Bilstein 5160 Shocks. Should I or shouldn't I? Any input?

[Speedracer93CobraR]

I am thinking about getting Bilstein 5160 shocks with reservoir to replace the factory setup on my 2020 2500. I only have 20,000 miles and it seems a little crazy to think about replacing shocks, BUT I finally met someone who had a set (sort of) in person and he told me there was noticeable improvement. Now, I say he 'sort of' had a set because he has only replaced the fronts and is waiting on the 2 for the rear.

Is this one of those purchases that you tell everyone is great because you spent $800 and you are ashamed to say they are no better than the factory components or are they really a noticeable improvement?

 

[Surf2snow1]

I had 5100 on my last Cummins and loved them. Was going to get the level kit with 5160 all around, but going Thuren instead.

 

[loveracing1988]

If I were just swapping shocks I'd be getting fox instead of bilstein but that's just me.

 

[brv10]

Bilstien all the way,Fox are junk

 

[Greenhills]

i'm going to be installing the bilstein leveling kit on my Ram 3500, due to the unavailability of the Thuren kit. I'd say go ahead.

 

[loveracing1988]

Bilstien all the way,Fox are junk

Nice fact supported post.

 

[brv10]

Nice fact supported post.

I work at a place that does Fox and Bilstein,most Fox shox are developed here and built in Asia,the quality and valving works way better on the Bilstein shocks,check out a Raptor vs TRX,no contest

 

[loveracing1988]

I work at a place that does Fox and Bilstein,most Fox shox are developed here and built in Asia,the quality and valving works way better on the Bilstein shocks,check out a Raptor vs TRX,no contest

That must be why both Carli and thuren use fox shocks instead of bilstein.

 

[brv10]

That must be why both Carli and thuren use fox shocks instead of bilstein.

Yep,cheaper

 

[Crusty old shellback]

I work at a place that does Fox and Bilstein,most Fox shox are developed here and built in Asia,the quality and valving works way better on the Bilstein shocks,check out a Raptor vs TRX,no contest

So you work at the Fox shop in El Cajon?

Or at some shop that rebuilds the Fox shocks?

 

[loveracing1988]

Yep,cheaper

Yeah ok. That's why carli stopped using bilstein not because of quality issues. Also why they also offer King 3.0 shocks, because they are so cheap.

 

[Surf2snow1]

Yeah ok. That's why carli stopped using bilstein not because of quality issues. Also why they also offer King 3.0 shocks, because they are so cheap.

…and your fact-supported post is that carli and thuren use fox, so they’re better?

 

[loveracing1988]

…and your fact-supported post is that carli and thuren use fox, so they’re better?

No, mine is an opinion, I never said one was junk. I had bilstein on my 2500 and they rode slightly better than stock but it wasn't very noticeable. They also looked like crap after 1 winter. Considering carli and thuren, the 2 best suspension companies for HD Ram trucks use fox and king instead of bilstein or icon or any other brand yes, to me that means fox shocks are a higher quality shock than bilstein. The fact that carli used to have bilstein shocks as their base model and switched to fox because of quality issues with bilstein is another reason for me as well.

 

[dragon_ram]

Since this is an opinion thread only…

I haven’t put anything on the RAM yet but I put 5100s on a Tundra a loved how it tightened up steering and cornering. I put 6112/5160s on a 4Runner next a loved how it improved that ride as well. I’ve stayed away from Fox/King/Icon because I don’t want short-lived-rebuild-required setups, though they may be superior in performance.

 

[Crusty old shellback]

Humm. So if Fox and King are such junk and Bilstiens are the hot ticket, why are all of the top winning off road trucks running Fox and Kings?

 

[Speedracer93CobraR]

This is getting fun...

 

[Crusty old shellback]

I work at a place that does Fox and Bilstein,most Fox shox are developed here and built in Asia,the quality and valving works way better on the Bilstein shocks,check out a Raptor vs TRX,no contest

So you never answered my question of where you work, or why all the winning off road trucks are running Fox and Kings instead of Bilstien.

And trying to compare a passive Fox shock on a Raptor to a active Bilstien shock on a TRX is ludicrous.

 

[Brewbud]

None of those three companies are trash. They all make great shocks.

 

[Eatonpcat]

Did you forget about these:

 

[Surf2snow1]

Humm. So if Fox and King are such junk and Bilstiens are the hot ticket, why are all of the top winning off road trucks running Fox and Kings?

Simple. Race teams don’t have the budget to buy the 5160 bilstein.

but seriously. We’re taking about street trucks here. That’s like asking why the 1500 trucks don’t come with a 6.7.