Blown shock...again

[sparkyy192]

Well, Utah got the best of me this week..
Right rear bilstein 5160 blown. That’s two in two years. Blew the first one within a week of install. Thought ok, it happens. Warranty replacement was no issue. This second one has less than 15k miles and it’s completely blown. Same side, right rear.

I have Dobinsons C59-327 springs in rear (drawer system plus gear constant weight). I drive my 4Runner HARD. A lot of Idaho and Utah backcountry roads. I’m airing down quite often.

That being said, i don’t think I’m reckless. I don’t jump the truck, so two blown shocks in 2 years is suspicious.

Maybe it’s time for an upgrade - is there anything I can get that will work with my existing springs that’s a step up from the Bilsteins?

 

[honda250xtitan]

IMO any 2.0 is an upgrade. 2.5's obviously would be even better. are you running rubber shock boots over the shaft? you need to be. is your shock length appropriate for your lift height? is it over compressing and blowing it out?

 

[Cymon]

Well, Utah got the best of me this week..
Right rear bilstein 5160 blown. That’s two in two years. Blew the first one within a week of install. Thought ok, it happens. Warranty replacement was no issue. This second one has less than 15k miles and it’s completely blown. Same side, right rear.

I have Dobinsons C59-327 springs in rear (drawer system plus gear constant weight). I drive my 4Runner HARD. A lot of Idaho and Utah backcountry roads. I’m airing down quite often.

That being said, i don’t think I’m reckless. I don’t jump the truck, so two blown shocks in 2 years is suspicious.

Maybe it’s time for an upgrade - is there anything I can get that will work with my existing springs that’s a step up from the Bilsteins?

IMO a lot of the 5160 issues come from the fact that they are not designed for suspension over 2" of lift. Even though your spring is listed as 2" of lift with the heavy rear load, if you are extending past the 2" because you don't have the full weight you may be overextending the shock. I'm not an expert, as there are a lot of issues like this with the 5160, so I could be wrong. I'm wondering if someone were to create a poll to see who had issues and what their rear lift height was (actual not listed) if the majority had actual lift heights beyond the 2".

Edit: Check what [MENTION=120150]TotalAutomotiveLV[/MENTION] stated in this post (#13)...kinda confirms my assumption (looks like 1.5" is more of the limit of this shock).

Bilstein 5160 leaks two times now

 

[sparkyy192]

IMO any 2.0 is an upgrade. 2.5's obviously would be even better. are you running rubber shock boots over the shaft? you need to be. is your shock length appropriate for your lift height? is it over compressing and blowing it out?

Yep, rubber boots are there. So with my constant rear weight, I’ve measured the rear lift at 2 inches. Which is exactly what Mike at Dobinsons said it would be.

I was curious about the extension of the shock so I measured it. I can’t remember the exact length but the shock at full extension is still higher than the spring at full extension.

Toytec uses the same shocks for their 3 inch lift kits.

 

[sparkyy192]

IMO a lot of the 5160 issues come from the fact that they are not designed for suspension over 2" of lift. Even though your spring is listed as 2" of lift with the heavy rear load, if you are extending past the 2" because you don't have the full weight you may be overextending the shock. I'm not an expert, as there are a lot of issues like this with the 5160, so I could be wrong. I'm wondering if someone were to create a poll to see who had issues and what their rear lift height was (actual not listed) if the majority had actual lift heights beyond the 2".

Edit: Check what [MENTION=120150]TotalAutomotiveLV[/MENTION] stated in this post (#13)...kinda confirms my assumption (looks like 1.5" is more of the limit of this shock).

Bilstein 5160 leaks two times now

Thanks this is what I was looking for.

I guess I’ll try the OME or Icon shocks for the rear

 

[dezertbomber]

I have basically same setup: 2" heavy load Ironman 4x4 rear springs and 5160's.

The 5160's are not enough shock for the heavier load springs. When unloaded the rear feels stiff and doesn't bounce prob only bc of the extra resistance of the springs lol. When loaded it feels how a stock spring does when the shocks are blown and bounces one extra time. It's smooth, but not enough rebound dampening.

I also have Durobumps all around, so that helps with compression and I recommend them for anyone that actually off roads their 4R.

If the problem was over compressing you would see damage on the shock body where the lower mount is hitting it. You could put a zip tie on the shaft, slide it up to the body then check it's height after some off roading to see how far it slides down.

I'm interested to see how my shocks hold up. I'm a former desert racer and will be putting these through their paces soon. Have done a couple trips on them including Moab earlier this month and it's kinda funny, they feel too weak with normal driving, but seem Ok with the higher speed hits. I know they have "speed sensitive" valving, but are also digressive, so may be why I see that effect, though I haven't pushed them that hard. Trying to get out to the desert for some real testing this weekend, and am very curious what I'll find.

 

[mo_mo]

Well, Utah got the best of me this week..
Right rear bilstein 5160 blown. That’s two in two years. Blew the first one within a week of install. Thought ok, it happens. Warranty replacement was no issue. This second one has less than 15k miles and it’s completely blown. Same side, right rear.

I have Dobinsons C59-327 springs in rear (drawer system plus gear constant weight). I drive my 4Runner HARD. A lot of Idaho and Utah backcountry roads. I’m airing down quite often.

That being said, i don’t think I’m reckless. I don’t jump the truck, so two blown shocks in 2 years is suspicious.

Maybe it’s time for an upgrade - is there anything I can get that will work with my existing springs that’s a step up from the Bilsteins?

my $0.02

I personally stayed away from running remote resi shocks due to the additional failure concerns (extra parts) I had with all the brands (regardless of rebuild ability... I don't want extra work). I don't know where your shock failed, but more complexity = more failure modes. I wanted maximum heat dissipation with minimal parts, and felt that the Ironman foam cell lineup fit the bill (add a piece of closed cell foam submerged in oil, with no need to recharge nitrogen in the shock). Any shock could work with any spring (unless you're long traveling etc.) on the rear of the 4runner. Springs carry the load and the spring rate / height should be set here. Shocks absorb the energy to keep the motion under control.

 

[dezertbomber]

my $0.02

I personally stayed away from running remote resi shocks due to the additional failure concerns (extra parts) I had with all the brands (regardless of rebuild ability... I don't want extra work). I don't know where your shock failed, but more complexity = more failure modes. I wanted maximum heat dissipation with minimal parts, and felt that the Ironman foam cell lineup fit the bill (add a piece of closed cell foam submerged in oil, with no need to recharge nitrogen in the shock). Any shock could work with any spring (unless you're long traveling etc.) on the rear of the 4runner. Springs carry the load and the spring rate / height should be set here. Shocks absorb the energy to keep the motion under control.

Remote resi's also allow for more shock travel in addition to the extra oil capacity and heat dissipation. The foam cells don't help with heat dissipation, just reduce cavitation (forming of bubbles) of the oil.

That said, how are the foam cell pro's on rebound dampening? Do you have HD springs? Any fast faced off roading or mostly just trails/crawling? I'm considering these before just pulling the trigger on Kings.

Like the OP, I drive hard and want something that can handle the punishment.

 

[mo_mo]

Remote resi's also allow for more shock travel in addition to the extra oil capacity and heat dissipation. The foam cells don't help with heat dissipation, just reduce cavitation (forming of bubbles) of the oil.

That said, how are the foam cell pro's on rebound dampening? Do you have HD springs? Any fast faced off roading or mostly just trails/crawling? I'm considering these before just pulling the trigger on Kings.

Like the OP, I drive hard and want something that can handle the punishment.

The foam cells do help with heat dissipation as liquid to metal conduction/convection is much higher than gas to metal conduction/convection. This is most prominent in a twin tube, but even in a traditional monotube or remote resi the gas isn't helping much with heat dissipation. There is also a much greater thermal mass to the oil in the foam cells (they are heavy). And yes, this all aids with reducing/eliminating cavitation since there isn't much gas to come out of solution due to them not being pressurized (except due to thermal expansion and the foam compression).

I've had good experience with extended washboards at high speeds with no fade, where I had previously felt the stock fade in less than a minute. I'm not running the baja or bombing through whoops in my daily. No HD springs. Most of my extra bolted on weight is in the front (skids) and mid (sliders). Drives great and is well planted when I do come across a rogue whoop (not jarring, no bouncy bouncy).

 

[Big Daddy K]

I make a bet with myself every time I see a blown shock thread, seems like it's 50% Bilstein and 50% all other brands combined...

 

[mrblah]

Well, Utah got the best of me this week..
Right rear bilstein 5160 blown. That’s two in two years. Blew the first one within a week of install. Thought ok, it happens. Warranty replacement was no issue. This second one has less than 15k miles and it’s completely blown. Same side, right rear.

I have Dobinsons C59-327 springs in rear (drawer system plus gear constant weight). I drive my 4Runner HARD. A lot of Idaho and Utah backcountry roads. I’m airing down quite often.

That being said, i don’t think I’m reckless. I don’t jump the truck, so two blown shocks in 2 years is suspicious.

Maybe it’s time for an upgrade - is there anything I can get that will work with my existing springs that’s a step up from the Bilsteins?

i think you said it yourself in this post, you drive your vehicle hard. I think its time that you upgraded your suspension to handle what you like to do.

Driving on washboard and corrugated roads over long periods of time isn't what I would call easy on the suspension. The faster you go, the more work your suspension has to put in.

 

[Argyle Edison]

I've had blown Bilstein's on many vehicles including my Tundra. I'm no longer purchasing them.

The Dobinson's shocks have been fantastic and what I buy now.