Bilstein B8 8112

Does anybody run these? These seem like a great way to go. https://www.bilstein.com/us/en/product/bilstein-b8-8112-zonecontrol-cr/

 

I was going to buy some 6112s and 5160s until I saw the 8112. Do you have any first hand experience?

 

I'm in process of installing,
Did the 8110 rears today, Front 8112's are going in Thursday.
Hopefully my Icon leaf pack is in by Thursday. ..

But Just bolting on the Rears with the stock leafs and front suspension made a huge difference.
Not just in "smoothness" but also "control" of the rear end hard accelerating (as much as a Tacoma can) over a wasboard of potholes and sunken man-hole covers.

I have not done my "off-road" and "railway tracks" tests yet,
but on some of my very rough potholed test roads, I was actually shocked at the improvement just the rear shocks made...

Rear end handled MUCH better than the rear end of a new Trd-Pro I took on the same route...

 

How are the 8112's working out? I'm on the verge of ordering, but haven't seen these installed (much less driven) in real life yet...

 

What are the differences, weight capacities?

 

Edit.

just watched the video. Way too complex for my understanding

 

8112's went in about 1000km (600mi) ago and there definitely is a break in period with these. They have gotten much smoother in that time.

Not a lot of adjustments had to be made from the stock alignment marks, one tire rod had to be adjusted more than the other though.

And they were a drastic improvement the moment I started driving.
I said "Holy Shit" within 50ft of driving and turning the wheel a couple times.

With the Sport shocks and the Warn front bumper I used to have a bit of nose diving and roll in the corners.
Not any more!

I have a f200 dashcam, it has G-force logging. (not very good, but gives you a rough idea).
So I compared a pothole I hit on the way to work,
The results were like;
stock 1.3g,
Stock with warn bumper 1g,
8112/8110 combo 0.3g

Even less body lean in the corners than the Sport shocks when the truck was stock.
I can see how they say you may not need your sway bar any more...

The truck feels totally planted going around rough corners at speed, limitation on the truck for cornering on the street, is tires.

The level of control on rough roads, is night and day difference from stock.

Rumble strips and speed bumps no longer exist to me above 15mph.

We have some collections of 4-6 rail tracks down in the heavy industrial section of town.

Stock Sport you, felt like a marble in a coffee can being shaken about.
Stock Off road, was smooth but you pitched about, don't feel like your in a lot of control, but could almost still sip a coffee carefully.(with a lid on it of course).
8112/8110 , only knew there was train tracks there because of the tire noise....

Above 15mph the 5100's, Stock Sport, Off-Road and Pro shock systems, do not even compare, Same with comparing a Dodge1500 and a Ford Raptor, don't compare.

Now for the bad news...

Since these are digressive in the first stage (reason why you have so much more road control)
Below about 5-10Mph they are Smoother than the Stock Sport shocks,
but not as Smooth as the the rest. (Raptor, Dodge 1500, Stock off-road)
More comparable to the Pro's "feel" but a "little" stiffer.

Off-Road
5-mph,
I remember a ride a few years ago in a Tacoma with kings, it's been a while but they seemed "Softer/Spongier" little more comfortable than the 8112/8110 combo I'm running,
Same with the off-road stock shocks, little more softer.
Above 5mph 8112/8110 takes over.

But no matter the speed the truck it always, more level, "planted", "in control".
The harder you work these the smoother they are.

Never realized how bad the stock shocks were.
No, seriously, Never realized how bad the stock shocks were.

I do have the 650Lb springs with the minimum recommended weight for them as I have not installed my winch yet, so that will change things quite a bit too as I'll be at the proper weight range for the front sprimgs.

If I bought a 2020 pro I would take the stock shocks off and put these on without a second thought.

These make your truck feel like you paid twice as much for it.

I have not installed the Icon Stg 1 Leaf pack,
but have the fronts set at the Bilstein factory set heights and the fenderwells at all four corners are sitting level within a total range of 1/8" at 36" with 265/65/17 tires on it.

 

I just always thought that these were priced WAY too high.... for about the cost of the fronts alone, you can get fox/king/icon stuffs custom valved for your needs in all 4 corners.

 

To me the 8112/8110 seemed more "refined" , very well/better engineered than the other brands I looked at.

I'd rather pay more and have it last longer.
The fact that these don't need secondary bump stops or limit straps says a lot about the extra built in strength.
What are the recommended rebuild intervals between the different shock systems?

 

You absolutely do not need limit straps or secondary bumpstops with the other options out there depending on use. Doesn't matter what shock you run, if you are jumping you will need both.

Rebuild intervals will be determined by use, just as every other rebuild able shock.

 

Really appreciate that write up, looks like a Bilstein Xmas for me lol. I've got the TSB recall leaf pack in the rear (09 TRD Sport 4x4 with 16" FJ TRD wheels), would I need an AAL? Or a leveling washer to correct the Taco Lean? I wasn't looking for more than a 2" lift at most, so would that require new UCAs? Sorry to dump all these questions on you, but it's hard to find guys with this setup

 

Well since these are adjustable no leveling washer would be required,
the install manual shows the measurements (which are different on driver's to passenger side to deal with the taco lean).
Since these have threads, you can fine adjust them.
UCA at 2" from all I've read, not required.
But every truck is a little different. No doubt UCA's can help, if you can't get the alignment numbers you want,
but at 1.5", mine hit #'s dead on no problem.

To answer your AAL question, take a measuring tape and measure your front fenderwell height, increase that by 2" and compare it to the rear.
Chances are at 2" your going to have a "reverse rake" and want to left to rear too.
AAL is more expensive, adds more carrying capacity, but can also stiffen the ride. Longer install process, but can also be customized.
Block, if you just want to add a 1/4 to 1/2" block to the back to level the rear after lifting the front, it is cheaper, easier to install, and does not affect ride quality,
_may_ add a _little_ more axle wrap during hard takeoffs, adds no benefits besides height. If you use a block use a steel one.

But if you are spend this kind of $ on the 8112's for the front and 8100's for the back, look into better rear leaf packs, Alcan, Deaver, Icon

 

My buddy runs them. Honestly I've ride in his truck and didn't think they were worth the hype but he likes them.

 

Re bump stops, it was a general statement.
And since I see them installed all the time on Kings, Foxes, Icons.... and people talking about which brand bump stops helps their ride...
But as you say... depending on use.

Bilstein says you don't need them.
After trying them, I believe them.

I know rebuild interval is based on use.
But;
look into what the Avg mileage the different manufactures have, for the models out there.
Dig a little deeper, some of the Tacomaworld favorites don't look so good.

 

Hey daks, right on, I appreciate the info. Headstrong Off-road just got me again lol!

 

Has anyone removed the bump stops? I know what the brains of these do but I wonder if I shouldn't leave them on. A shock failure could get pricey..