Who has experience with Bilstein 5100 adjustable height shocks?

[Cuz]

If you have any EDUCATED insight on this subject PLEASE HELP ME! If you don't have experience, please don't confuse me anymore! lol I'm about to pull my freggin hair out on this deal!

My situation... I had a 2006 F150 4x4 SuperCrew with 2" spacers up front. Rode just fine (7-8 out of 10). I bought a brand new 2013 F150 4x4 super crew. I didn't need it but it came with the "towing package". My truck rode really good pre blocks but once I put the blocks on, my ride quality went to about a 2 out of 10! A 1"-2" lip in the concrete would jar the heck out of my truck! At the ranch, on rough roads, it really sucks! So, I was informed that it was because I had the "heavy duty towing package shocks" on my truck. Taking 2 more inches away from the shock leaves it with basically no movement. Sooo, after asking more questions and such, I had the blocks taken out and put in the new adjustable Bilsteins, on the highest (2") setting. Lets just say I am not impressed... I'd say my ride quality is now a 3, maaaybe a 4, out of 10. uuuugh!
I know, I know, some of y'all are going to say "Just go back to stock". Well, I'm elbow deep now and its become personal.

Are you guys running a lower setting to get a good ride?
If I got to the next setting (1.75") will it really make a noticeable difference?
Should I put the shocks on the stock height setting and the blocks back in (Maybe matching my 06's setup more closely).

All I want is a lil ol 2" level with decent ride quality...!

Thanks for any help.

[76truck]

Sucks bro. Take them back and get the Ranchos. You can adjust the firmness on these.

[Cuz]

Yea I was going to do that but sooo many people were saying that they couldn't tell a difference when they adjusted those Ranchos. Then I called Rancho and the guy there said that those adjustable shocks are "firm" even on the low setting. So that's when I went with the Bilsteins. Maybe I made the wrong choice, but the way he talked I would be in the same boat I'm in now.

[Cuz]

ttt

[76truck]

I have them on my 2012 F150 max tow package and it rides smooth. It's not factory but i'm not getting beat up on every little bump either.

[RJK70]

Mine are on the second highest setting. It is more firm than factory but I like it better. When you hit a bump its doesn't have the aftershock. It's definitely not harsh

[Black Ice]

Bilstein 5100 are good shocks. I'm not sure if there is any difference in ride quality from the regular vs the adjustable. Anytime you change the suspension from stock you will run the risk of changing the ride quality. Adding blocks and add a leafs always hurts ride quality vs stock. Now on to fixing your problem. I would suggest ditching the block and getting a quality coil spring that's two inches longer than your factory spring. You can then run the bilstein with the two inch longer spring. When you get the new shocks make sure you let the know you have a 2 inch leveling kit in your truck. It may not matter but I haven't looked into it.



Edit: Also don't let this rough riding stuff go to your head!!!!!!! If you let it bother you too much you'll go crazy and not remember what feels good. You may actually have a better ride quality at some point but ride quality can drive you mad

[Black Ice]

Maybe somebody will chime in with some quality springs. Everything I deal with is 3/4 ton. I'm thinking carli or pure quality but for a halfton.

[Cuz]

Yea I'm being careful not to be too picky. I'm just confused how I had the same tire, tire pressure, spacers and blocks on my last f150 and it rode MUCH better? Only difference that I know of is my new truck has heavier duty/less forgiving shocks and/or springs, right?
I very rarely felt a BAM! In that truck. In my new one there's ten BAMS! Between my house and the front gate. Not cool. I've got about a grand in this already. So at this point I just want it fixed, without going back to stock height/rake and stock tires...

[Cuz]

What is the first thing that "gives" when you hit a bump? The spring or the shock? They are "coil overs", if that matters...

[Mike D]

If you are relying on a shock to give you lift, there is only one way I know to do that and it's going to be stiff.

I have Bilstein 5100s on my truck and they ride good but they are not the height adjustable ones.

Do you have or had blocks in the rear and what in the front before the Bilsteins?

[TxTechBowhunter]

The spacers rode better b/c you were not compressing the cool springs like you are with the 5100s.

[PSD Ryan]

Adjustable height is almost always kind of a gimmick. When you lift without replacing parts (adjustable height shocks, cranking coilovers up, cranking torsion bars) all you are doing is stiffening everything to put it in the upper part of it's range. This lessens available compression also. Your ride is going to be much harsher.

Spring rates are very important. That's why a good lift kit comes with the correct spring for that vehicle and lift. There is an ideal sag condition for the spring (how much it is compressed at rest) that keeps the spring rate ideal and the ride height where you want it. Once your spring is set, the shock has to come into play. A shock has a compressed length, and an extended length. The extended length needs to cover the most droop you will encounter, and the compressed length needs to cover the max amount of compression your vehicle can handle. If a shock doesn't have adjustable damping, you need to be sure it has an appropriate damping rate for your vehicle. If it is adjustable, you can play around with it until you find your best ride.

The process for leaf springs is similar.

In short, leveling kits that are a spacer that goes over your coil are crap. They work by "lengthening" the spring, but the spring rate is wrong, and it won't be able to compress or droop as much as it should. The best way to do it is get a 2" longer spring, and get an appropriate shock.

[texashunter87]

I'm so glad that I read this because I was about to level my 2012 f-150 and add 33's to it now Im double thinking the lift and just running 32's

[Cuz]

The spacers rode better b/c you were not compressing the cool springs like you are with the 5100s.

Negative. The ride is better with the 5100 shocks than it was with the spacers. Just not THAT much better.