Bilstein 6112 or 8112

I need help deciding between the 6112/5160 combo or just upgrading to the 8112/8100 series any information or help you could provide would be appreciated, I currently have a cbi front bumper and a smittybilt 12k winch and RSI smart cap, i plan to add more and dont want to have to upgrade suspension in the near future

 

Those are 2 vastly different suspension setups. Before you a decision either way what are your plans for the rear? Keeping stock leaf springs, AAL, new leaf pack? I ask because the rear 8100's aren't very long and are designed around the stock to +1.5 lift. If you end up doing a complete leaf pack the shocks will be too short and will end up topping out if you go offroad.

 

Dont know much about the 8112 but I've run 6112 and 5160 combo for 5.5 years and 60k miles with little complaint. Rear reservoir lines are looking pretty rusty but not close to rotting out(new england) and the rears have slight weep marks but that isnt unusual for gas charge shocks. Was a huge improvement over stock and I wouldnt hesitate to do the same combo again

 

i was gonna get an AAL and a high clearance bumper

 

8100/8112 are 2 year warranty.
6112/5612 are lifetime warranty.

I just installed 8100/8112 with 650 front coils and Deaver Stage 2 leaf pack and set the front at 2” higher and the rear is sitting over 2” higher.

 

Sub'ed as I am also considering the same two setups. Don't really need the 8's for the type of driving I do but they look oh so nice and buy once cry once.

 

6112’s 5160’s for the win. IMO I’m sure 8112’s are sick as well. Decision’s!!!! Good luck

 

I believe they have different use cases. From what I heard, the 6's have better road manners and the 8's have better off-road performance. With my nearest trail being 2 hours away, I went with the 6's.

 

Could someone with the 8's corroborate this statement?

 

Totally!

 

Nah, do things 15 times so you know the pro's and cons of each. Don' think about the money you've lost think about the knowledge you have gained through experience.

 

They're both digressive valved, so on road manners will be similar. The 8's are internal bypass fronts and external bypass rears, with built in hydraulic bump stops. So they're without a doubt better offroad. The front have 3 compression dampening zones and 2 rebound dampening zones.

I love them so far.

 

Tossing up the 8's here too. Interested to hear more from folks about them.

 

There is no doubt the 8 series is better all round. Street/Offroad.

There is a thread on them here;

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-bilstein-8112-coilovers.532739/page-1

The 6112 shocks are excellent and put the stock shocks to shame.

But the Large reservoirs, built in bump stops and "limit straps" and extra zones in the 81xx series really makes a difference in high speed off road, or some of the real crappier roads.

It all depends on your budget, you get what you pay for in suspension, there is no shortcuts or magic products, only physics.