Bilstein 8100 bypass shock review

[hockeynut258]

I’ve been running Bilstein 8100 bypass shocks with Synergy springs (3” front/4” rear), Metal Cloak arms and track bars on a 2022 JLUR 6-speed. I’ve got around 7,000 miles and a fair amount of wheeling on them. Bottom line: if you enjoy moving quicker in your Jeep, and have the budget, they are a fantastic option. Bypass shocks really do allow for a more comfortable dampening in normal conditions without blowing through travel during bigger bumps or g-outs. Adjustments are noticeable and with a very wide range.

Why expensive shocks?

I had a 2021 Jeep that I kept the suspension stock and did a lot of wheeling. My largest gripe was how soft the stock suspension is and how quickly the shocks heat up and fade. I had planned to pick up Fox 2.5 DSC for my 2022 JLUR but found a set of new Bilstein 8100 bypass shocks on sale for the same price, made an easy choice step up the 8100s.

Somethings to consider:

1. They do require wheels with a max of 4.5” backspacing to ensure clearance between tire and shock. Plan accordingly when ordering wheels!
2. **Largest annoyance of bypass shocks: proper ride height is important! If the ride height is too high or low the vehicle will be riding in or near a bump zone and dampening rates will at their max = rough ride. Bilstein specs a lift of 3.5-4.5”. I had some trial and error finding the right spring combo that worked. Short story, MetalCloak 3.5” springs were waaay too high, ~5” and rode poorly. Ended up with synergy springs, 3” front with a 3/4” spacer on the right and 4” rear. That landed me at 3.75” lift front, 4” rear and level left to right.
3. Consult the shock excel sheet on the forum to help figure out where you want your Jeep to sit and allow proper suspension performance. Shock and spring charts

Install of the shocks was straight forward and Bilstein provides great instructions in conjunction with a video from Shock Surplus on YouTube. The front shocks have an included lower mount that pushed the shock out to give clearance with the frame. Rear uses stock mounts.

Every time I drive the Jeep I’m reminded how much I appreciate having the 8100’s. On road and especially off road, they’ve been excellent. Having control over both rebound and compression is great if you really want to fine tune your ride. Off road it is amazing how much more speed the Jeep can carry and still feel settled vs stock. I spent a few days in Moab trading between my Jeep and a friend’s can-am maverick X3 sport side-by-side. What blew me away is the feel/dynamic of the Jeep felt similar in how it reacted on the trail to the X3. Obviously the X3 has much more travel and is much lighter, so it can go MUCH faster, but going 20-30mph in the jeep on desert trails it has a similar feel. And on rocky trails the Jeep is far more comfortable than the X3.

I’m sum, if you have the budget for higher end shocks on your build, do it! You will not regret. The Bilstein 8100 bypass shocks are a great option and offer a wide range of adjustment to fit your needs. Especially if you enjoy clipping along trails faster than your average Jeep!!

Length specs:
Front Collapsed Length (IN): 18.11
Front Extended Length (IN): 29.13
Front travel: 11.02”
Rear Collapsed Length (IN): 19.49
RearExtended Length (IN): 32.01
Rear travel: 12.52”


Shock Surplus review

Front shock install instructions
Rear shock install instructions

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[ccarter]

Thank you for the write up!

Any chance you’d be willing to do some eyelet to eyelet measurements at ride height, please? Especially with bypass shocks, I wish the manufacturer would give that as an intended range instead of basing it on lift height.

 

[hockeynut258]

Any chance you’d be willing to do some eyelet to eyelet measurements at ride height, please?

Current measurements. The Synergy springs haven’t sagged at all ??

This is with Synergy 3” springs front and 4” rear. I have a 3/4” spacer on the front right to level everything out. 1/2 fuel tank

eye-to-eye
FL: 23-3/4”
FR: 23-1/2”
RL: 26-1/4”
RR: 26”

Could go slightly lower in the rear but I had synergy 3” springs and they sat 2” lower..

I took the travel lengths of the shocks and aimed to ride at the middle and err on the high side. My target eye-to-eye measurements are:
front: 23 1/2”
rear: 25 3/4”

 

[1996cc]

Current measurements. The Synergy springs haven’t sagged at all ??

Are you still happy with the shocks and springs? I’m looking at swapping out my Kings. I’ve also hear these have soft seat bypass valves, so you don’t hear them like you do a regular external bypass shock. Have you ever heard yours?

 

[hockeynut258]

Are you still happy with the shocks and springs? I’m looking at swapping out my Kings. I’ve also hear these have soft seat bypass valves, so you don’t hear them like you do a regular external bypass shock. Have you ever heard yours?

They have been great! I have around 14,000 miles on the setup with no issues. I do wish mine had the clicker adjustment knobs that the new ones come equipped with. I’d play around with settings more if I didn’t need tools to make changes. It’s $100/knob to upgrade

I haven’t heard them making noise. I looked into the clicking noise that some of the bypass shocks make after I bought them but they’ve been quiet?

 

[GATORB8]

Nice review, thanks for sharing.

Did you try the MC outboard shock mounts to account for the height in front? Would that 1.5" have put you in range?

 

[hockeynut258]

Nice review, thanks for sharing.

Did you try the MC outboard shock mounts to account for the height in front? Would that 1.5" have put you in range?

Great point! I did, however i really didn’t want to raise the Jeep more than necessary.
Now if you want a higher lift than recommended by bilstein, the MC mounts would be perfect!

 

[DLW]

Nice review!
I am looking at these shocks now, since I need replacements for my 2.5 DSC's, and nothing but Steller reviews on these.

I am curious about your measurements.
Your rear is about 26 1/4" with your Synergy 4" springs.
How much shock shaft do you have showing at ride height?
How much shaft showing while fully in the bump?

Edit: Sorry, I may have added to much so I shortened it up.
Bought these shocks last night BTW..

 

[hockeynut258]

I am curious about your measurements.
Your rear is about 26 1/4" with your Synergy 4" springs.
How much shock shaft do you have showing at ride height?
How much shaft showing while fully in the bump?

Thanks!
The rear is sitting at 6-3/4” shaft showing at ride height and about 1/2” at bump w/o the bump stop installed.

 

[DLW]

Thanks!
The rear is sitting at 6-3/4” shaft showing at ride height and about 1/2” at bump w/o the bump stop installed.

Thanks buddy!

Looks like like my math worked out .
If I understand you correctly, you have a 3" bump stop from your pics above, and while bottomed out to the metal upper bump cup, you have 1/2" shaft left. That would seem about right, and have about 6" of total up travel. Sounds like you did a good job setting it up even if you could not get the perfect shaft height (6") at ride height you were looking for, but seems close enough.

 

[hockeynut258]

Thanks buddy!

Looks like like my math worked out .
If I understand you correctly, you have a 3" bump stop from your pics above, and while bottomed out to the metal upper bump cup, you have 1/2" shaft left. That would seem about right, and have about 6" of total up travel. Sounds like you did a good job setting it up even if you could not get the perfect shaft height (6") at ride height you were looking for, but seems close enough.

You got it ??

Be sure to post up your setup and where you end up riding at. I’m sure it’ll help out some others down the road.

 

[DLW]

You got it ??

Be sure to post up your setup and where you end up riding at. I’m sure it’ll help out some others down the road.

I got the new rear 8100's on today and took a couple measurements.
I pulled out the MC 4.5" springs and installed the other new set of MC 3.5" springs I had.
At ride height, I have a little over 6 3/4" of shaft showing now. This is with the axle sitting on jack stands in my driveway. On flat ground and after driving it for a bit, I think it should settle another 1/2".

You got me thinking about your less than Steller feedback using MC springs with these shocks.
I was wondering, synergy claims to have side specific springs, I noticed you put an additional 3/4" spacer on the right front to level out side to side. I assume the synergy side specific springs did not get you level enough by themselves? Also, I see you used 4" rear springs and 3" front, and you ended up with a level ride? I see synergy states they keep the stock rake using the same height front/rear springs, I guess this is not the case for you?

That aside, you seem real happy with the ride quality of the synergy's over the MC though.
It seems you did a lot of testing to draw these conclusions so I can appreciate that.
Did you net an actual 4" of lift with the rear synergy's? and close to 4" with the 3" springs?

I'm installing 40's, so I am not sure I can go any lower that what the MC 3.5" springs give me now, plus they have about the right amount of shaft showing.

 

[hockeynut258]

I got the new rear 8100's on today and took a couple measurements.
I pulled out the MC 4.5" springs and installed the other new set of MC 3.5" springs I had.
At ride height, I have a little over 6 3/4" of shaft showing now. This is with the axle sitting on jack stands in my driveway. On flat ground and after driving it for a bit, I think it should settle another 1/2".

You got me thinking about your less than Steller feedback using MC springs with these shocks.
I was wondering, synergy claims to have side specific springs, I noticed you put an additional 3/4" spacer on the right front to level out side to side. I assume the synergy side specific springs did not get you level enough by themselves? Also, I see you used 4" rear springs and 3" front, and you ended up with a level ride? I see synergy states they keep the stock rake using the same height front/rear springs, I guess this is not the case for you?

That aside, you seem real happy with the ride quality of the synergy's over the MC though.
It seems you did a lot of testing to draw these conclusions so I can appreciate that.
Did you net an actual 4" of lift with the rear synergy's? and close to 4" with the 3" springs?

I'm installing 40's, so I am not sure I can go any lower that what the MC 3.5" springs give me now, plus they have about the right amount of shaft showing.

Current setup is sitting level left to right within about 1/4”. Front is at 3.75” lift (w/ one 3/4” spacer on the front right) and rear is 4” lift. Some rear rake still by design. My Jeep is a JLUR 6-speed with sky one touch roof. Even with full skids I think it is still on the light side of modified Jeeps. Looking back at my notes, the synergy springs sat level left to right w/o a spacer. I added the single spacer up front to gain 3/8” and it kept things level in the rear left/right within 1/4”

If you are sitting at your target ride height I wouldn’t be too quick to swap out springs unless you really want to. Yea the MC springs have higher rates vs synergy, however the 8100’s are so adjustable I bet you’ll get them riding how you want. I believe my poor experience with the MC springs was the combo of too much springs rate (5” lift vs advertised 3.5”) and too much rebound dampening as I was riding right next to or in the rebound bump zone on the shocks.


Little bit on my customer service experience. Both MC and synergy were unhelpful with getting the setup dialed in. I don’t blame either company. MC gave me a runaround for a few weeks. I can’t lower springs that are too tall so I gave up with them and picked up the synergy springs. I only got a 2” lift with their 3” rear springs. I contacted synergy about how the rear was sitting so low. Synergy didn’t offer an exchange, I had also purchased them from north ridge, but they were upfront explained that every Jeep is configured different so unless it’s built very similar to how they designed the springs there would be variation… Both the 3” front and 4” rear synergy springs are right about advertised height. However their 3” rear springs were too low at only a 2” lift. Fluke? I don’t know.

 

[JMP]

Old thread revival….
… wondering if you can comment on how these sound… it there tons of clicking? Would you recommend them for a highway to distant trails rig, or is this something that should be towed?

Thank you!
Jason

 

[hockeynut258]

Old thread revival….
… wondering if you can comment on how these sound… it there tons of clicking? Would you recommend them for a highway to distant trails rig, or is this something that should be towed?

Thank you!
Jason

No clicking from the bypass valves, they’re silent. Just The typical rebound/compression swish noise when dropping off ledges or going through whoops with the windows down and no music.

Have around 24k miles on them now and they’re holding up great! Did another trip to St. George, UT last month. 5 days on trails and around 3000miles round trip. Highly recommend them!

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