Not happy with ride quality on Bilsteins

I installed Bilstein 5100's a few months ago with the front set at. 85. I've tried to get used to the ride but it's really rough and my wife hates driving in my truck at this point. I went off roading for half a day recently and couldn't believe how stiff the suspension felt over washboard and rough rocky sections.
How much of a difference would the ride feel by swapping to a progressive valved shock like Eibach?

 

Sorry to hear

 

What else does your wife drive? I have 5100’s set at 1.75”, and my wife doesn’t like it because it doesn’t handle as tightly as her Mazda CX-5. She’s always telling me about the bumps she hates on her drive to work, and then when we go over them with the 4Runner she’s surprised how we don’t even feel them. Not saying there aren’t much better options if you’re willing to pay, but digressive valving like in the Bilsteins is generally going to ride more firm than linear and progressive valved shocks.

 

I had the 5100’s on my 3rd gen. and yes they were more firm than oem, but i liked them on and off road. They did not perform like what you experienced on wash board roads, are you sure the install is correct?

 

I didn't like the way 5100's handled on the 5th gen either.

I went with Eibachs and am really happy with them.

To be clear, Eibachs are technically not a progressive shock. They are digressive like the 5100's, but not all digressive shocks ride the same. The difference is the Eibachs have a bleeder valve early in the travel that makes it feel like a progressive shock. So it helps to get rid of those jarring, hard hits the 5100's give you.

However, I don't think the Eibachs are going to be a top performer on washboard type roads. For that, you'll have to spend quite a bit more money for a higher end shock.

Ultimately, the Eibachs are a great entry level shock that will perform really well on the road and do just fine at lower speed offroad stuff. Higher speed offroading would require you to spend more money.

 

Hey welcome here, recently I'm just assuming.
I might be able to add a little perspective.

I have 5100's all four corners.
Been great for our terrain and degree of wheeling.
I've been deep down the 5100 rabbit hole, many conversations with fellow owners, started my own threads on them, and researched - @nimby has a wealth of knowledge on this for years as a matter of fact.
SlvrSlug is bang on, they're stiffer than OEM, I'd argue they're supposed to be and claim to be.

Maybe my difference is I paired Bilstein's with specific aftermarket springs, OME front and ICON rear. Upgraded UCA's. And, I left my spring seat at 0" by recommendation.

 

what a bummer. I love my Bilstein set up on my 22 Trail Edition. No complaints from the wife either. I also have a 5100 set up with the front at 2” and 5100 in rear with stock springs on my 2011 SR5, smooth as can be as well.

 

I have 5100's but they are paired with Eibach springs and it works for me. If you don't need the lift, try setting them at zero and see what that does. You can always put a 1/4" spacer on and gain back almost all the lift if you favor the shocks at that setting. One other thing- did you air down your tires at all? Even a small drop from 32-34 down to 26-28 psi makes a big difference in off-road driving comfort.

 

I did not, I'll give that a shot next time.

 

You got budget aftermarket suspension. Were
You expecting a rolls Royce ride?

5100’s are great for what they are.

 

I have the stage 1 eibachs. The front is great, rides smooth. But the rear is a little stiff unless I have some weight in the back.

I have heard dobinson twin tubes ride really nice. Or try the stock rear shocks with the 5100 in the front.

 

Just the fronts at. 85, if I lift the rear there would be too much rake. As it sits now, there's a slight rake without weight at .85.