Considering Bilstein 5100s?

If you're considering 5100s for your truck, 4 Wheel Parts has them right now for $103.65 each. Cheapest I've found them. Free shipping over $75, and I saved an additional 5%.

 

Had the 5100's on my old 2005 TRD OR, and they came on my 2016 TRD OR, was not all that impressed by them. Just one year later, the left front on my 2005 was leaking fluid and had to be replaced. Bilstein replaced it No Charge, but still. Honestly I feel that Bilstein is a BUDGET product, not PREMIUM. I recently removed the Bilstein's from my 2016 and replaced them with the PRO Fox suspension. Leaps and bounds better product by far.

 

That being said, I've run into quite a few people who have had zero issues with their Bilstein shocks.

Funny how the world works....

 

Premium price does not always equal premium product. I've had 5100s on the last 2 trucks I've owned, and have not had the first issue. I'm sure there are more performance oriented coil overs out there. But seriously, what percentage of truck owners are fully utilizing their $1500 Kings, Icons or Pro Foxes?

I guess the street cred and the 'gram likes mean something to some folks........

 

I would absolutely consider them premium in this product range. You don't get the opportunity to manufacture suspension systems for production vehicles of global automotive manufactures on accident. There are thousands of hours in testing and quality checks involved in working with a manufacturer such as Toyota. All of that quality trickles down to the catalog products as well. This can also be said for your FOX dampers!

 

Speaking of premium product and premium price, you could also consider our $30k trucks a pretty premium price and expect them to be perfect but they're not always like that. Gotta have some bad ones in the sea of good ones. It happens. At least hopefully in most cases it's warrantied or replaced.

 

Ain't that the truth.

Human and materials errors happen. Welcome to life. In the big picture though, these trucks do hold up ridiculously well over time

 

Another random example: My 17' had some issue the dealers couldn't figure out. My 18' is an absolute gem.

 

My '17 has had the nit-picky issues (squeaky springs, etc.) as well as the WTF problems (leaky brake light, trailer wiring snafu). Have they been annoying? Absolutely. But being reasonable with the dealer got everything fixed under warranty. I'm about to roll over 60,000 miles, getting 20+ mpg when I drive right, and it has not failed to get me anywhere I need to go. Interstate, 2 lane highway, back road, no road, it doesn't matter.

Now, if money were no object, I'd swap in an LS, some 1 ton dynatrac axles, and 35s. Yes, overkill for a DD, but perfect for a go anywhere, do anything, bulletproof rig. Maybe when I win the lottery........

But back to my original post, the 5100s will be here middle of next week. And at <$100 ea after the 5% discount, that just makes it that much better.