Disappointed in my new Bilstein 4600 Shocks.

I am wondering if anyone else feels like I do. I have a 2013 big horn hemi crew cab with 31000 miles. I have read a lot about shocks on this and other forums. I came to the conclusion that Bilstein 4600 had to be the shock for me. I used Bilstein once before on a 2012 wrangler and was pleased. I purchase the shocks and installed them. Now I wish I had my stock shocks back, because the tuck is rough riding, I can feel every bump in the road. The read shocks are hard to change you have to remove the wheel well cover, but I’m thinking about replacing the 4600 with the OEM or a cheaper shock. Has anyone else felt like this about these shocks.

Thanks:

Return them for the 5100''s

i also like the stock ride. i have also read about the billstiens having a firmer ride so when i have to change mine. i will most likely look at KYB. really depends on how you use your truck.

My 5100s are much stuffer than stock, not sure if thats normal or not but i dont mind

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Yup, I hated the 4600 or known as the HD's, but I love the 5100's. The HD's seam to feel like they leave you in the hole you just passed and the 5100 seam to bounce you out of it. I have no idea what the technical terms are for that, but that is exactly how it feels. Both are firmer then stock, good for corners, but HD's are too firm imo, that is the difference. My 5100 thread.

Glad I came across this. I was planning to replace my factory shocks with the 4600s. Any other options besides the 5100s?

I've had 4 shock upgrades over the last decade or so and many different trucks, 5100's have been the best, KYB are a distant second, I didn't like Rancho's or 4600 at all.

Burla said:

I've had 4 shock upgrades over the last decade or so and many different trucks, 5100's have been the best, KYB are a distant second, I didn't like Rancho's or 4600 at all.

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can you use the 5100s without leveling?

Yes, I believe you can. From 0 to 2.75 inchs, there are like 4 or 5 settings.

Burla said:

Yes, I believe you can.

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tks burla.

5100s are great. You can run them at stock height, 1.4, 2.1 and 2.8

MaizeNBlue said:

Return them for the 5100''s

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Burla said:

Yup, I hated the 4600 or known as the HD's, but I love the 5100's. The HD's seam to feel like they leave you in the hole you just passed and the 5100 seam to bounce you out of it. I have no idea what the technical terms are for that, but that is exactly how it feels. Both are firmer then stock, good for corners, but HD's are too firm imo, that is the difference. My 5100 thread.

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im pretty sure the valving on the 4600's and the 5100's is the same at stock height, meaning they will ride exactly the same.

I wasn't impressed with bilsteins either this last go round.

The ones I put on my 97 dually back in 2006 were awesome, but the 5100's I got for my jeep ride like crap. The no name worn out shocks I replaced with them rode better.

CARNEYM said:

I am wondering if anyone else feels like I do. I have a 2013 big horn hemi crew cab with 31000 miles. I have read a lot about shocks on this and other forums. I came to the conclusion that Bilstein 4600 had to be the shock for me. I used Bilstein once before on a 2012 wrangler and was pleased. I purchase the shocks and installed them. Now I wish I had my stock shocks back, because the tuck is rough riding, I can feel every bump in the road. The read shocks are hard to change you have to remove the wheel well cover, but I’m thinking about replacing the 4600 with the OEM or a cheaper shock. Has anyone else felt like this about these shocks.

Thanks:

Click to expand...

Sounds like you made a mistake by purchasing the 4600 Heavy Duty shocks. You might be able to get away with leaving the rear shocks on it, and just getting a non HD shock for the front. The rear shocks would help out too if you do any towing or hauling.

Is your truck a 4x4? Or a 2 wheel drive? All the stock, 1.4, 2.1, 2.8" settings apply to the 4x4 trucks only. They do make the 5100 series shock for a 2wd truck, but you cannot adjust the ride height of the truck, with the shock.

I just did my shocks a couple weeks ago. I was able to do the rear shocks without removing the wheel well. I took out all the screws on the drivers side and it allowed me to kinda bend and push the wheel well just enough. So I did kinda remove that one. But for the passenger side, I didn't even have to take all the screws out. That might save you a little time since it sounds like you will be removing the shocks again soon.

A lot of people talk bad about the Rancho shocks. But most haven't tried their RS9000 series. I have and loved how you can adjust them. You can make the ride softer than stock or much firmer by simply turning a knob. Great for when the in-law's are in town and you've got some extra weight in the cab.

DannyMK2 said:

im pretty sure the valving on the 4600's and the 5100's is the same at stock height, meaning they will ride exactly the same.

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I am pretty sure the valving is the exactly the same at any height you have the Bilstein shocks set to.
The valving doesn't change. The spring preload is what changes the ride, and provides the lift.

Thanks for the help. I lowered my air pressure yesterday and that helped on the small bumps. I hope the after a few hundred miles they will break in some. I like to say that the 4600 are much better on the large dips in the highway. It is on the small stuff that I'm not happy with.

thanks again.

Yeah, my 4600s seem to ride stiff than stock too. Although I think I need some new ball joints.

Gump said:

5100s are great. You can run them at stock height, 1.4, 2.1 and 2.8

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and 2.5

This thread had me worried.

Despite all the good press for the Bilstein 5100's I noticed the very few negative comments and just knew I would be disappointed. I was also concerned about the comments stating the ride would be "stiffer/firmer".

I almost cancelled my appointment to have them installed but it is a small shop and they had already ordered them in so I did not want to stick them with them....and I am glad I did not cancel.

Truck looks much nicer and the slight difference in ride is almost a non factor. Takes the slow speed bumps a tad better and the high speed ones a very small tad better.

I see why people say the ride is stiffer/firmer but I don't think it is a significant difference.

I do a lot of long business trips...several hundred miles a couple times per month. I will update this post w/review after my next trip with my impressions on a longer trip.

My fronts are set at 2.1, no spacers, stock wheels w/275/60/20 Michelin tires.



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So, what if I'm just a fat old-ish guy and want my truck to ride like a Cadillac? Or, at least no more harsh than it did before? On my old 2006 Silverado HD I replaced the stock shocks with some Monroe Reflex and thought they were fine.

The Monroe's didn't change my life one way or another (do shocks ever?). It seems like I drove out of the shop thinking it was a huge difference but don't really remember noticing them much after that.

IMO shocks get far too much credit both good and bad for a truck's ride. Manufacturers make a fortune off this phenomenon.