Added weight helped with Bilstein 5100

[LarryB]

I am running a fairly stock ride (upgraded steering stabilizer is only non-cosmetic upgrade). Not liking the stock shocks, I wanted to upgrade to Bilsteins. My local 4WP shop had a deal on 5100s that fit my Jeep, so I went with them.

I did enjoy how they handled with two exceptions. First, it was a bit floaty in the back (and handled worse in the snow) and second, I noticed that I had more flex in the hardtop, causing noise. I didn‘t link the noise with the shocks, as it was quite cold when I had the change done, so figured it was just that.

As a way to fix the traction, I added about 80lbs of sandbags. Not surprisingly, it fixed the traction issue. However, it also fixed the creaking in the hardtop (it was still cold, if not colder).

Questions:
1) is the weight of a stock Jeep too low to fully ”engage” the 5100s, as they are more heavy-duty?
2) Would the lack of weight have been enough to cause my hardtop to flex?

Many thanks in advance.

Sponsored

 

[sourdough]

Bilstein techs should be able to help better than anyone on the forum IMHO

 

[entropy]

I am running a fairly stock ride (upgraded steering stabilizer is only non-cosmetic upgrade). Not liking the stock shocks, I wanted to upgrade to Bilsteins. My local 4WP shop had a deal on 5100s that fit my Jeep, so I went with them.

I did enjoy how they handled with two exceptions. First, it was a bit floaty in the back (and handled worse in the snow) and second, I noticed that I had more flex in the hardtop, causing noise. I didn‘t link the noise with the shocks, as it was quite cold when I had the change done, so figured it was just that.

As a way to fix the traction, I added about 80lbs of sandbags. Not surprisingly, it fixed the traction issue. However, it also fixed the creaking in the hardtop (it was still cold, if not colder).

Questions:
1) is the weight of a stock Jeep too low to fully ”engage” the 5100s, as they are more heavy-duty?
2) Would the lack of weight have been enough to cause my hardtop to flex?

Many thanks in advance.

I have bilstein 5100 (2~3in lift) paired with rubicon springs. I dont notice any of the issues you are experiencing. What do you mean flex in the top and how is this related to shocks?

I dont know what you mean with "fully engage" the shocks. Shocks are just what their name suggest, shock absorbers. They dampen the vibration from the coils by converting kinetic energy into heat. Think of shocks as brakes for your springs. Have you measure their extended length at ride height from eye-to-eye?(bolts). That would tell you if the shocks are too long/short for your jeep. The shock needs to have enough room to extend/compress with the spring as the spring extends and compress. Perhaps if the shock is too short/too long it could give a floaty feeling because the spring keeps oscillating.

Heavier duty shocks would have a material thats more difficult to compress, resulting on a stiffer ride. Not softer. I don't think the bilstein are too stiff, when I replaced with my rubi shocks I put my weight on them to compress them and they felt fairly similar to rubis, vs the sport shocks which I could compress with my own hands and no body weight. But there is also the capacity for the gas to absorb heat, and I am not sure if the rubis or bilstein can absorb more heat.

My rubi shocks did give me too much body roll, but thats because they were too short for my jeep and didnt have enough room to extend. so the coils would oscillate more than they should. bilsteins made a difference because they fit better. So I would check shock fitment if I were you.

As for snow driving. My 2 door Jeep with LSD is the worst vehicle I've ever driven in snowy/icy roads. The rear kept kicking side to side. I honestly think this is caused by the LSD. When I turn 4wd it stops doing it and drives much better. But still scary af vehicle to drive on snowy/icy roads. I don't think shocks would make much of a difference here. Tires would.

 

[LarryB]

I have bilstein 5100 (2~3in lift) paired with rubicon springs. I dont notice any of the issues you are experiencing. What do you mean flex in the top and how is this related to shocks?

I dont know what you mean with "fully engage" the shocks. Shocks are just what their name suggest, shock absorbers. They dampen the vibration from the coils by converting kinetic energy into heat. Think of shocks as brakes for your springs. Have you measure their extended length at ride height from eye-to-eye?(bolts). That would tell you if the shocks are too long/short for your jeep. The shock needs to have enough room to extend/compress with the spring as the spring extends and compress. Perhaps if the shock is too short/too long it could give a floaty feeling because the spring keeps oscillating.

Heavier duty shocks would have a material thats more difficult to compress, resulting on a stiffer ride. Not softer. I don't think the bilstein are too stiff, when I replaced with my rubi shocks I put my weight on them to compress them and they felt fairly similar to rubis, vs the sport shocks which I could compress with my own hands and no body weight. But there is also the capacity for the gas to absorb heat, and I am not sure if the rubis or bilstein can absorb more heat.

My rubi shocks did give me too much body roll, but thats because they were too short for my jeep and didnt have enough room to extend. so the coils would oscillate more than they should. bilsteins made a difference because they fit better. So I would check shock fitment if I were you.

As for snow driving. My 2 door Jeep with LSD is the worst vehicle I've ever driven in snowy/icy roads. The rear kept kicking side to side. I honestly think this is caused by the LSD. When I turn 4wd it stops doing it and drives much better. But still scary af vehicle to drive on snowy/icy roads. I don't think shocks would make much of a difference here. Tires would.

Thanks for your reply. I am not sure how the shocks would have a relation to the hardtop either, except that the noise stopped right after I put in weight. Nothing else changed … same roads, temperature, etc. I am not sure if it is just a coincidence.

My choice of words was not great. What I meant was if the extra weight would be required to put enough pressure on the springs to be in a better spot to dampen bumps. Once the snow melts, I will go under the Jeep to see how springs are extended.

As for the snow, I switched from the not-great Goodyear ATs that came with the Jeep to Yokohama Geolanders. It helped but I think I will get full-blown snow tires for next winter.

 

[entropy]

My choice of words was not great. What I meant was if the extra weight would be required to put enough pressure on the springs to be in a better spot to dampen bumps. Once the snow melts, I will go under the Jeep to see how springs are extended.

All you need to do is to go under the jeep and measure the distance between the upper and lower shock bolts. That will tell you the extended length of the shock at riding height. It is possible your shocks are too long for your current setup. You shouldnt need to add weight to the Jeep. What shocks did 4WP give you? the 5100s come at different lengths.

Sponsored