Bilstein HD installed. Comments after 1k miles

[Arterisk]

Since there's not to my knowledge any 5gen owner with the HD (most go with the 5100), I wanted to give my comment after a 1k mile trip with the HDs.

First, they should ship the SR5 with these shocks from factory! I mean , for 600$, my SR5 now handle so much better. Much more controlled, greatly reduced body roll and removed the boaty feeling. I would say it's now on par with my old car-based SUV, which is impressive for a truck.

It did not however completely remove the body dive (some 5100 owner say so?) but it does reduce it a lot.

If you want to stay as stock as possible (no front lift), I highly suggest this mod.

NB: It will increase ride stiffness a bit so you'll feel potholes a little, little bit more.

 

[Orygun4R]

Do you have part numbers? Looking at Bilstein site, they list the 4600 series shock for a stock replacement, 5100 series for lifted, and 5160 which comes with remote reservoir. Is the 4600 series the HD version, or is there another different series?

Thanks.

 

[Jtraskell]

Since there's not to my knowledge any 5gen owner with the HD (most go with the 5100), I wanted to give my comment after a 1k mile trip with the HDs.

First, they should ship the SR5 with these shocks from factory! I mean , for 600$, my SR5 now handle so much better. Much more controlled, greatly reduced body roll and removed the boaty feeling. I would say it's now on par with my old car-based SUV, which is impressive for a truck.

It did not however completely remove the body dive (some 5100 owner say so?) but it does reduce it a lot.

If you want to stay as stock as possible (no front lift), I highly suggest this mod.

NB: It will increase ride stiffness a bit so you'll feel potholes a little, little bit more.

Do you still have the OEM tires?

 

[Arterisk]

Do you still have the OEM tires?

Yup, still on the crappy OEM. But winter is coming so I'll give you more feedback with my Michelin X-Ice.

 

[Arterisk]

Do you have part numbers? Looking at Bilstein site, they list the 4600 series shock for a stock replacement, 5100 series for lifted, and 5160 which comes with remote reservoir. Is the 4600 series the HD version, or is there another different series?

Thanks.

Heavy Duty Series (BE5-H150-H0) Front (24-187541)

Heavy Duty Series (BE5-H151-H0) Rear (24-187558)

 

[Jtraskell]

Yup, still on the crappy OEM. But winter is coming so I'll give you more feedback with my Michelin X-Ice.

If you think the shocks helped, (and I am sure they did), wait until the new shoes go on!

 

[tacobill]

5100 vs. BE5-H150-H0

I LOVE the search--this was what I wanted to know. It's an old thread.

I contacted a guy at allshocks.com who phoned Bilstein regarding these:
BE5-H150-H0 & BE5-H151-H0 (rear).

He told me that Bilstein claims the valve rate for the 5100's and these are exactly the same. Only difference being the 5100 is more suited for lifted trucks.

Thinking I'll try HD's all around based on Arterisk's old post. (I want all shocks to "match".)

More to come............

 

[INDYMAC]

I'll be doing this soon myself too. I like the HD's.

 

[4RBob]

I installed the FJ Team Bilstein HD's probably over 50k miles ago. They were definitely an improvement over the stock shocks (non-KDSS Trail). I also used the FJ Team springs, but I do think the shocks improved the ride more so than the springs. I still think the springs and/or sway bars need to be stiffer. Don't really want to lift it much (have a front spacer and the FJ Team springs lifted it a tiny bit also. May do the SAW rears someday, probably when I get the Firestone 275's next year. Yes, tires help a little too. I have BFG AT 265's (load C) now.

 

[vicpick58]

I have these on my 12 TE with KDSS. As stated before they should come from the factory with these shocks. Greatly improved the nose dive. Makes the 4Runner drive more like it should have from the start.

However be aware that if you order them from Shock Warehouse they do not come with any mounting hardware. I had to order the front top rubber mounts separately from somewhere else and reuse the rears that came with the factory shocks. I have bought and installed many shocks for many different vehicles in the last 35 years and have never got them with out the mountings before.

Due to the unusual design of the front suspension of these 4Runners with the springs mounting directly to the shocks I chose for the first time in my life to have them installed at a shop rather than attempting to do it myself. Also an alignment should be done when these are installed.

The nose dive does not completely go away, but is much more acceptable. Drives more like a normal vehicle now.

But because of the lack of mounting hardware, I will not order them again, when they wear out, I will look for something else.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

It looks like the price difference between the 4600 HD and 5100s is about $5-$10. Is there a good reason to get the 4600 HDs over the 5100s?

 

[vicpick58]

It looks like the price difference between the 4600 HD and 5100s is about $5-$10. Is there a good reason to get the 4600 HDs over the 5100s?

The only reason that I ordered them instead of the 5100s was that fact that I do not have or ever intend to have a lift. But I did not know that they did NOT come with the mounting hardware.

I understand that the 5100s DO come with everything necessary to install them. So if I had it to do over I would have just got the 5100s and set them for no lift.

 

[Soundofmind]

...I would have just got the 5100s and set them for no lift.

So, if I never intend to lift my truck, I can still use the 5100's? AND they come with hardware?

Thanks for the info!

 

[vicpick58]

So, if I never intend to lift my truck, I can still use the 5100's? AND they come with hardware?

Thanks for the info!

I BELEIVE the 5100s come with mounting hardware from other threads on the subject that I have read. I do not personally know that for sure. Someone who has actually purchased them should be able to answer that question for sure.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/149498-bilstein-shock-question.html

I am pretty sure the front 5100s can be set for various levels of lift including zero, I don't know about the rears though since I did not actually buy the 5100s

 

[INDYMAC]

Well, I ordered the front and rear 4600 HD's yesterday for 2012 from shockwarehouse. Then I find out that I'll need mounting hardware for the front strtuts. So I order some from toytec. Then I learn that the rear shocks come with no hardware either. So now I'm trying to catch toytec about including these as well before they ship my original order. This certainly is becoming a challenging internet shopping day!