Bilstein 8100 bypass shock review

[JMP]

Sold!

Only drawback is only 29” on the front va 30” for the ADS I was looking at.

Sorry for the barrage, but:

- Do you know if 29” is an accurate number, or can they get a little longer?
- Is there a different part number for the manual adjusters, or are all the new ones manual?
- Do you know who rebuilds them?
- Is there an offset in the front top mount, and/or did you have to offset the lower mount to keep them off the frame?

Thank you again for coming back around to talk about them!

cheers,
Jason

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[1996cc]

I recently installed a set and absolutely love them. They are silent as stated above. I’ve played with the adjusters a fair amount, but also know I could probably even get them better. I was bombing through 1-2’ whoops and sections of volleyball sized loose and implanted rocks at 30-40 mph like it was nothing in my last trip out.

The lower front mounts are offset to the rear and they come with brackets to move them outward on the lowers too. Check out the install instructions on their website. The upper mounts on front and rear are also offset outboard.

I did have to waller out the holes in the mounts for the rear reservoirs. They want to contact the bypass tubes at full droop & full articulation.

 

[hockeynut258]

Sold!

Only drawback is only 29” on the front va 30” for the ADS I was looking at.

Sorry for the barrage, but:

- Do you know if 29” is an accurate number, or can they get a little longer?

Not sure the exact extended length and it’d be awhile before I can get that measurement.

- Is there a different part number for the manual adjusters, or are all the new ones manual?

I believe all new versions (post 2021/2022) of the 8100’s should come equipped with the adjustment knobs (clickers). I’d verify with the retailer before you buy them because I would absolutely go with the clickers vs the hex/jam nut.

- Do you know who rebuilds them?

Most suspension shops should be able to, they look pretty simple. I plan on ordering the parts and fluid to give it a go myself. Here’s one option and how to:


- Is there an offset in the front top mount, and/or did you have to offset the lower mount to keep them off the frame?

The front shocks come with a lower offset mount. In addition they require a wheel with minimum 4.5” backspacing. The lower mount only offsets horizontaland does not raise or lower the mount vertically.

Thank you again for coming back around to talk about them!

Happy to help!

cheers,
Jason

 

[hockeynut258]

I recently installed a set and absolutely love them. They are silent and stated above. I’ve played with the adjusters a fair amount, but also know I could probably even get them better. I was bombing through 1-2’ whoops and sections of volleyball sized loose and implanted rocks at 30-40 mph like it was nothing in my last trip out.

The lower front mounts are offset to the rear and they come with brackets to move them outward on the lowers too. Check out the install instructions on their website. The upper mounts on front and rear are also offset outboard.

I did have to waller out the holes in the mounts for the rear reservoirs. They want to contact the bypass tubes at full droop & full articulation.

Thanks for the feedback! Did you add the king bump stops before or after getting the 8100’s? Do you have them in the rear too? Can you give your thoughts on the combo? I keep considering adding hydro bumps to the front but the 8100’s still do well once up the compression for sandy/faster trails.

 

[1996cc]

I had the hydro bumps before. According to Bilstein, you don’t need them. And since everything else they claim is 100% on point, I have no reason to not believe them. I do plan to drop the pressure in the bumps significantly. King suggests no more than 120 psi and I‘m over 200 because my old shocks were so blown out, I’d hit the bumps way too soon. I also plan to get rid of 1” of that bump stop extension you see as soon as I clearance my steering to allow more uptravel. Currently I have 1.25-1.5” of front shocks left to use at full bump. Then these will function even better!

I haven’t been to the dunes yet with them, but will be in a couple weeks.

 

[1996cc]

If you are buying shocks - of ANY brand - I think this podcast should be a mandatory listen. There is a ton of great info, I’ve listened to it twice. For the question about worried about shock length differences, they address travel differences in the discussion as well.

 

[JMP]

Ahhh… okay on the shock mounts. I was considering using the new metalcloak offset mount that does NOT raise the connection point. But… now I see the shock eyelet has an angle to it so that’s probably not advisable. I’m guessing that’s to help clear the spring perch or something.

 

[1996cc]

Ahhh… okay on the shock mounts. I was considering using the new metalcloak offset mount that does NOT raise the connection point. But… now I see the shock eyelet has an angle to it so that’s probably not advisable. I’m guessing that’s to help clear the spring perch or something.

Larger body shocks will hit the frame when the axle is articulated. I had to modify things for the King Shocks I had before- King (and many others) just ignores the issue. Props to Bilstein For addressing it. The springs can also rub the front of the shock bodies. Bilsteins offset lower eye also helps with this.

 

[JMP]

One more question: how sensitive to weight did these end up being? Top on/off? Loaded for camping? Does it make them harder to live with?

Thank you!
Jason

 

[hockeynut258]

One more question: how sensitive to weight did these end up being? Top on/off? Loaded for camping? Does it make them harder to live with?

Thank you!
Jason

I haven’t been bothered by them being “too” sensitive or a narrow window of adjustment. The adjustments are noticeable and make it easy to tune. Typically I’ll add one extra turn of compression in the rear when loaded down for camping, a road trip or hauling a trailer. That seems to balance it out well enough.

With that being said, on the way back from our last trip I kept the compression the same front to rear and it was still good and I didn’t notice it.

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