2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Bilstein 5100's w/no lift

[AWray]

Will the Bilstein 5100's designed for a 1-3" lift work as intended if you do not have a leveling kit? I am considering buying 4 from eshocks.com and they list the yellow/blue OEM replacement for stock ride height and the 5100 for a 1-3" lift.

 

[DBazley]

Will the Bilstein 5100's designed for a 1-3" lift work as intended if you do not have a leveling kit? I am considering buying 4 from eshocks.com and they list the yellow/blue OEM replacement for stock ride height and the 5100 for a 1-3" lift.

Awray,



I think if you measure your suspension travel and then compare to the lengthened & collapsed lengths that Bilstein assuredly publishes, you should know if it will work, right ?



What you don't want is the shock to bottom out before your suspension totally compresses - or crunch !!



Bilstein should have techs that can confirm your selection...



I had to do this on my Rockcrawler Samurai for find Rancho 9000's of the proper length, pouring over their 'fit charts' - it was quite a research project !!



If the 5100's don't fit stock height, you might look at 'leveling kits' - short lifts.



I can tell you I have the 2" Rancho Lift kit on my front and recommend it highly. It includes longer control arms - anodized with poly bushings, too if your stock bushings are cracking as mine were. It was pretty affordable-$ 795 installed at Off Road Warehouse. Nice improvement in both ride & handling.



Only problem, now my stock springs are sagging - always something, eh !!



Take Care, David B.

 

[Bob4x4]

FYI the Rancho arms are the stock length,just stronger and better bushings.



Bob

 

[AWray]

I think the difference is in the marketing of two different companies. Eshocks.com says part #BE5-6681-H5 is for a 1-3" lift. Offroad Warehouse lists the same part number for a 0-2" lift. I guess it doesn't matter too much. I bought a set and I am planning to get Skyjacker D25 springs sometime soon.



FYI part #BE5-6682-H5 for the rear is on national backorder.

 

[DBazley]

Hey Bob4x4 - Good to see you here-(remember we met at Avi's ?) thanks for the clarification - I guess I made the assumption they were longer 'cause they lifted the front end.



The lift I guess comes from the Rancho 'red' spacers that sit on top of the spring. (not trying to hi jack your thread - back to you, Awray... )



Sounds like you got it figured out - I take it the Skyjacker Springs D25 are a bit beefier and taller than stock. Are your control arm bushings in good shape ? I bet someone now has a kit to R & R them if they are not. (that was mainly why I got the Rancho kit... . )



The Biltein 5100's look sweet - let us know how they work will you ?



Can I ask you guys what you suggest I do to replace my front springs now that they are sagging ? Does somebody make a beefier stock height unit ? It seems if I go with a taller spring, then it will be too high as I already have the Rancho spacers - hmmm



David

 

[AWray]

DBazley - I'll let you know how the shocks work. I think I'm replacing the original shocks on the truck. The thing is old and showing its age.



The D25 springs are replacement springs that are ~2" taller than stock. If you buy them, lose the spacers. I do not know if the D25's are a stiffer spring rate than stock.



My control arm bushings are shot. I'm in the process of replacing/upgrading the front suspension wear items. It's adding up to a lot of $$.

 

[DBazley]

Great, thanks ! I know on our 'older' trucks you can spend $$$ renewing / upgrading all the front end parts. I've just completed the task (save the springs - which are not shot, just yet... ), believe me, I can relate !



Did you ever find a Control arm bushing kit, or you going to replace the whole arms ?



Does yours have the 'steering clunk' yet ? Mine did real bad, so I dig up a fix - (there's a thread on the index page telling how). The clunk got so bad I didn't drive the truck a month 'til we got it addressed. Now the clunk is gone and I can actually feel the benefit of all those new front end parts.



You'll be happy once it's all done. Take a look at the sticker at your local Dodge dealer and you'll get motivated.



A 4X4 Hemi (not even a CTD !) Mega Cab locally : $ 54,000 !! Now that's motivation !



Regards, David

 

[AWray]

You can get control arm bushings from Summit Racing. They are made by Energy Suspension and cost around $76 for the complete set. You do have to reuse the bolts and possibly the metal sleeves.



I'm undecided if I'll replace the control arms or just the bushings. Fortunately, I do not have the steering clunk. Although I've got some wicked rattle at ~2k and above when I accelerate that is coming thru the 4x4 lever.

 

[DBazley]

AWray,



I'd have maybe gone that route, had I known of the availability of the replacement bushings from Summit - reasonable cost !



Hey, on that wicked rattle in the 4wd lever, I believe there is a TSB on it. The fix was done to mine - it involves putting a valve spring to quiet the vibration, between the shift lever and whatever is adjacent to it, under the boot. I saw the Dodge tech do it to my truck back in '97, so I'm quite certain.



Let me know if you can't dig up the TSB, I could look under my truck to verify - hasn't rattle since they did it !



TSB's here: www.DodgeRam.info or .org



Regards, DB

 

[Dave M]

You can get control arm bushings from Summit Racing. They are made by Energy Suspension and cost around $76 for the complete set. You do have to reuse the bolts and possibly the metal sleeves.



I'm undecided if I'll replace the control arms or just the bushings. Fortunately, I do not have the steering clunk. Although I've got some wicked rattle at ~2k and above when I accelerate that is coming thru the 4x4 lever.

I replaced my control arm bushings (chasing the death wobble) with Energy Suspension from Summit. Whether you re-use the steel pressed in bushing on the control arm depends on the year. Check energy suspension web site to info on that.



For my 97 I re-used them. I got a propane torch with the control arm on a 2x6 and heated it till it started to sizzle and then the old rubber bushing pops and flies out about 5 feet. I had to change my shorts :-laf after the first one... . but then got used to it. I cleaned and wiped out the rubber particles left behind in the sleeve while hot and then, after it cooled, the new poly bushings slid it with a little help from the supplied silicone lube.



It was relatively easy job to do. Still chasing the death wobble though.



Dave

 

[AWray]

DB - I don't know you very well but I love you!!!! That describes my problem exactly. I thought I had a timing problem or a rod knocking. My road trip this weekend will be rattle free thanks to you.

 

[DBazley]

AWray, Glad I read your comment - really glad it made a difference !



We all are in each others debt here, is what I've found - and "what goes around, comes around", which is just Biblical -'we reap what we sow' !



(If you read my opening comments on my 'Column Fix Found' thread, you know that I was totally reliant upon what another TDR guy, SMorneau, discovered back in 2001, or I'd still be puzzling over that funny 'clunk' !) Now, hopefully many can benefit... .



Enjoy that nice quiet road trip, in any case !



Funny to hear of DaveM's 'jumping' control arm bushings - too scary for me !



God bless you all & this wonderful group & site the TDR !



Or we'd all be broken down and have to be towed home by Toyotas or Nissans (better that than a Ford, eh ?) !! he he he



David B.

 

[AWray]

Update on my Bilstein 5100 installation. I received the front shocks and installed them. So far they definately ride better than before. I could compress the old shocks easily with one hand. It took most of my 200 lbs to compress the Bilsteins. I'm still waiting on the rear shocks to show up. Stupid backorders.



I followed DBazley's advice on the TSB for the 4x4 shifter rattle. I first tried to bend the lever as shown in the TSB. That didn't fix anything. I ordered the spring using the part # from the 'backyard fixes' link at the bottom of the TSB. After some cussing and struggling, the spring went in. I have been rattle-free for almost 1000 miles. I love it. Thanks DB.



Aaron

 

[DBazley]

Good to know this, Aaron. Isn't that a nice, simple fix !



And the Bilstein report sounds like the normal 'majority report' we expect from them. [Are the 5100 the ones with the auxiliary reservoir ?]



I like 'em too - I just got my HD Bilstein shocks from SummitRacing.com for our '96 Ram Van B-2500 - excellent improvement to this top heavy van - nice dampening, tight rebound control - this plus the Timbren SES system have this heavy Ram Van carving the turns with no drama.



I know from all your comments they provide the same benefit on our Ram trucks and if my Rancho 9000's on my pickup ever give up, I'll put Bilsteins on it, too.



David B.

 

[wlowe]

AWray,



Keep us posted on how those 5100 shocks work out on your non-lifted truck. I need new shocks and I would like to get the Bilstein 5100's just in case I put a leveling kit on later.



Thanks,

Bill

 

[AWray]

So far the shocks are great but my truck is primarily a pavement princess. I have noticed that the truck is much smoother and more stable when blowing thru rough intersections at 35-55 mph. No more coffee in my lap. I'm looking foward to the rear shocks arriving.