Broken Bilstein 5100 FrontS

[Kimokona]

I’ve used Bilstein products on 3 Tacoma’s & 1 4runner and had no issues. I typically trade in vehicles within 2 years or less, so no real long term testing on my part.

I’ve also used other lift company’s products and had no issues with the same usage.

I’m a little surprised Bilstein is denying the warranty, it’s really a small cost and you have a warranty. They sell the same product for the FJ & 4runner !

Just picked up a 2008 4runner V8 sport for a dedicated weekend toy and have been researching my options and found your thread.

If Bilstein cannot honor a simple warranty claim for two struts, they will be out of the running for my latest project !

Good luck !!!

 

[crimedog]

I am getting ready to do my rear shocks (front struts already ordered and delivered). I really wanted to try the Bilstein 4600's on the rear but this thread gives me a little apprehension on spending almost double the money for their product.

My Runner is probably 90% highway driven with some very light off road use. Anyone have a recommendation for the rear shocks?

 

[DavisTN]

I am getting ready to do my rear shocks (front struts already ordered and delivered). I really wanted to try the Bilstein 4600's on the rear but this thread gives me a little apprehension on spending almost double the money for their product.

My Runner is probably 90% highway driven with some very light off road use. Anyone have a recommendation for the rear shocks?

I'm sure you'd be fine with highway driving on them. Might as well just go with DayStar if you're not planning on wheeling it. I won't buy Bilstein's again for my application because I use it off-road and it broke once. I don't think all of their products are bad, but I'm not big on repeating a failed approach. I picked up a pair of the height-adjustable Eibach shocks from snowrunner. Even if they're not better, they are different!

 

[DavisTN]

Okay - here's what they look like disassembled. Pretty ugly. Thank you [MENTION=21950]sn0wrunner[/MENTION] for bringing up the sparkly new Eibach's. Installing this weekend to be done with the stock car/drag racer look.

 

[gm350reratliff]

Glad to see you can get it back on the road. I'd definitely look into the Wheeler's Superbumps. The factory bumpstops are too small and don't do enough to slow down a hard hit so the coilover bottoms out, which can cause what you experienced.

 

[ktom3001]

I have 5100's with Tacoma springs at 1.75 which yields around 3.25" of lift so way more stress than your set up. No issues after 20K plus miles and trips to Death Valley, Moab, Sierras. Something doesn't seem right about this failure.
Like the spring perches were over-sized.

 

[Crikeymike]

Okay - here's what they look like disassembled. Pretty ugly. Thank you [MENTION=21950]sn0wrunner[/MENTION] for bringing up the sparkly new Eibach's. Installing this weekend to be done with the stock car/drag racer look.

Wow!!! Those are pretty much the most F'd struts I've ever seen... I'm saving those photos as examples.

I wish more people would read this thread. I've replied to a few newbies this week asking to pair up our Dobinsons coils with 5100's, and I've been sure to point out to everyone that there's no warranty from them if our coils are used. Some don't care about warranty, which is fine, but many are buying it because of the claimed "lifetime warranty".

I also checked the official Bilstein warranty yesterday to confirm it.

Also Toytec's warranty looks like it's limited to 1 year when using Bilstein products in their coilovers. Toytec terms and conditions