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2021 TRD sport 2nd Hitachi vs Bilstein 5100s

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by patos tacoma, Mar 11, 2023.

  1. Mar 11, 2023 at 12:40 PM
    #1
    patos tacoma

    patos tacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Wondering if anybody in T World, made the switch fro. hitachi Sport tuned shocks to Bilstein 5100s , mainly for the Performance (ride), NOT just to lift

    my new (to me) 2021, has 65k…..and I think the Hitachis are not great……

    thoughts please……..
     
  2. Mar 11, 2023 at 12:44 PM
    #2
    na8rboy

    na8rboy 18 DCLB Sport Cement

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    Most do 4600, if not lifting. May be a few whom did 5100's at stock height, but I haven't seen/heard anyone since I have been on here.
     
  3. Mar 11, 2023 at 12:49 PM
    #3
    patos tacoma

    patos tacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    If you’re not going to ADD to the conversation, please move along……..
     
    usmc2msu, 09 Redneck and Dfpftw like this.
  4. Mar 11, 2023 at 12:51 PM
    #4
    patos tacoma

    patos tacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    And they accomplished what by going to 4600s……the price difference is negligible and the 5100 is the better shock with options…..
     
    #4TOY4ME likes this.
  5. Mar 11, 2023 at 12:53 PM
    #5
    Lt. Dangle

    Lt. Dangle RIP @stun gun 2016-2020

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    You are asking one of the most popular questions here on TW. A simple search would have lead you to more information answering your question than you could possible sift through in 2 lifetimes.

    To ADD to the conversation though, yes, people have made that switch.
     
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  6. Mar 11, 2023 at 12:54 PM
    #6
    Lt. Dangle

    Lt. Dangle RIP @stun gun 2016-2020

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    4600's are for no lift. 5100's are for lift. It's not "better". It's different. Ask Bilstein, they will tell you this.
     
    usmc2msu, MannyS and na8rboy like this.
  7. Mar 11, 2023 at 5:26 PM
    #7
    skidooboy

    skidooboy titanium plate tester

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    dd light bars, trd cat back exhaust, KDMax tuned, trd skid plate, 2" lift, sema wheels toyo open country at3 tires.
    You could give people more info to help you vs being nasty, and you might actually get some help. the sports have stiffer valving for on road performance. do you want softer shocks for a better ride? softer shocks for off road? or even more performance based package for on road driving?

    give as much info as you can, and be patient for those that will help you. for the people that bother you, the ignore feature can be utilized. but, again... no need to be nasty to people, it will only get you chewed up, and spat out on here. good luck to you. Ski
     
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  8. Mar 11, 2023 at 5:38 PM
    #8
    patos tacoma

    patos tacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Ski,
    Wasn’t being nasty at all……..annoyed by the “go read years of threads on the subject”…..everyday new and improved products come to the market.

    on my 2010, after I got it 2 1/2 years ago, I swapped old worn out 4600s, for 5100s, upgraded to 3rd gen sport rims (16s) and put new Toyos, and leveled the truck……..great.

    now I bought the 4x2 2021 Sport……it has Hitachis……..not as stiff as the 5100s and cant hold a turn……no off road for me……will probably look to level for the look……and run just a little bigger tire…..

    I just did the OTT tune and either I need better tires or better shocks…….the gas charged don’t interest me.
     
  9. Mar 12, 2023 at 5:21 AM
    #9
    burgershot

    burgershot Well-Known Member

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    Without the context of OP being nasty and others calling them out this thread sure reads weird.
     
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  10. Mar 12, 2023 at 6:16 AM
    #10
    BillyE

    BillyE Well-Known Member

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    I don’t expect any shock to last beyond 50k. You could replace a worn shock with an Auto Zone special and it would feel like an improvement.
     
    BigEasy likes this.
  11. Mar 12, 2023 at 7:42 AM
    #11
    JFriday1

    JFriday1 Well-Known Member

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    I like 5100s much more than the stock sport shocks and the 4600s. Even at stock height they are much better feeling to me.
     
    VTi EG6 likes this.
  12. Mar 12, 2023 at 7:59 AM
    #12
    BillyE

    BillyE Well-Known Member

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    How would you describe the difference?
     
  13. Mar 12, 2023 at 8:01 AM
    #13
    JFriday1

    JFriday1 Well-Known Member

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    Firm. Less nose dive under heavy braking.
     
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  14. Mar 12, 2023 at 9:06 AM
    #14
    wayne0

    wayne0 Well-Known Member

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    I replaced my worn rear stock 4600s with 5100s. Nice difference.
     
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  15. Mar 25, 2023 at 2:15 PM
    #15
    VTi EG6

    VTi EG6 Well-Known Member

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    I was curious about stock height or even one notch up on the 5100’s.

    Glad to see more people wanting to run this stock as well. That’s kind of where Im at w this.
     
  16. Mar 25, 2023 at 2:43 PM
    #16
    patos tacoma

    patos tacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I swapped to B5100s to also take advantage of lifting truck to Level
    Set fronts to 1.55 and rears at stock height
    Run 265/70/17s on factory 17” rims
    Starting to save for TRD rims

    big fan of 5100s. Back shocks are easy install. Fronts I paid for install and alignment
     
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  17. Mar 25, 2023 at 6:12 PM
    #17
    Servingko

    Servingko Well-Known Member

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  18. Mar 25, 2023 at 7:26 PM
    #18
    Rusty66

    Rusty66 Ain’t Afraid

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    I've been reading through a dizzying amount of shock threads and this is the first concrete proof that the 4600 and 5100 are the same in terms of ride and load capacity. On my first gen TRD OR, it had the "skinny" Bilsteins as OE. I put the 4600's in there the difference was huge. I've used the yellows on a few vehicles over the years and I will say they will not disappoint as a stock upgrade.
     
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  19. Jul 8, 2023 at 1:38 PM
    #19
    danny15l

    danny15l Well-Known Member

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    The hitachi shocks are not made with as well materials as the bilsteins. The paint job on one of the rear shocks that I removed from my 22’ sport to install some B6 shocks, had surface rust and paint that was starting to rub off from contact somewhere. Glad I upgraded to the B6. Feels more like a Tacoma should be when driving now. shocks were hitting the frame so maybe they’re failing premature. I did put some slightly bigger tires on before, but I doubt that would cause issues with these shocks. The one shock was probably bad from the factory most likely being mass produced. Not the best looking shock after 1 year.

    IMG_8119.jpg
    IMG_8121.jpg
     
  20. Jul 8, 2023 at 2:23 PM
    #20
    Kolohe07

    Kolohe07 Well-Known Member

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    I just last week changed the back shocks on my 2022 sport, with 10k miles.
    They(5100s) were on sale on Amazon for 90 bucks so I jumped on it.
    I will switch out the fronts later when/if they go on sale.
    It took me a about 45 minutes for each side.
    I could notice a difference in the ride right away.
    I had 5100s in my 08, and they made a world of difference.
    Great bang for the buck.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2023
    danny15l likes this.

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