The details no one talks about with bilstein 6100’s

Hello Gents,

I’ve been researching the bilstein 6100’s and haven’t found the following info. Can anyone help?

20 trdor with sliders, skid plate, 265 75 16 tires.

If I got the 6100 fronts with 600lb springs and 5160 rears, I wanted to keep the leveled front and stock stance in the rear.

What specific ride quality will improve or degrade? For example on the highway on concrete paved sections the truck bounces quite a bit(yes I’ve played with air pressure)

I am looking for a more smooth ride, definitely not a more rigid ride. Will the 6100’s be more stiff than stock?

Will the only improvements be seen when wheeling? I do mostly super slow small Rocky sections and also pretty washboarded Rocky type fire roads mostly.

the info im gathering seems to be that I’ll have a more rigid ride. I am hoping that isn’t the case. Any help would be great. Thanks!

 

It's top secret....that's why no one is talking about it....

 

I noticed mine are stiffer but in a good way. At higher speeds the truck has less roll and bounce. At lower speeds something like a speed bump seems to hit harder. I didn't like the Cadillac feel of the off-road so I'm happy with the upgrade

 

thanks @PasoSteve those are the details I was looking for. That is what everyone seems to gloss over during their reviews.

Would love some more input if anyone feels differently.

I feel like when I take hour long slow very rocky roads/or even longer mixed terrain roads, I’m beat up and tired with the stock suspension. I feel like if speed bumps hit harder with the 6100’a it’s going to be even worse. Thoughts?

 

@PasoSteve what springs did you use and are you lifted? What leaf’s? Thanks!

 

B8 6100s are called 6112's on Tacoma, there's loads of threads on them here.

The 600# spring is the standard spring I believe, and it rides amazing over rough terrain at higher speeds. It's a worthwhile upgrade.

The higher clip you go the firmer it gets, so staying mid to low will level the truck and give the best ride.

 

I have the 600# springs that come with them. Set on 9/8 for the clips. Got about 2" of lift. The rear is the 3 leaf aal from @HeadStrong Off-Road . It kept a slight rake which I prefer. If you drive faster off-road it helps smooth it out. Slow speed crawling is a harder hit.

 

I think you mean 6112’s. They ride nice and plush vs 5100’s. And they do pair up with 5160’s quite nice! Definitely a good step up from the 5100’s! Can’t go wrong with this upgrade.

 

You lose down travel and ball joints get worse angles, tie rods point down attributing to bump steer. It’s not like the 5100 but all lifts have compromise

 

A quick search count says that there are currently 242 threads with "6112" in the title.

Start with this one.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bilstein-6112.421995/


And then really dive down the rabbit hole and look up performance characteristics of progressive, digressive, and linear valving. Decide which one works for you. And be honest with yourself and how often you really will be running the Baja course vs just sitting in traffic.

The 6112s are one of the best digressive examples in a budget-to-mid-tier shock. Read the reviews in that thread ^^^

 

I think you are asking for the ride that the TRD Off Road comes with. Should be pretty easy to pick up a set of shocks and spring that someone has taken off their tacoma for an "up grade." I have the 6112's on my tacoma and I love the way it rides but I think, from what you are saying, you would appreciate the softer feel of the Off Road set up.

 

@CaptainBart45 I believe the OP has a TRD OR already.

 

6112’s / 5160 is a great combo IMO. CANT go wrong. Paired with a nice leaf pack

 

If you're looking for smoother not rigid and do mostly slow speed stuff I suggest that you look at progressive or linear valved shocks then. Digressive valved shocks like the 6112s are characteristically stiff in the beginning of their rod travel.

 

Giggity

 

Or go with 8112’s up front and 8100 out back but the price jumps a lil, ultra plush on road and off-road is like riding in a Caddy!! Better ride than King oe. I’ll go this set up if I end up not liking the pro fox shocks..

 

very nice shocks, but into the realm of boutique suspension that adds extra maintenance costs to the equation. It all depends on what the OP plans on doing, shocks of that caliber may be way overboard. Since it seems like they are interested in slow speed, light rock crawling and forest service roads they might be better off looking at what our friends down under are running because that's similar to alot of their offroading.

 

Yep, I think he has an 05 4x4 and I was thinking an "Off Road" set up from a 3rd gen would be perfect for what he is asking for. And not spending needless money is what I'm all about.

 

No extra maintenance with the 8112/8100 unless you're really hammering them. They're not like Fox or King in that regard.
But these probably wouldn't work for OP's purposes. My experience with the 8112/8100 setup is that they are firm on the road so you feel the "small" stuff, but the truck is way more controlled and they take big/fast hits with ease. Should be great for washboard stuff. Haven't tried them on slow off-roading yet.

 

Not to be pedantic but it is not a beginning of travel thing but instead a component of digressive valving. The shock can have more dampening when it is moving slowly (cornering, dips and rises in the road) and less dampening when it is moving faster (expansion joints, potholes). This gives a firm feel, it is responsive, but removes the harshness.

OP, I upgraded the front from stock OR shocks to 6112s. It is amazing. Completely remove the wallowy, floaty, feel the stock shocks had while also made it more comfortable. These new shocks are firm, but more comfortable. Everything I gained in the front though was lost by a lift block in the rear with stock shocks.