2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Bilstein 5100's, Not happy at all

[holmanrd]

Purchased a new set of 5100's in June 2014.

Less than 12,000 miles and they are shot already.

Can compress by hand and they wont extend under their own pressure. Don't have a plow or a wench and even running stock bumper.

Not what I expected out of these highly recommended shocks.

Any recommendations for replacements or do you think I was just lucky and got two bad one?

 

[seafish]

Sorry to hear that…I have been running the 5100 for years now on my truck and they still ride great. The good news is that Bilsteins come with a limited lifetime warranty…I suggest contacting them and explaining your problem.

 

[AH64ID]

Very strange. I have 25K miles on mine and they are still great. I agree with seafish and would give them a call.

 

[ArtVandalay]

I've used Bilsteins on most of my cars for years now and have yet to have one fail...you might have just gotten lucky.

 

[holmanrd]

Thank you gents for the advice.

Just sent Bilstein and the vendor an email to see what they want me to do.

Thought it might be a little premature for failure. I do take the truck in some hairy spots now and then but no hard offroading.

 

[holmanrd]

I too have had pretty good luck with Bilstein in the past so it might just be my luck.

Except for getting too short of shocks after the leveling kit and bulging the tops on both of them.

 

[SierraRam]

I have triple 5100's on the front wheels and singles in the rear. I broke one on each while running the dunes. The only reason they failed is I bottomed them out while running the dunes in Pismo.

I ran them for five years, I put them trough the paces, desert, dunes, mountain wheeling.

I decided to replace all six, to my surprise the four remaining were still charged like new! Overall I think they are well built and take quite a bit of abuse.

 

[KATOOM]

I'm interested to see what Bilstein says because I dont think I've heard of anyone even complaining about them wearing out like this. Good to know though.