Really impressive answering every question in comments something rarely seen, comments provide all sorts of useful information for specific questions cheers
Just ordered fox 2.0 performance all the way around from you guys for my 2020 5.0 f150. I will be back in a few months to give a real world review. I ordered from shock surplus due to the amount of content and wide variety of well know brands on their website. I think they are pretty informative. You actually wouldn’t believe the amount of suspension websites that don’t even show the part # when looking and comparing prices. Shock surplus seems to be very up front no B.S. I like that!
What he described about the Ranchos is exactly the experience I’m having now.. I’m actually on my 2nd front set because after a month i thought the first set was broken so i returned them for another set through Oreillys.. still felt the same.. front of the truck feels as if there is no shock absorption going on.. as if the truck was sitting on over-inflated bags in the front.. truck rides way worse than even factory right now.. definitely ready to through some Eibach’s, Foxes, or Bilsteins in the front
Out of all that, what I heard most was don’t buy Fox, they won’t stand behind their product, AND, as you said, they’re always in need of rebuilds and you guys “rebuild them all the time.” I won’t be wasting my money on fox then. Bilstein is where it’s at. I love my Bilstein shocks.
I have Eibach 2.0 on my 23 Bronco Badlands-Sasquatch.. Excellent product and do really well off road rock crawling…Excellent on road handling too. I had the 550 springs put on instep of the 450 to help with my heavy winch bumper.
I have the same truck and was looking at the same setup. How does the on and off road feel? I hear good handling but a bit stiff. Looking for a plush ride.
I have Bilstein 6112s on a F150 and had 5100s on a Tacoma and do not find them harsh or stiff. I don’t doubt that Fox’s are softer, but Bilsteins are not bad on by any means.
What a great comparison video! I've got a 2017 f150 with the tow package, what would you recommend for it? Always want the best ride possible but still plan on using it to to tow trailers as well.
I've had my Ranchos replaced twice because of leaks and the knob getting stuck. The ride is very rough; I would never recommend them to anyone for any reason.
I am new to Off Road, I bought a first generation 99 Tacoma and I took it to a workshop where they checked that the mechanics were working well and they lifted it 2", they put Procom shock absorbers on the rear and Monroe on the front, I don't know much of shock absorbers, so 2 years later I took the truck to another workshop because the owner of the previous workshop likes to fix Jeeps more than Toyotas, so I asked and have them install proper shocks for Off Road, I generally use it to move around the city but I want to leave on weekends to the forest and put it on uneven, rugged, rocky and muddy terrain. The owner of the workshop told me the best ones are the Bilstein but they were too expensive, I asked him for other options, he mentioned Fox and Ranch but he told me that the Fox ones are too long and wouldn't fit, so I opted for the Ranch, this person told me that those shocks that he was going to install are adjustable according to the type of terrain, that it had 3 levels of adjustment, he collect 750 dollars already instaled them and I waited 1 month and a half for them to arrive because I'm not in the USA, I live in Mexico. Once they arrived and he handed it to me, I asked him where and how the shocks was adjusted and he told me no, that he didn't always have it, I received the truck and that's when I started researching more about shock absorbers on the internet and it seems that he mentioned and sold the Ranch 9000 but gave me the 5000. What I want to use the truck for, what would be the most recommended shock absorber?
We would probably recommend a Bilstein or an Eibach, they are not as cheap s a Rancho RS5000 but are definitely worth every penny in quality. They are also cheaper and generally perform better than the RS9000s
Very good. Thanks for this video. It explains a lot about why we have not been at all happy with the Bilstein on my truck. What I have decided on is the Gabriel Ultra. Wow, what a difference. Really comfortable and high confidence ride control that ramps up when needed. I am amazed that Gabriel are not talked about widely. They are a secret I guess, despite being the original inventors of the shock absorber well over 115 years ago. Just goes to show the power of hype and marketing. Gabriel is a superior shock with Inferior marketing. Specialty-niche goes to Fox. Perhaps you could do a video on the Gabriel lineup to shed light on these exceptional but secret shocks.
We have tested Gabriels and we wish we could share your sentiments. We have personally had way too many issues to recommend them or throw them up on the site, but glad to hear you have had good luck
For a 5th gen 4runner (4x4, no KDSS), what is the actually adjustment range for the Eibach coilovers? Their website says 2”-4”, but their product launch brochure for the stage 2 kit said 0-2.5” and apparently their installation manual says not to exceed 2.5”. I’ve also read reviews where people had issues with the shocks running out of travel when going over speed bumps at modest speeds. I’m only looking for ~1.5” of lift in the front-should I expect to have any issue at that height? Edit: I wonder if the 2”-4” lift applies to rwd 4runners, and 0-2.5” applies to 4wd? Maybe Eibach needs to update their website…
I had Rancho on Silverado and it was a very good ride especially for the price. I now have Fox on a Tacoma and it’s a great ride but at a price. Love them both.
@@frdm5774 I would certainly choose Fox but the Rancho provided a very very good ride and when you consider the difference in price it’s hard not to rethink what that extra money could go for.
I got the eibach pro 2r kit for my 15 sierra. Old suspension was worn/bad, when i went over bumps i felt like the rear wanted to come over to the front. Braking was scary on corners. That was with old rancho suspension! Now the eibach 2r kit with rear resourviours! What a difference day and night! Now i go over bumps like nothing. When going over bumps and cornering it handles exceptional. No body roll what so ever on turns. Im about to take it to badlands see how it does with this new set up. Old ranchos could not go above 3-5mph before it started bouncing like a lowrider lol
1 thing, the Fox 2.0 are the comfiest when it comes to the front. But the rear is way too stiff if you do not load the truck. For my unloaded f150, i installed Fox 2.0 for the front, and an adjustable Vietnamese shocks for the rear.
Thanks for the informative video. Waiting on my new Silverado 1500 and plan on upgrading the suspension to include front coilovers. For me, since I prefer on road handling and the digressive piston, I have narrowed down my choices to the Eibach and the Bilstein 6112 but have difficulty in deciding which one to pick. The hurdle is do I choose the Bilstein 6112 for its significantly larger piston as compared to the Eibach, or choose the Eibach for its way easier ride height adjustability allowing fine tuning ride height while still on the vehicle instead of Bilstein's snap ring height arrangement. The choice would be way easier if Eibach upped its coilover to a 2.5 piston like the Bilstein OR the Bilstein had the height adjustable collar like the Eibach instead of the snap ring. Surprised neither of these 2 manufacturers didn't take that "extra" step: Eibach with a 2.5 piston or Bilstein with a threaded collar. Which ever company does I think will have a winning combo and make picking which coilover a lot easier.
I think the big X factor you are missing here is price. If Eibach stepped up to a 2.5" body and Bilstein went threaded, the cost of the parts would skyrocket. Most threaded body 2.5s are nearly double the price of a 6112 or Eibach 2.0, meaning if they did take the leap, they would be moving significantly upmarket, and at least in the case of the 6112 with little benefit. Using the 6112 as an example, beyond the extra cost of machining the threads, they would also have to make top mounts, creating its own slew of issues. Most factory top mounts can not accept a flat ground spring required for use with a threaded body coilover so that the spring can freely rotate on the coilover body while making adjustments. In many cases, this might also require them to invert the body, creating a much longer overall length requiring aftermarket upper control arm or force them to give you a coilover with less travel. In fact, Bilstein does this on their 8112 coilovers, most of which require an aftermarket upper arm. Most 6112s as standard cycle about as much travel as most extended travel 2.5s in a tighter package that does not require an aftermarket UCA. Factory style top mounts will also last longer and transmit less noise vibration and harshness. The reality is what makes either of those options sweet is they give you a heck of a lot for your money, so they have to cut some costs somewhere to give you such a high value product. I think what you really need to lock down is how often do you really see yourself adjusting the preload in the future (which, for most people, it is never), and if you are willing to sacrifice the huge performance gains of a larger body shock for the ability to fine-tune ride height adjustment. Otherwise, if you need a threaded body for the ease of spring swaps and ride height adjustment, and do not want to sacrifice piston size, you will have to look upmarket to something like the Icon 2.5 IR coilovers.
@@ShockSurplus Thank you for your response and the additional info. On the Bilstein I was unaware that adding a thread body would also entail changing the spring and new top mounts. I incorrectly assumed that the cost increase would not have been as significant as you point out. While I would prefer the Bilstein, I guess I am just a little uneasy at taking a stab at where to place the snap ring on the Bilstein 6112's and if I get it wrong the headache of taking it all apart to change the location of that ring. Not to make this a "saga", I should make mention what gets me into this dilemma. My Silverado is a regular cab with an 8ft bed and most coilovers do not list expected high increases when installed on a regular cab so I usually refer to extended cab specs. Add in that I carry weight in the bed (construction material usually and at times as much as 2k+ pounds), I was contemplating increasing the lbs/inch of the front springs for the coilovers. From what I can learn, the Bilstein uses a 550 lb/inch? If so I would probably go with a 600lb/inch spring. Add the "unknowns" together of a stiffer spring on a regular cab and I feel like I am throwing a dart at the board as far as which "ring" on the Bilstein to use. I was looking for a 1.5 inch lift, so just slightly nose down and ending up level when I add weight in the bed. All of this then swayed me towards the Eibach's. And my wish for an easy answer...lol..........THANKS AGAIN..........mike
We usually see the regular cabs sit pretty close to the same as the Crew Cabs as although they are lighter overall, their weight split is more front biased. So although single cabs are lighter overall, there is just about as much weight on the nose. Basically, as long as you have a V8 it will be fine. The weight in the bed is largely carried by the rear leaf springs and should by no means be a reason uprate the front spring rate. If anything adding weight to the rear can sometimes have the effect of unloading the front. If you were adding an aftermarket front bumper, skid plates, and a winch to the front end that would be a different story, but anything you throw in the bed is the leaf springs problem. If anything if you were looking to make sure it manages the load better you should be looking at an add a leaf, new leaf pack, or a load leveling aid like a Timbren SES kit or SumoSprings.
Great Review and good information, love all the Shock Surplus Videos as they actually contain real useful information !! question is how do the Belltech 15102 compare to these ? Where in line do they fall ? Does not seem to be a lot on reviews or Information on the Belltech, odd as they have been around a while.
They are definitely the best twin tubes on the market, but we think a full size, independent suspension truck really needs the additional dampening force that you can only get from a Monotube.
I have the fox 2.0 on a 4runner love there on road comfort good off road too far better than the stock was way too soft it felt like a boat Ive had the fox with 285/70 r17 Cooper at3 for about 3yrs maybe 40k miles on them and have noticed the nose dive on breaking and body roll starting to fill like stock so guess it's rebuild time or I might go with the eibach pro truck 🤔 I see fox is good to about 40k miles and they start dropping off and really fill like the stock shocks
couple things there; rebuild will cost you about $500 probably, $400 on the service, and $100 shipping both ways (if its the full coilovers with springs on). New Eibach shocks will range from $1000-1600 depending on stage. The Eibach should last much longer than 40k
This may sound funny but I'm looking for a lowering level set up for my dad's 2023 GMC CANYON ELEVATION 2.7L. It is a bit high for him to get out off. Not much but at least 1 to 1.5 inch level drop. We do a lot of highway driving with light to semi moderate off road no towing but light/moderate hauling. I would really appreciate your feedback thanks
Not an odd question at all, Bell Tech has front struts that can allow the front end to come down 1-2", using the factory springs. You can also get a lowering shackle in the rear of the truck to bring it down 1" as well.
Great content! thank you. Q-I have a 2015 Ram 1500 4x4 and am very interested in the Blistein 5100's all around. Do you recommend new upper control arms for the new shock articulation, or will the stock ones be ok (just leveling height)
stock ones will be ok. new UCAs only recommended if you really like to hit the dirt hard or offroad a lot. If you find your 4x4 shop cant get the truck into alignment with the new height, then new UCAs are probably required, but that's rare on the Rams unless there's structural issues.
Bilsteins a great choice for sure! Let us know when you are ready to pull the trigger or if you need a push in the right direction and we got you covered. We are running a big sale on them now so it is a great time to pull the trigger. www.shocksurplus.com/blogs/news/bfcm-2023-black-friday-shocks-suspension-sale
@@ShockSurplus thank you. I'm currently looking at the 6112's for the front with the 5100's I think for the rear? I would like a minimum of a 3" lift, but not sure if I can fit 35's on my truck with 20"wheels. My truck is a daily truck, but will also be used for occasional hauling and overloading.
The 6112s tap out at 2.5" so if you want 3" or more you will need an extended travel coilover and a set of upper control arms like the Fox or King 2.5s www.shocksurplus.com/products/fox-2-5-performance-elite-adjustable-coilover-w-reservoir-rear-shocks-set-for-2007-2021-toyota-tundra-4wd-rwd-w-uca?variant=40023294869553
Would you recommend Eibach for a 2016 daily family hauler that sees alot of gravel/washboard roads, and occasionally tows a car hauler and farm tractor/mini excavator (trailer is 7000 gvwr).
I see the Bilstein 5100 coilover front shocks can be had with or without the coils spring installed. How do the Bilstein pre-installed coil springs compare to the OEM springs? My application is on a 2018 Silverado 1500 4x4 standard cab short box truck with 64K on the odometer.
The 5100s do not come with lower spring seats as standard on the GM trucks so it is hard to have them fully assembled. They also do not include springs either and are really only designed for stock springs, so we really can not speak to what is used in those assemblies if anybody is actually putting them together.
Howdy, I have a 2016 gmc canyon. We frequently put 1k lb camper on. We are using Timbrens. Installed a Hellwog rear sway bar, that helped a lot. Would like to do the shocks next. What would you suggest. We want to expand our camping range deeper onto federal lands, but no serious off-roading.
I would definitely be looking at a set of Bilstein 6112s up front and 5100s or 5160s in the back if your treks off highway treks run a little long while lugging the camper around. Although the 5100 front struts would probably be alright, we think the additional comfort and control of the larger body 6112s is well worth the jump in price. There is a reason why some people complain about the stiff ride of a 5100 front strut but most everybody raves about the ride of the 6112s. In the rear the 5160 rear shocks gain an external reservoir which greatly improves their ability to dissipate heat. If you are noticing some degradation in ride quality over the course of a long run off pavement now, it may be a good idea to go for the 5160s. Otherwise the 5100s will still fade a heck of a lot less than stock. The digressive nature of the Bilsteins should add a lot of stability under a load without being super harsh unloaded.
Thanks for the reply. Do you know if we would need to install a front sway bar offset kit to allow for better clearance between the 6112s and the sway bar?
Nope, nothing else should be required with the 6112s. Bilstein is great about making parts that bolt right up without additional modifications, and if they do require something like a sway bar drop or relocation bracket, they will usually include it.
I've had them on two trucks and they are good in a lot of ways, but I just don't really like the way they perform on washboard and sharp bumps. Feels even worse than stock somehow.
If you like the way a VW or Audi car handles and you want your Toyota SUV to feel more like that. Then the Bilstine are perfect. If you like to float on a cloud the FOX are a better choice.
What would you recommend for a 2020 Trailboss to get a slight lift? I want a slight upgrade from the factory ranchos but its a family vehicle as well so wife and kids need to be comfortable.
I've been looking for a quality leveling kit and this video was very informative in helping me out. I've seen many leveling kits requiring to upgrade upper control arms as well, is that the same for these coilovers?
It depends on the vehicle, but if you are doing a straight coilover or strut lift without spacers you should be fine with the stock arms on most applications as long as you stay at or below 2.5" of lift. The only coilovers in this video that sometimes push it are the Eibachs which usually cycle enough travel to bind the stock ball joints on a lot of applications. They can still work with the stock arms, but it is a good idea to upgrade to get all the travel they can provide.
It depends on rim width. An ET0 on an 8" wide wheel would have 4" of barrel on both sides. For every inch in width change offset would need to change by 12.5 mm. So a 9" wheel would be ET -12.5 and a 7" wide wheel would need a +12.5 offset.
Eibach is definitely the way to go. Their Stage 2 kits with their 2.0 coilovers are pretty darn plush unloaded but are much more stable under a load than stock. They also last a long time before needing to be serviced or replaced. Our '19 Ranger has 50k of absolute abuse on its Stage 2R kit and it is still trucking just almost as well as when they were new.
Great videos! Question , got 2022 off road premium 4runner stock. Would like to get it level no sag. 2 inch plus more aggressive tires , so I can still park in garage . Thinking Eiback pro lift stage 2R, vs Stage 2. Vrs your opinion? Our travel truck, 85% on road, 15% on trails, dirt, lite rocky areas. Would these be all around good option with better tires bfg or toyo 275 70 17's for example . Rather keep everything else stock without trimming fenders or adjustments. Thank you
Sure the Eibachs would be a great choice. If you are taking it easy off road and not going fast, then you do not need the reservoir rear shocks, and it should be still a little rear high at 2" of lift in the front with the standard rear springs included with the complete kit. 275s can almost fit stock so you should have no issues clearing those tires without trimming with the Eibach lift.
Looking into throwing some fox 2.0s onto my 2017 silverado-1500 is a good idea to get some aftermarket upper control arms for those or will it fit without them?
I put RC 2” level lift full strut replacement on my wife’s bronco they’re the only ones that I could find that was 2” I think it looks perfect but I hate the ride quality is there anything nicer for the bronco that’ll go down to 2” everything else is 3” minimum, I don’t like spacers.
Yup Bilstein 5100s can do as little as 1" of lift on all non Sasquatch Broncos and stock height on Sasquatch models and the 6112s can do as little as 1.9" of lift on 4 door models without the Sasquatch package and Stock height on all models with the Sasquatch package. The only models that get a ton of lift are the two door non sasquatch models which get a minimum of 3.6" of lift, however if you can source some stock 2dr SAS springs you can run the 6100s for a minimum of about an Inch over non Sasquatch height.
Fox will probably be the most comfortable but will need to be serviced fairly often. Eibach is probably a close second in comfort, but will last twice as long before needing to be rebuilt or replaced
There are many factors that determine body roll including shocks and sway bars. Really the source of body roll comes from the relationship between the vehicle's center of gravity and roll center axis and then your shocks and sway bars are used to help minimize that body roll.
I have a 2017 gmc canyon with 127k miles, what would you recommend for upgraded suspension? I don’t off road but I really want to soak up potholes and have a smoother ride.
Fox 2.0s will likely be the most comfortable option, but they do need to be serviced fairly frequently. If you do not want to spend quite as much on the parts or or as much time on service down the road, you would definitely like the Eibach Stage 2 kits with their 2.0 coilovers.
Bilstein 5100's are way too stiff. Rancho are way to soft. I've been dabbling on my 2022 Ford f-150 2.7. The Eibach coilovers with Kyb gas adjust rear shocks seem to be the best setup I've had.
Im looking to buy the kyb truck plus leveling shocks for my 2014 silverado crew cab. I cant find any reviews about them would that be a good options for me. I wont be off roading, i just want to level the front and have good ride
They are just a stock replacement with a spacer so they will perform about the same as your stock shocks and just lift the front. They are a great option if you are fine with the way the vehicle performed from the factory and keep tire size close to stock.
I’m looking for a Leveling system for my 2020 gen two crew max that maintains factory handling on the street, absorbs washboard roads and allowing for the largest tire possible. Would eibach be what I’m looking for?
on the fox 2.0 coilovers its best to compress the springs so you dont damage the aluminum threads under tension. If that's not possible, take the weight off while adjusting
I bought the ranchos before I saw this video, as you mentioned, budget option. Hope they're good enough. Question for you, With the Rancho quicklifts, do I need a front differential lowering kit spacer on a 2008 Tundra regular cab, short bed? Is it needed to keep the angle on the front 4x4 axles?
If you get a good set they work well enough, so although certainly not the best option on the market should at the very least be safe and when set to the right setting should be at least as comfortable as stock. The Quicklifts nor anything we mentioned in this video will require a diff drop on a 07-21 Tundra as long as you have the stock or better axles. All these companies do their due diligence to make sure all of these coilovers work within the operating range of the stock CVs so you do not have to diff drop . With that said any "parts store" replacement axles use joints with a tighter operating range and may bind, so if you have put a set of cheapo axles in it, you will want to replace them with a set of stockers or you may need to drop the diff.
Hello, I can’t find any information if any of those companies makes suspension kit for Subaru Forester. I know about Iron Man but I want something better quality.
You are right in that most of those companies on make their lifted coilovers/struts and dampers for trucks and more traditional SUVs. With that said Bilstein has started to release B8 Terrasport kits for just about every Subi made in the last 10 years, so if they do not have something now, they will probably have something for you eventually. Otherwise if you want a really serious suspension system we recommend Flatout Suspension for sure. They have coilover kits from mild to wild that largely use Bilstein pistons and provide a huge bump in travel, performance, and ride height if you want it.
I have a new too me 17 gmc canyon with the diesel i have Bilstein shocks on my 01 2500hd that have 60k on them towing and with a plow are they going to have about the same ride as my older truck ?
they will feel a bit tighter/sportier on the smaller Canyon when compared against the bigger truck that tows/plows, especially if the canyon is barebones and not carrying much gear / people. If comfort is the concern over handling, we'd roll with Eibach.
info? no, just what we read on the product descriptions. 40mm means they're twin tube shocks, and by the looks of them, imported. Affordable, yes. Ride quality? Most likely garbage from all of our experience on similar products. "LIFTS VEHICLE 3.5" REMOVING FACTORY RAKE WITHOUT SACRIFICING RIDE QUALITY" Impossible. 3.5" of lift through the shock tower on any of the later model IFS vehicles means there's
The Bilstein 6112 can handle the faster stuff, if paired with the 5160s in the rear. Beefier options are icon 2.5, falcon 2.25, dobinsons IMS and MRR. It'll come down to your application, let us know and we can get m ore detailed
If you're running factory shocks, then yeah there's a lot of bounce with extra weight. Bilsteins will change that behavior dramatically, way more control. KYB Monomax will also help, same with Eibach
Wondering if anyone has had success with leveling front-end to control excess body roll . So far I went to heavier sway bars but still need 500+ pounds of weight in truck bed.
Yup, not only do a lot of these leveling coilovers and struts utilize a a stiffer spring that will reduce sway, but also generally use far superior dampers that will further assist with stability. Furthermore lifting the front and shifting weight more evenly front to rear takes less load off the springs and sway bars on the front, making them more effective. With that said, that load does go more rearward though, so it is important to iron out whether most of that body roll is coming from the front or rear.
@@ShockSurplus If you are in the business, what a good daily driver leveling kit? Prices are all over the place. I occasionally tow a boat and haul our SXSs. I live in the Ozark hills
Icon is a little upmarket of things like these coilovers and struts. We definitely love them, but not fair to compare them to middle of the road options like these
I installed Bilstein 5100 shocks on my 2019 Silverado. On the first try I set the adjustment for stock height, with the circlip on the bottom groove. It was way lower in front. I raised it to the third groove from bottom and am close to stock height but might even need to go to the top groove to match original ride height. I bought my truck used through Carmax who do a great job of taking pics, so I used their listing profile view to tell me the rake of the truck as it came from factory. I did the same pics to compare the truck's rake angle and even on the third groove it is still about 1/2" lower than stock. I used my jack under one of the front tow hooks to raise the truck until it looked stock and measured to see how much it needed to be raised. It needed to be raised 2", and using the third groove brought it up 1-1/2". Is this a common issue? Has anybody else experienced this!
I would double-check what part number you have. We have heard of a lot of people getting the 1500 LD part (24-238304) on accident and this ends up being exactly what happens. If that is the case, you will need to switch to either part number 24-293297 if it is not a Trail Boss and 24-309509 if it is.
@@ShockSurplus BTW, my truck is a 2019 Silverado LD, crew cab, short bed, 4WD, 5.3, and your listings show the 24-238304 as the correct shock. Not a trail boss.
@@ShockSurplus "...accident"??? Your own listings show this shock (24-238304) to be correct for my truck. Every source I checked says this is the correct part number.
I am looking at the email you sent us from your rbbspeed email address and the picture you sent is definitely a new body style 2019 1500 and not a old body style 1500 LD. Not sure what Carmax listed your truck as when you bought it but unless you sent us a picture of a different truck than your request is about, you definitely do not have an LD or old body style truck at all.
eibachs are made here in the US, i believe at their headquarters in Corona, CA. Not sure if they're dyno'd like Bilstein, we haven't heard of Bilstein dyno'n all their shocks, not sure that's possible due to the volume that Bilstein puts out
I have the Fox 2.0 coilovers on my 2022 GMC 1500 crew 4x4. Does anyone know the ride height adjustment factor for these? Fox does not publish anything on this.
They come preset at around 2" of lift on most gas trucks (stock Trail Boss or AT4 height) and can be dropped to standard 4wd height. These GM trucks have close to 2:1 motion ratio so about 1" of preload adjustment should equate to around 1.75" or so ride height adjustment
Definitely nowhere near as soft as as a 6112 but the big bump in piston size and therefore potential dampening force usually means Bilstein can set the 6112s up to be both more plush than as well as more supportive than the 5100s. The increase in shaft size and fluid/oil volume does make the 6112s more durable under more extreme driving conditions than the 5100s. They should be prone to far less fade and will be a heck of a lot harder to blow up when you push them beyond their limits. With that said longevity for somebody who only drives on the street would likely be the same on a 6112 and 5100. So if you are not beating on your suspension on a regular basis, you may not see any more life from the 6112s, however you still are getting 2-3x more life than you get from a Fox before they need service.
The Stage 1 Icon kits are basically double the price of an Eibach Stage 2 kit with their coilovers and shocks, so I am not sure that is necessarily a fair comparison if we are being honest. The Icon front coilovers are all a larger 2.5" body, cycle more travel, and are really optimized for more serious off road use. The Eibach might be a little more plush over the little stuff at lower speeds, and could last longer if you stay on the road, but the Icon will be much more supportive over bigger hits, offer significantly more stable handling, and generally are the higher performing option.
@@ShockSurplus thanks! I have a leveled trail boss. And looking for the best for the price and longevity. It seems after lots of research from you guys and others, the Eibach stage 2R is the best choice for me. And I can just keep a little spacer on to have my truck leveled off
Eibach is definitely not the right choice for a Trail Boss. They will strutggle to get anything over stock TB height and will cause CV bind when paired with a spacer. We have gotten calls from a fair share of TB and AT4 owners after they added a spacer and their front axles fell right out of the truck. Your best bet would be to ditch the spacers and run something like the Trail Boss spec Bilstein 6112s or an extended travel 2.5" body coilover that requires an aftermarket upper control arm like the Icon, Fox, or King 2.5s. Those will top out at around 1.25-1.5" of lift in the front, so they may still be a tad shy of level, but on a Trail Boss or AT4 this will be your best bet.
That’s what I did, 2020 Silverado 1500 3.0. Went eibach pro kit up front (not the coil over, just the shock with c clips) and bilstein 5100 rears. Pretty decent compromise imo.
Occasionally they do. I am currently running Fox 2.5 w/reservoir in the rear and Bilstein 6112s in the front. This was unintentional. Eventually, in the near future it will be Fox all around. However, I have not experienced any negative performance with the mix of brands and types (digressive front versus progressive rear) on or off-road. I drive a modified 2010 Toyota Tundra with an intentional lean to off-road performance.
@ShockSurplus Thanks for responding. I have a 21 F150 PowerBoost with the max tow pkg. I'm thinking about running Eibach coilovers in the front and Falcon tow/Haul adjustable shocks in the rear.
I have a 2020 Ranger XLT FX4 and am ready to upgrade, but the more of these videos I watch, the more confused I get. I don't tow or do anything extreme, just mild/moderate off-roading.
Eibach is definitely up your alley then www.shocksurplus.com/products/eibach-pro-truck-stage-2-coilover-kit-rear-shocks-kit-for-2019-2022-ford-ranger-4wd-w-0-3-75-lift
what is this dude talking about? my buddy just had the fox 2.0 put on his f150 and those thing beat u up. my Duramax rides smoother and shes a rough ride
talking about the 5 vehicles we've driven on the Fox 2.0, documented, here on our YT channel. wheel size, tire size, tire psi, spring preload, all make a difference in the ride quality.
Bilsteins, Fox, or Eibach are the way to go. Bilstein is the best handling and is the best under a load but rides a little firm, Fox is super plush and comfortable on and off the road, but a little loose on handling and load stability, and the Eibach is very much in the middle of the two.
Hey bro quick question, do I really need to change the upper control arm of my 5th gen 4 runner for a 1” lift with a bilstien 6112 in the front? I just wanna level it out with the back.. that’s all I wanna do!
Nope! The stock arms will be fine. The only reason you might want to upgrade is to help clear larger tires. Aftermarket arms will either have more caster built into them or are adjustable, so you can use them to run more positive caster to push the front tires further forward for more clearance from the cab mount.
@@ShockSurplus hey brother so what’s the clip level I should be adjusted to level out with the factory rear..? Is it clip setting 1 which is .79 Or clip setting 2 which is 1.15?
It depends what you are looking for but if you are not touching the rear you can go up as high as 1.7" of lift in the front without it being higher than the rear.
Really impressive answering every question in comments something rarely seen, comments provide all sorts of useful information for specific questions cheers
We definitely do our best! We would be lying if we said we got to every question in the comments, but we certainly try to help everywhere we can.
Just ordered fox 2.0 performance all the way around from you guys for my 2020 5.0 f150.
I will be back in a few months to give a real world review. I ordered from shock surplus due to the amount of content and wide variety of well know brands on their website.
I think they are pretty informative. You actually wouldn’t believe the amount of suspension websites that don’t even show the part # when looking and comparing prices. Shock surplus seems to be very up front no B.S.
I like that!
Glad we could help! We look forward to hearing how you like them once you've clicked off some miles.
I went 2.5, how you liking 2.0’s?
updates
Great show , any thoughts how could I upgrade my shocks ,better than stock with only 1” lift in the front only ? 2021 Silverado RST crew cab
True story mate. It makes my head spin just trying to locate the right part number for the right vehicle. Yep. They have earned my business.
What he described about the Ranchos is exactly the experience I’m having now.. I’m actually on my 2nd front set because after a month i thought the first set was broken so i returned them for another set through Oreillys.. still felt the same.. front of the truck feels as if there is no shock absorption going on.. as if the truck was sitting on over-inflated bags in the front.. truck rides way worse than even factory right now.. definitely ready to through some Eibach’s, Foxes, or Bilsteins in the front
Rough country on my 2005 f150 farm truck still running strong after 3 years. Struts 2.5 lift front and rear shocks
Out of all that, what I heard most was don’t buy Fox, they won’t stand behind their product, AND, as you said, they’re always in need of rebuilds and you guys “rebuild them all the time.” I won’t be wasting my money on fox then. Bilstein is where it’s at. I love my Bilstein shocks.
I have Eibach 2.0 on my 23 Bronco Badlands-Sasquatch.. Excellent product and do really well off road rock crawling…Excellent on road handling too. I had the 550 springs put on instep of the 450 to help with my heavy winch bumper.
Did you notice a ride dif between the two coils?
I did the Eibach PT2R with Bilstein B8 uca on my Sierra AT4. Amazing combo really transformed how it rides I’m very pleased!
I just got the Eibach PT2 all around kit for my '14 1500. coming from stock rears and bilstein fronts, I can't wait!
I really appreciate your detailed thorough description of what is available and that all of your feedback has given you experience. Well done mate.
thanks, hope it helped!
2023 GMC AT4, Bilstein 6112's as set up by Shock Surplus are amazing! 5160's in the rear, setup can't be beat.
I have the same truck and was looking at the same setup. How does the on and off road feel? I hear good handling but a bit stiff. Looking for a plush ride.
I hope so for 1,000
Great review and made my decision to go with the Eibach Pro Truck for my F150.
How do you like them?
I have Bilstein 6112s on a F150 and had 5100s on a Tacoma and do not find them harsh or stiff. I don’t doubt that Fox’s are softer, but Bilsteins are not bad on by any means.
We agree, we think the cries over firm/stiff on Bilstein are a bit overblown. Thanks for the feedback!
What a great comparison video! I've got a 2017 f150 with the tow package, what would you recommend for it? Always want the best ride possible but still plan on using it to to tow trailers as well.
Recently we've been fans of Eibach for a vehicle that does a bit of everything
www.shocksurplus.com/search?query=2017-f150-eibach
I purchased the KYB Truck Plus for my stock height F150 Shock Surplus helped out a lot and I love them
The review we needed! Thanks guys. I went with the Eibach Stage 2 with SPC UCA with and icon AAL on my Taco
Love to hear it
How do they feel?
Have you been going through so many vehicles because of the shocks you pick. 😅😅😅. Great videos i look foward to buying a new suspension kit from you
Funny you say that, sean here bought a ram 2500 to understand solid axle suspension better since he was used to ifs vehicles
Love hearing a profesisonal really explain the differences in thr industry
i was eyeballing Billy the whole way but this video convinced me for the eibachs
I've had my Ranchos replaced twice because of leaks and the knob getting stuck. The ride is very rough; I would never recommend them to anyone for any reason.
Same here!
Great review, and from personal experience, I agree with your assessment. I went with beilstein 5100 and OME springs medium duty on my GX460.
nice, we see that often on the GX platform, how much height did you get?
@@ShockSurplus2.5 inch (front and rear) give or take. I'll measure again after hidden winch install.
I am new to Off Road, I bought a first generation 99 Tacoma and I took it to a workshop where they checked that the mechanics were working well and they lifted it 2", they put Procom shock absorbers on the rear and Monroe on the front, I don't know much of shock absorbers, so 2 years later I took the truck to another workshop because the owner of the previous workshop likes to fix Jeeps more than Toyotas, so I asked and have them install proper shocks for Off Road, I generally use it to move around the city but I want to leave on weekends to the forest and put it on uneven, rugged, rocky and muddy terrain. The owner of the workshop told me the best ones are the Bilstein but they were too expensive, I asked him for other options, he mentioned Fox and Ranch but he told me that the Fox ones are too long and wouldn't fit, so I opted for the Ranch, this person told me that those shocks that he was going to install are adjustable according to the type of terrain, that it had 3 levels of adjustment, he collect 750 dollars already instaled them and I waited 1 month and a half for them to arrive because I'm not in the USA, I live in Mexico. Once they arrived and he handed it to me, I asked him where and how the shocks was adjusted and he told me no, that he didn't always have it, I received the truck and that's when I started researching more about shock absorbers on the internet and it seems that he mentioned and sold the Ranch 9000 but gave me the 5000. What I want to use the truck for, what would be the most recommended shock absorber?
We would probably recommend a Bilstein or an Eibach, they are not as cheap s a Rancho RS5000 but are definitely worth every penny in quality. They are also cheaper and generally perform better than the RS9000s
@@ShockSurplus thanks For your answer, I appreciate it
Very good. Thanks for this video. It explains a lot about why we have not been at all happy with the Bilstein on my truck. What I have decided on is the Gabriel Ultra. Wow, what a difference. Really comfortable and high confidence ride control that ramps up when needed. I am amazed that Gabriel are not talked about widely. They are a secret I guess, despite being the original inventors of the shock absorber well over 115 years ago.
Just goes to show the power of hype and marketing. Gabriel is a superior shock with Inferior marketing.
Specialty-niche goes to Fox.
Perhaps you could do a video on the Gabriel lineup to shed light on these exceptional but secret shocks.
We have tested Gabriels and we wish we could share your sentiments. We have personally had way too many issues to recommend them or throw them up on the site, but glad to hear you have had good luck
For a 5th gen 4runner (4x4, no KDSS), what is the actually adjustment range for the Eibach coilovers? Their website says 2”-4”, but their product launch brochure for the stage 2 kit said 0-2.5” and apparently their installation manual says not to exceed 2.5”. I’ve also read reviews where people had issues with the shocks running out of travel when going over speed bumps at modest speeds. I’m only looking for ~1.5” of lift in the front-should I expect to have any issue at that height?
Edit: I wonder if the 2”-4” lift applies to rwd 4runners, and 0-2.5” applies to 4wd? Maybe Eibach needs to update their website…
Really appreciate the in-depth comparison. Answered basically all the pertinent questions I had. Keep em comin!
Glad to hear it!
I had Rancho on Silverado and it was a very good ride especially for the price. I now have Fox on a Tacoma and it’s a great ride but at a price. Love them both.
Glad you are liking them!
Hey David. Is there a big difference between the two? Would you choose Fox again moving forward?
@@frdm5774 I would certainly choose Fox but the Rancho provided a very very good ride and when you consider the difference in price it’s hard not to rethink what that extra money could go for.
I got the eibach pro 2r kit for my 15 sierra. Old suspension was worn/bad, when i went over bumps i felt like the rear wanted to come over to the front. Braking was scary on corners. That was with old rancho suspension! Now the eibach 2r kit with rear resourviours! What a difference day and night! Now i go over bumps like nothing. When going over bumps and cornering it handles exceptional. No body roll what so ever on turns. Im about to take it to badlands see how it does with this new set up. Old ranchos could not go above 3-5mph before it started bouncing like a lowrider lol
love to hear it, thanks for the feedback
Eibach here for others - www.shocksurplus.com/search?query=eibach-stage-2
According to Fox and the instructions I got with my 2.5 remote w dsc you can droop the suspension and adjust the preload
on the 2.5 factory series its ok because those are steel bodies. on the aluminum bodies its not advised because the threads are more fragile.
EXCELLENT presentation ….now I know which shocks are best for my 2018 Chevy express 3500 155wb!❤
Glad it was helpful!
always great content, great description, detail of how the shock works! Thanks very much!
Thanks again!
1 thing, the Fox 2.0 are the comfiest when it comes to the front. But the rear is way too stiff if you do not load the truck.
For my unloaded f150, i installed Fox 2.0 for the front, and an adjustable Vietnamese shocks for the rear.
I agree. I have them on a ranger and the back is super stiff
yeah that's normal stock leaf spring behavior, what brand of rear shocks? Explorer?
Thanks for the informative video. Waiting on my new Silverado 1500 and plan on upgrading the suspension to include front coilovers. For me, since I prefer on road handling and the digressive piston, I have narrowed down my choices to the Eibach and the Bilstein 6112 but have difficulty in deciding which one to pick. The hurdle is do I choose the Bilstein 6112 for its significantly larger piston as compared to the Eibach, or choose the Eibach for its way easier ride height adjustability allowing fine tuning ride height while still on the vehicle instead of Bilstein's snap ring height arrangement. The choice would be way easier if Eibach upped its coilover to a 2.5 piston like the Bilstein OR the Bilstein had the height adjustable collar like the Eibach instead of the snap ring. Surprised neither of these 2 manufacturers didn't take that "extra" step: Eibach with a 2.5 piston or Bilstein with a threaded collar. Which ever company does I think will have a winning combo and make picking which coilover a lot easier.
I think the big X factor you are missing here is price. If Eibach stepped up to a 2.5" body and Bilstein went threaded, the cost of the parts would skyrocket. Most threaded body 2.5s are nearly double the price of a 6112 or Eibach 2.0, meaning if they did take the leap, they would be moving significantly upmarket, and at least in the case of the 6112 with little benefit. Using the 6112 as an example, beyond the extra cost of machining the threads, they would also have to make top mounts, creating its own slew of issues. Most factory top mounts can not accept a flat ground spring required for use with a threaded body coilover so that the spring can freely rotate on the coilover body while making adjustments. In many cases, this might also require them to invert the body, creating a much longer overall length requiring aftermarket upper control arm or force them to give you a coilover with less travel. In fact, Bilstein does this on their 8112 coilovers, most of which require an aftermarket upper arm. Most 6112s as standard cycle about as much travel as most extended travel 2.5s in a tighter package that does not require an aftermarket UCA. Factory style top mounts will also last longer and transmit less noise vibration and harshness. The reality is what makes either of those options sweet is they give you a heck of a lot for your money, so they have to cut some costs somewhere to give you such a high value product. I think what you really need to lock down is how often do you really see yourself adjusting the preload in the future (which, for most people, it is never), and if you are willing to sacrifice the huge performance gains of a larger body shock for the ability to fine-tune ride height adjustment. Otherwise, if you need a threaded body for the ease of spring swaps and ride height adjustment, and do not want to sacrifice piston size, you will have to look upmarket to something like the Icon 2.5 IR coilovers.
@@ShockSurplus Thank you for your response and the additional info. On the Bilstein I was unaware that adding a thread body would also entail changing the spring and new top mounts. I incorrectly assumed that the cost increase would not have been as significant as you point out. While I would prefer the Bilstein, I guess I am just a little uneasy at taking a stab at where to place the snap ring on the Bilstein 6112's and if I get it wrong the headache of taking it all apart to change the location of that ring. Not to make this a "saga", I should make mention what gets me into this dilemma. My Silverado is a regular cab with an 8ft bed and most coilovers do not list expected high increases when installed on a regular cab so I usually refer to extended cab specs. Add in that I carry weight in the bed (construction material usually and at times as much as 2k+ pounds), I was contemplating increasing the lbs/inch of the front springs for the coilovers. From what I can learn, the Bilstein uses a 550 lb/inch? If so I would probably go with a 600lb/inch spring. Add the "unknowns" together of a stiffer spring on a regular cab and I feel like I am throwing a dart at the board as far as which "ring" on the Bilstein to use. I was looking for a 1.5 inch lift, so just slightly nose down and ending up level when I add weight in the bed. All of this then swayed me towards the Eibach's. And my wish for an easy answer...lol..........THANKS AGAIN..........mike
We usually see the regular cabs sit pretty close to the same as the Crew Cabs as although they are lighter overall, their weight split is more front biased. So although single cabs are lighter overall, there is just about as much weight on the nose. Basically, as long as you have a V8 it will be fine. The weight in the bed is largely carried by the rear leaf springs and should by no means be a reason uprate the front spring rate. If anything adding weight to the rear can sometimes have the effect of unloading the front. If you were adding an aftermarket front bumper, skid plates, and a winch to the front end that would be a different story, but anything you throw in the bed is the leaf springs problem. If anything if you were looking to make sure it manages the load better you should be looking at an add a leaf, new leaf pack, or a load leveling aid like a Timbren SES kit or SumoSprings.
Great Review and good information, love all the Shock Surplus Videos as they actually contain real useful information !!
question is how do the Belltech 15102 compare to these ? Where in line do they fall ? Does not seem to be a lot on reviews or Information on the Belltech, odd as they have been around a while.
They are definitely the best twin tubes on the market, but we think a full size, independent suspension truck really needs the additional dampening force that you can only get from a Monotube.
I have the fox 2.0 on a 4runner love there on road comfort good off road too far better than the stock was way too soft it felt like a boat Ive had the fox with 285/70 r17 Cooper at3 for about 3yrs maybe 40k miles on them and have noticed the nose dive on breaking and body roll starting to fill like stock so guess it's rebuild time or I might go with the eibach pro truck 🤔 I see fox is good to about 40k miles and they start dropping off and really fill like the stock shocks
couple things there; rebuild will cost you about $500 probably, $400 on the service, and $100 shipping both ways (if its the full coilovers with springs on). New Eibach shocks will range from $1000-1600 depending on stage. The Eibach should last much longer than 40k
Thanks 👍
Very good video. Great and easy to understand.
glad it was helpful! what vehicle do you have?
Any BlackFriday/CyberMonday deals coming up on your Bilstein 6112s?
Yup! We are starting our sale on Bilstein next week, with the rest of the brands getting their own sale the following week
Thru 5100 rears in my f150. Epic change.
we hear that! subscribe up, we've got some more F150 content coming soon
This may sound funny but I'm looking for a lowering level set up for my dad's 2023 GMC CANYON ELEVATION 2.7L. It is a bit high for him to get out off. Not much but at least 1 to 1.5 inch level drop. We do a lot of highway driving with light to semi moderate off road no towing but light/moderate hauling. I would really appreciate your feedback thanks
Not an odd question at all, Bell Tech has front struts that can allow the front end to come down 1-2", using the factory springs. You can also get a lowering shackle in the rear of the truck to bring it down 1" as well.
He didn’t say it but he clearly likes the eibach ride the most.
they all have their strengths, except Rancho (in our opinion).
Great content! thank you. Q-I have a 2015 Ram 1500 4x4 and am very interested in the Blistein 5100's all around. Do you recommend new upper control arms for the new shock articulation, or will the stock ones be ok (just leveling height)
stock ones will be ok. new UCAs only recommended if you really like to hit the dirt hard or offroad a lot. If you find your 4x4 shop cant get the truck into alignment with the new height, then new UCAs are probably required, but that's rare on the Rams unless there's structural issues.
@@ShockSurplus Thank you for the reply....appreciate it!
I'm looking for a suspension upgrade for my 2020 Tundra TRD Off-road. I'm leaning towards Bilstein
Bilsteins a great choice for sure! Let us know when you are ready to pull the trigger or if you need a push in the right direction and we got you covered. We are running a big sale on them now so it is a great time to pull the trigger. www.shocksurplus.com/blogs/news/bfcm-2023-black-friday-shocks-suspension-sale
@@ShockSurplus thank you. I'm currently looking at the 6112's for the front with the 5100's I think for the rear? I would like a minimum of a 3" lift, but not sure if I can fit 35's on my truck with 20"wheels. My truck is a daily truck, but will also be used for occasional hauling and overloading.
The 6112s tap out at 2.5" so if you want 3" or more you will need an extended travel coilover and a set of upper control arms like the Fox or King 2.5s www.shocksurplus.com/products/fox-2-5-performance-elite-adjustable-coilover-w-reservoir-rear-shocks-set-for-2007-2021-toyota-tundra-4wd-rwd-w-uca?variant=40023294869553
Would you recommend Eibach for a 2016 daily family hauler that sees alot of gravel/washboard roads, and occasionally tows a car hauler and farm tractor/mini excavator (trailer is 7000 gvwr).
absolutely, eibach is one of our most recent favorites for that
Great information, thank you. Is the perfect information for my project..
glad we could help!
I see the Bilstein 5100 coilover front shocks can be had with or without the coils spring installed. How do the Bilstein pre-installed coil springs compare to the OEM springs?
My application is on a 2018 Silverado 1500 4x4 standard cab short box truck with 64K on the odometer.
The 5100s do not come with lower spring seats as standard on the GM trucks so it is hard to have them fully assembled. They also do not include springs either and are really only designed for stock springs, so we really can not speak to what is used in those assemblies if anybody is actually putting them together.
Please do a quick video on the kyb jaos!! Really good price point for front of a yota. I assume better options out back for $
They are pretty unobtainium right now state side, but once we can get a set in they will get tested and reviewed eventually
I do need the coil spring seat for my f150 cause I bought a pair of Bilstein 5100 and I don't know where to find the seats
Howdy, I have a 2016 gmc canyon. We frequently put 1k lb camper on. We are using Timbrens. Installed a Hellwog rear sway bar, that helped a lot. Would like to do the shocks next. What would you suggest. We want to expand our camping range deeper onto federal lands, but no serious off-roading.
I would definitely be looking at a set of Bilstein 6112s up front and 5100s or 5160s in the back if your treks off highway treks run a little long while lugging the camper around. Although the 5100 front struts would probably be alright, we think the additional comfort and control of the larger body 6112s is well worth the jump in price. There is a reason why some people complain about the stiff ride of a 5100 front strut but most everybody raves about the ride of the 6112s. In the rear the 5160 rear shocks gain an external reservoir which greatly improves their ability to dissipate heat. If you are noticing some degradation in ride quality over the course of a long run off pavement now, it may be a good idea to go for the 5160s. Otherwise the 5100s will still fade a heck of a lot less than stock. The digressive nature of the Bilsteins should add a lot of stability under a load without being super harsh unloaded.
Thanks for the reply. Do you know if we would need to install a front sway bar offset kit to allow for better clearance between the 6112s and the sway bar?
Nope, nothing else should be required with the 6112s. Bilstein is great about making parts that bolt right up without additional modifications, and if they do require something like a sway bar drop or relocation bracket, they will usually include it.
Bilstein is by far the best, especially for the value.. and quality
best is subjective, best in longevity? probably
best in ride quality? depends on what you're looking for
I want to lift my truck, but I drive mostly highway. I want the same ride at 80 but won't the option to give me a decent ride when off road
@@ShockSurplusif I want to get 4-6 inch lift on a 2017 f150, with the best quality for least money, and able to tow 5000lbs daily what should I get?
@@christopherjoyce833fox 2.0. Much softer and nicer than bilstein
I've had them on two trucks and they are good in a lot of ways, but I just don't really like the way they perform on washboard and sharp bumps. Feels even worse than stock somehow.
If you like the way a VW or Audi car handles and you want your Toyota SUV to feel more like that. Then the Bilstine are perfect. If you like to float on a cloud the FOX are a better choice.
What would you recommend for a 2020 Trailboss to get a slight lift? I want a slight upgrade from the factory ranchos but its a family vehicle as well so wife and kids need to be comfortable.
I've been looking for a quality leveling kit and this video was very informative in helping me out. I've seen many leveling kits requiring to upgrade upper control arms as well, is that the same for these coilovers?
It depends on the vehicle, but if you are doing a straight coilover or strut lift without spacers you should be fine with the stock arms on most applications as long as you stay at or below 2.5" of lift. The only coilovers in this video that sometimes push it are the Eibachs which usually cycle enough travel to bind the stock ball joints on a lot of applications. They can still work with the stock arms, but it is a good idea to upgrade to get all the travel they can provide.
Do you know what offset number is equal to 4+ inches of lip on the back side of the rim?
It depends on rim width. An ET0 on an 8" wide wheel would have 4" of barrel on both sides. For every inch in width change offset would need to change by 12.5 mm. So a 9" wheel would be ET -12.5 and a 7" wide wheel would need a +12.5 offset.
I really appreciate the help,I know what to look for now, thanks!
What would you select, 2018 f150 running 35s BF AT, and more on road and hauling but want to have a good and comfort ride!
Eibach is definitely the way to go. Their Stage 2 kits with their 2.0 coilovers are pretty darn plush unloaded but are much more stable under a load than stock. They also last a long time before needing to be serviced or replaced. Our '19 Ranger has 50k of absolute abuse on its Stage 2R kit and it is still trucking just almost as well as when they were new.
I notice kyb is now selling the JAOS with 14 adjustments for dampening will shock surplus carry them?
we do carry those, you thinking about them for your vehicle? support@shocksurplus.com
Great videos! Question , got 2022 off road premium 4runner stock. Would like to get it level no sag. 2 inch plus more aggressive tires , so I can still park in garage .
Thinking Eiback pro lift stage 2R, vs Stage 2. Vrs your opinion? Our travel truck, 85% on road, 15% on trails, dirt, lite rocky areas. Would these be all around good option with better tires bfg or toyo 275 70 17's for example . Rather keep everything else stock without trimming fenders or adjustments. Thank you
Sure the Eibachs would be a great choice. If you are taking it easy off road and not going fast, then you do not need the reservoir rear shocks, and it should be still a little rear high at 2" of lift in the front with the standard rear springs included with the complete kit. 275s can almost fit stock so you should have no issues clearing those tires without trimming with the Eibach lift.
More than one Silverado need to be more specific. Pretty sure not compatible for 2500. I’m finding that out the hard way
I also would like to know about the 2500HD silverado mine is a 2018 model in australia.
Excellent, very informative!!
Looking into throwing some fox 2.0s onto my 2017 silverado-1500 is a good idea to get some aftermarket upper control arms for those or will it fit without them?
Excellent info. Thanks
glad we could help! what vehicle do you have?
We got 2.5 inches of lift with our fox coilovers on our 4runner.
solid!
I put RC 2” level lift full strut replacement on my wife’s bronco they’re the only ones that I could find that was 2” I think it looks perfect but I hate the ride quality is there anything nicer for the bronco that’ll go down to 2” everything else is 3” minimum, I don’t like spacers.
Yup Bilstein 5100s can do as little as 1" of lift on all non Sasquatch Broncos and stock height on Sasquatch models and the 6112s can do as little as 1.9" of lift on 4 door models without the Sasquatch package and Stock height on all models with the Sasquatch package. The only models that get a ton of lift are the two door non sasquatch models which get a minimum of 3.6" of lift, however if you can source some stock 2dr SAS springs you can run the 6100s for a minimum of about an Inch over non Sasquatch height.
Wats best for jeep wrangler for highway driving & soft on bumps
Fox will probably be the most comfortable but will need to be serviced fairly often. Eibach is probably a close second in comfort, but will last twice as long before needing to be rebuilt or replaced
@@ShockSurplus okay thanks. Also does the shocks determine body roll also or Is that just from sway bars?
There are many factors that determine body roll including shocks and sway bars. Really the source of body roll comes from the relationship between the vehicle's center of gravity and roll center axis and then your shocks and sway bars are used to help minimize that body roll.
@@ShockSurplus thanks. Very helpful‼️ love the channel
I have a 2017 gmc canyon with 127k miles, what would you recommend for upgraded suspension? I don’t off road but I really want to soak up potholes and have a smoother ride.
Fox 2.0s will likely be the most comfortable option, but they do need to be serviced fairly frequently. If you do not want to spend quite as much on the parts or or as much time on service down the road, you would definitely like the Eibach Stage 2 kits with their 2.0 coilovers.
Thank you! Very informative.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Bilstein 5100's are way too stiff. Rancho are way to soft. I've been dabbling on my 2022 Ford f-150 2.7. The Eibach coilovers with Kyb gas adjust rear shocks seem to be the best setup I've had.
Im looking to buy the kyb truck plus leveling shocks for my 2014 silverado crew cab. I cant find any reviews about them would that be a good options for me. I wont be off roading, i just want to level the front and have good ride
They are just a stock replacement with a spacer so they will perform about the same as your stock shocks and just lift the front. They are a great option if you are fine with the way the vehicle performed from the factory and keep tire size close to stock.
I’m looking for a Leveling system for my 2020 gen two crew max that maintains factory handling on the street, absorbs washboard roads and allowing for the largest tire possible. Would eibach be what I’m looking for?
Yup, Eibach is probably going to be your best bet for what you are looking for, at least at this price point.
How do you recommend adjusting fox 2.0? Can I take the weight off the wheels and adjust? Or do I have to compress the spring
on the fox 2.0 coilovers its best to compress the springs so you dont damage the aluminum threads under tension. If that's not possible, take the weight off while adjusting
Bilstein 5100…. Able to fit 2020 Silverado 1500 duramax?
I need to upgrade my stand from stock
Yup! They work great, we actually ran them on our own Duramax 150 with spectacular results th-cam.com/video/LRNTIm13t1A/w-d-xo.html
do you need upper control arms for just a level?
nope, just leveling the vehicle works with factory control arms
Subscribed . Excellent review.
Thanks for the sub!
I like the Eibach, Will they fit on a 2010 f150 lariat?
Eibach does have a kit for your truck
www.shocksurplus.com/search
I bought the ranchos before I saw this video, as you mentioned, budget option. Hope they're good enough.
Question for you, With the Rancho quicklifts, do I need a front differential lowering kit spacer on a 2008 Tundra regular cab, short bed? Is it needed to keep the angle on the front 4x4 axles?
If you get a good set they work well enough, so although certainly not the best option on the market should at the very least be safe and when set to the right setting should be at least as comfortable as stock. The Quicklifts nor anything we mentioned in this video will require a diff drop on a 07-21 Tundra as long as you have the stock or better axles. All these companies do their due diligence to make sure all of these coilovers work within the operating range of the stock CVs so you do not have to diff drop . With that said any "parts store" replacement axles use joints with a tighter operating range and may bind, so if you have put a set of cheapo axles in it, you will want to replace them with a set of stockers or you may need to drop the diff.
Hello, I can’t find any information if any of those companies makes suspension kit for Subaru Forester. I know about Iron Man but I want something better quality.
You are right in that most of those companies on make their lifted coilovers/struts and dampers for trucks and more traditional SUVs. With that said Bilstein has started to release B8 Terrasport kits for just about every Subi made in the last 10 years, so if they do not have something now, they will probably have something for you eventually. Otherwise if you want a really serious suspension system we recommend Flatout Suspension for sure. They have coilover kits from mild to wild that largely use Bilstein pistons and provide a huge bump in travel, performance, and ride height if you want it.
@@ShockSurplus thank you for your recommendation 👍
Is Bilstein going to make the 5160's rebuildable any time soon?
they're serviceable currently, either by sending them back to Bilstein, or drilling and tapping them with a kit to recharge nitrogen
Will be review of jrz, reiger, Multimatic, ast shocks?
Hopefully someday!
I have a new too me 17 gmc canyon with the diesel i have Bilstein shocks on my 01 2500hd that have 60k on them towing and with a plow are they going to have about the same ride as my older truck ?
they will feel a bit tighter/sportier on the smaller Canyon when compared against the bigger truck that tows/plows, especially if the canyon is barebones and not carrying much gear / people. If comfort is the concern over handling, we'd roll with Eibach.
Any info on freedom offroad struts/coilovers?
info? no, just what we read on the product descriptions. 40mm means they're twin tube shocks, and by the looks of them, imported. Affordable, yes. Ride quality? Most likely garbage from all of our experience on similar products.
"LIFTS VEHICLE 3.5" REMOVING FACTORY RAKE WITHOUT SACRIFICING RIDE QUALITY"
Impossible. 3.5" of lift through the shock tower on any of the later model IFS vehicles means there's
so can i upgrade my suspension but have everything else stock?
yes you can upgrade the shocks and dont need to touch anything else
What about Ohlins ?
Why do you never do Ironman Foam cell pros?
So if these are good for 15-20mph off-roading, what would be the next step for that 35mph-ish range?
The Bilstein 6112 can handle the faster stuff, if paired with the 5160s in the rear. Beefier options are icon 2.5, falcon 2.25, dobinsons IMS and MRR. It'll come down to your application, let us know and we can get m ore detailed
@@ShockSurplus It would be for a F150, daily driver but love to tear it up on the weekends, fire roads etc…
What year?
@@ShockSurplus 2016
What strut would help with the weight of a Fisher SD plow on a 2017 GMC Siera 1500. Tends to bounce.
If you're running factory shocks, then yeah there's a lot of bounce with extra weight. Bilsteins will change that behavior dramatically, way more control. KYB Monomax will also help, same with Eibach
Wondering if anyone has had success with leveling front-end to control excess body roll . So far I went to heavier sway bars but still need 500+ pounds of weight in truck bed.
Yup, not only do a lot of these leveling coilovers and struts utilize a a stiffer spring that will reduce sway, but also generally use far superior dampers that will further assist with stability. Furthermore lifting the front and shifting weight more evenly front to rear takes less load off the springs and sway bars on the front, making them more effective. With that said, that load does go more rearward though, so it is important to iron out whether most of that body roll is coming from the front or rear.
@@ShockSurplus If you are in the business, what a good daily driver leveling kit? Prices are all over the place. I occasionally tow a boat and haul our SXSs. I live in the Ozark hills
No ICON ?
Icon is a little upmarket of things like these coilovers and struts. We definitely love them, but not fair to compare them to middle of the road options like these
I installed Bilstein 5100 shocks on my 2019 Silverado. On the first try I set the adjustment for stock height, with the circlip on the bottom groove. It was way lower in front. I raised it to the third groove from bottom and am close to stock height but might even need to go to the top groove to match original ride height.
I bought my truck used through Carmax who do a great job of taking pics, so I used their listing profile view to tell me the rake of the truck as it came from factory. I did the same pics to compare the truck's rake angle and even on the third groove it is still about 1/2" lower than stock. I used my jack under one of the front tow hooks to raise the truck until it looked stock and measured to see how much it needed to be raised. It needed to be raised 2", and using the third groove brought it up 1-1/2".
Is this a common issue? Has anybody else experienced this!
I would double-check what part number you have. We have heard of a lot of people getting the 1500 LD part (24-238304) on accident and this ends up being exactly what happens. If that is the case, you will need to switch to either part number 24-293297 if it is not a Trail Boss and 24-309509 if it is.
@@ShockSurplus BTW, my truck is a 2019 Silverado LD, crew cab, short bed, 4WD, 5.3, and your listings show the 24-238304 as the correct shock. Not a trail boss.
@@ShockSurplus "...accident"??? Your own listings show this shock (24-238304) to be correct for my truck. Every source I checked says this is the correct part number.
I am looking at the email you sent us from your rbbspeed email address and the picture you sent is definitely a new body style 2019 1500 and not a old body style 1500 LD. Not sure what Carmax listed your truck as when you bought it but unless you sent us a picture of a different truck than your request is about, you definitely do not have an LD or old body style truck at all.
Where are the Eibach’s made? Are they dyno tested like a Bilstein?
eibachs are made here in the US, i believe at their headquarters in Corona, CA. Not sure if they're dyno'd like Bilstein, we haven't heard of Bilstein dyno'n all their shocks, not sure that's possible due to the volume that Bilstein puts out
I have the Fox 2.0 coilovers on my 2022 GMC 1500 crew 4x4. Does anyone know the ride height adjustment factor for these? Fox does not publish anything on this.
They come preset at around 2" of lift on most gas trucks (stock Trail Boss or AT4 height) and can be dropped to standard 4wd height. These GM trucks have close to 2:1 motion ratio so about 1" of preload adjustment should equate to around 1.75" or so ride height adjustment
@@ShockSurplusThank you.
Anybody try out the rough county ones?
Thoughts on the bilstein 6112? Soft like fox but durability like 5100’s?
Definitely nowhere near as soft as as a 6112 but the big bump in piston size and therefore potential dampening force usually means Bilstein can set the 6112s up to be both more plush than as well as more supportive than the 5100s. The increase in shaft size and fluid/oil volume does make the 6112s more durable under more extreme driving conditions than the 5100s. They should be prone to far less fade and will be a heck of a lot harder to blow up when you push them beyond their limits. With that said longevity for somebody who only drives on the street would likely be the same on a 6112 and 5100. So if you are not beating on your suspension on a regular basis, you may not see any more life from the 6112s, however you still are getting 2-3x more life than you get from a Fox before they need service.
Gotcha
Eibach vs icon comparison please!
The Stage 1 Icon kits are basically double the price of an Eibach Stage 2 kit with their coilovers and shocks, so I am not sure that is necessarily a fair comparison if we are being honest. The Icon front coilovers are all a larger 2.5" body, cycle more travel, and are really optimized for more serious off road use. The Eibach might be a little more plush over the little stuff at lower speeds, and could last longer if you stay on the road, but the Icon will be much more supportive over bigger hits, offer significantly more stable handling, and generally are the higher performing option.
@@ShockSurplus thanks! I have a leveled trail boss. And looking for the best for the price and longevity. It seems after lots of research from you guys and others, the Eibach stage 2R is the best choice for me. And I can just keep a little spacer on to have my truck leveled off
Eibach is definitely not the right choice for a Trail Boss. They will strutggle to get anything over stock TB height and will cause CV bind when paired with a spacer. We have gotten calls from a fair share of TB and AT4 owners after they added a spacer and their front axles fell right out of the truck. Your best bet would be to ditch the spacers and run something like the Trail Boss spec Bilstein 6112s or an extended travel 2.5" body coilover that requires an aftermarket upper control arm like the Icon, Fox, or King 2.5s. Those will top out at around 1.25-1.5" of lift in the front, so they may still be a tad shy of level, but on a Trail Boss or AT4 this will be your best bet.
@@ShockSurplus ok thank you for the feedback
I’m just trying to find the most versatile setup with least maintenance
Going fox 2.5 all round.
Do people mix brands between the front and rear shocks?
That’s what I did, 2020 Silverado 1500 3.0. Went eibach pro kit up front (not the coil over, just the shock with c clips) and bilstein 5100 rears.
Pretty decent compromise imo.
Occasionally they do. I am currently running Fox 2.5 w/reservoir in the rear and Bilstein 6112s in the front. This was unintentional. Eventually, in the near future it will be Fox all around. However, I have not experienced any negative performance with the mix of brands and types (digressive front versus progressive rear) on or off-road. I drive a modified 2010 Toyota Tundra with an intentional lean to off-road performance.
sometimes, we see people with bilstein i front, fox in rear. What vehicle do you have? may make a difference
@ShockSurplus Thanks for responding. I have a 21 F150 PowerBoost with the max tow pkg. I'm thinking about running Eibach coilovers in the front and Falcon tow/Haul adjustable shocks in the rear.
No no no. Where's Kings? They're by far the best...
I have a 2020 Ranger XLT FX4 and am ready to upgrade, but the more of these videos I watch, the more confused I get. I don't tow or do anything extreme, just mild/moderate off-roading.
Eibach is definitely up your alley then
www.shocksurplus.com/products/eibach-pro-truck-stage-2-coilover-kit-rear-shocks-kit-for-2019-2022-ford-ranger-4wd-w-0-3-75-lift
@@ShockSurplus Thank you. That was one of the 3 on my list.
what is this dude talking about? my buddy just had the fox 2.0 put on his f150 and those thing beat u up. my Duramax rides smoother and shes a rough ride
talking about the 5 vehicles we've driven on the Fox 2.0, documented, here on our YT channel.
wheel size, tire size, tire psi, spring preload, all make a difference in the ride quality.
Womp womp womp
I’m wanting to level the front of my 2007 Toyota tundra I don’t do any off roading or heavy towing what would you recommend
So… eibach it will be, for my bronco
www.shocksurplus.com/products/eibach-pro-truck-stage-2-coilover-kit-front-coilovers-rear-coilovers-e86-35-056-01-22
Don’t quote me on anything I say so no point in in listening to me
to raise 2 inches colorado 2015 z71 which one do you recommend?
Bilsteins, Fox, or Eibach are the way to go. Bilstein is the best handling and is the best under a load but rides a little firm, Fox is super plush and comfortable on and off the road, but a little loose on handling and load stability, and the Eibach is very much in the middle of the two.
Not even kings? I'm not even watching 😂
These are entry level shock packages, Kings are at the opposite end. If you're looking for a leveling kit, and thinking about Kings, they're overkill
Hey bro quick question, do I really need to change the upper control arm of my 5th gen 4 runner for a 1” lift with a bilstien 6112 in the front? I just wanna level it out with the back.. that’s all I wanna do!
Nope! The stock arms will be fine. The only reason you might want to upgrade is to help clear larger tires. Aftermarket arms will either have more caster built into them or are adjustable, so you can use them to run more positive caster to push the front tires further forward for more clearance from the cab mount.
@@ShockSurplus hey brother so what’s the clip level I should be adjusted to level out with the factory rear..? Is it clip setting 1 which is .79 Or clip setting 2 which is 1.15?
It depends what you are looking for but if you are not touching the rear you can go up as high as 1.7" of lift in the front without it being higher than the rear.