Bilstein down! Sad face ensues.

PoRunner

PoRunner

New member
Well as some of you may have known I have had a passanger front shock leaking from the weld for a couple of weeks. Well this weekend was the nail in the coffin for it. Luckily it broke and I caught it so I was able to ratchet strap the spring and shock to the lower A arm so I could limp it home. Oh well, you gotta pay to play. Pictures for your viewing pleasure.


 
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If you send them this link and let them see the fail I'm sure they will make good on it. I can't really see them trying to screw you over. It is just not there way of doing business.

Keep us posted and let us know what happens when you talk to them.


Blue
 
I've had leaking shocks from Bilstein. As of a couple of years ago, they had a program where they sell you a new shock and ship it to you, then you send the old one back and you pay only shipping. That's if the dealer is inaccessible or(in my case) out of business(remember Performance Products?)
 
Interesting. I haven't seen others like this and I just installed 5100's.

How long had the shock been leaking? Was it enough time to plan for a possible failure (make contact with Bilstein).
 
I don't get it. I have never heard of the 5100's having all these issues and all of a sudden a lot of people who are running them are having issues. Leaking shocks, broken snap rings, even the shock actually breaking. Wtf is going on with Bilstein shocks all of a sudden? Its almost like the older ones were better and the "newer" batch of these shocks are all bad or something.

I was really planning on going with the 5100's for my lift again like I did on my Tacoma. But after seeing all of these recent problems, I don't know what to do for my lift now.
 
So a bit of an update...
It seems to be that there is a bit of confusion going on. I have spoken with a Bilstein rep and the individual is telling me they won't warranty it because it was installed on a vehicle that isn't applicable with the shock. I have a 00' Runner and they said it is just for Tundra and Sequoia. There are a couple of other options that I will entertain but Bilstein is worthless on helping at this point.
I have been in contact with Sonoran Steel and Steve over there has been nothing but excellent. He said he has never seen this type of failure either. I hope this was an isolated incident because it doesn't seem like Bilstein is going to do anything about this.
 
PoRunner said:
So a bit of an update...
It seems to be that there is a bit of confusion going on. I have spoken with a Bilstein rep and the individual is telling me they won't warranty it because it was installed on a vehicle that isn't applicable with the shock. I have a 00' Runner and they said it is just for Tundra and Sequoia. There are a couple of other options that I will entertain but Bilstein is worthless on helping at this point.
I have been in contact with Sonoran Steel and Steve over there has been nothing but excellent. He said he has never seen this type of failure either. I hope this was an isolated incident because it doesn't seem like Bilstein is going to do anything about this.
Click to expand...

This is the risk we take when running parts that are "designed" for our vehicles. When/if I go with some 5100's I will probably buy them from a local place that I know so that if I have an issue they will take care of me.
 
PoRunner said:
So a bit of an update...
It seems to be that there is a bit of confusion going on. I have spoken with a Bilstein rep and the individual is telling me they won't warranty it because it was installed on a vehicle that isn't applicable with the shock.
Click to expand...

I had this question yesterday but waiting on posting it in the case you forwarded them this post. My 5100's with 881 springs were a PITA to install. I've had shocks and coils in and out of my front end several times and this past combo was tough. Over all the strut was very long and when installed put things at a much different angle than it was before.

For reference, OP, what perch on the Bilstein's were you at? What spring other than just Tundra spring were you running (2x4, 4x4, DC,TRD)?
 
PoRunner said:
So a bit of an update...
It seems to be that there is a bit of confusion going on. I have spoken with a Bilstein rep and the individual is telling me they won't warranty it because it was installed on a vehicle that isn't applicable with the shock. I have a 00' Runner and they said it is just for Tundra and Sequoia. There are a couple of other options that I will entertain but Bilstein is worthless on helping at this point.
I have been in contact with Sonoran Steel and Steve over there has been nothing but excellent. He said he has never seen this type of failure either. I hope this was an isolated incident because it doesn't seem like Bilstein is going to do anything about this.
Click to expand...

I wonder if they would replace the 5100s for tacomas installed on a 4runner.
 
Hepar said:
I guess I could understand it if the 4Runner weighed more than either of those vehicles.
Click to expand...

That was my thought process on the situation. It's not like the 4Runner is heavier in any way (at least in the front) and it's not like the Tundra and the Sequoia front suspension is that different. The way it failed could have happened regardless of what vehicle it was installed on. I'm at a loss at this point.

I wish I had a local dealer for this but I am not that lucky. If this happens again or anything for that matter I won't be buying Bilsteins again. I know they offer a great product but being the caliber of company they are they shouldn't have had an issue with a warranty claim. I mean seriously what do they have into the shocks? Maybe $40?
 
4x4mike said:
I had this question yesterday but waiting on posting it in the case you forwarded them this post. My 5100's with 881 springs were a PITA to install. I've had shocks and coils in and out of my front end several times and this past combo was tough. Over all the strut was very long and when installed put things at a much different angle than it was before.

For reference, OP, what perch on the Bilstein's were you at? What spring other than just Tundra spring were you running (2x4, 4x4, DC,TRD)?
Click to expand...

Whichever spring comes with the Sonoran Steel 1.2a is what I was running. I had them installed on the second from the bottom perch. Which is the recommended perch. I can see both sides why they won't warranty it but I mean come on, It's a huge company and one shock. I would have thought they would make good on the warranty. Live, learn, and move on i guess.
 
That sucks that they won't replace it. I'm surprised, I thought they would. Just curious, did you volunteer the info about using them on a 4runner, or did they ask what vehicle the shock was installed on?
 
Kraze said:
That sucks that they won't replace it. I'm surprised, I thought they would. Just curious, did you volunteer the info about using them on a 4runner, or did they ask what vehicle the shock was installed on?
Click to expand...

Well originally I had volunteered this information because I didn't know it was going to be a big deal. So learn from my mistake, if you break one you were driving your Tundra. :wink2:
 
may i know the part number for the failed bilstein 5100 shock? i understand that bilstein made a part number change in the tundra 5100 shock. IIRC, the last two digit of the old one was H0 and the new one was H1.

Thanks!
 
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