocks will be a solid upgrade!
Syr4RinNC
New member
I recommend doing the struts/ shocks and coils/ springs at the same time for cost and efficiency.
If youre going to install them yourself, less of a cost issue, unless you value your time as expensive, but paying twice for installation of the bilstein and then going back and paying to put in updated coils can add up.
So I was at 130 on an 08 4x4, definitely getting carsick with up and down and I do some mild off roading so went with the bilstein 5100 with stock springs at 1.75 it leveled out nicely, even after settling. Overtime, the rear began to sag and i did a long road trip with a trailer and that was miserable with a lot of up and down.
so because of the back sagging and for towing in the future, I updated. Being economical (read cheap) I got a pair of 5th gen coils someone was selling and have the front now set to 0.85. Definitely tighter, and ill be curious to see how it does towing
once you start upgrading the 4runner, its hard to stop and youll likely keep going.
If youre going to install them yourself, less of a cost issue, unless you value your time as expensive, but paying twice for installation of the bilstein and then going back and paying to put in updated coils can add up.
So I was at 130 on an 08 4x4, definitely getting carsick with up and down and I do some mild off roading so went with the bilstein 5100 with stock springs at 1.75 it leveled out nicely, even after settling. Overtime, the rear began to sag and i did a long road trip with a trailer and that was miserable with a lot of up and down.
so because of the back sagging and for towing in the future, I updated. Being economical (read cheap) I got a pair of 5th gen coils someone was selling and have the front now set to 0.85. Definitely tighter, and ill be curious to see how it does towing
once you start upgrading the 4runner, its hard to stop and youll likely keep going.
Yeah, I think that's my concern here...that if I plan on upgrading the springs down the line (or discover that I need to after only replacing the shocks), the double labor in effect doubled the price off the springs had I just done both in the first place. I've not yet priced out labor on it all but I'm assuming it would be more than $400 I'd be paying for springs, hence why I feel like the springs would cost twice as much! I'll likely look around for deal on both shocks and springs and just slowly acquire everything and have it all done at once...
