Here's The Difference Between Bilstein 5100 And Bilstein 4600!!

Here's Why I'm Ditching My Bilstein 5100!! Bilstein 5100 Vs. Bilstein 4600!! This One Reason Made Me Switch To Bilstein 4600!! Bilstein 5100 5 Years Later!! Here's The Difference Between The Bilstein 5100 And Bilstein 4600!! #bilstein5100 #bilstein4600 #Trucks
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Bilstein 4600 24-065009 in this video: amzn.to/3wuLzNm
Bilstein 5100 24-186643 in this video: amzn.to/3uLVBsS
In this video I show why I'm switching from Bilstein 5100 to the 4600 model on my 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. This truck has had the Bilstein 5100 in stalled for about 5 years now and I've certainly noticed a change. I decided to replace them but went back to the classic blue and yellow Bilstein 4600 model. I then set out on a 300 mile road trip to really get a feel for the difference. The details are in this video. Enjoy!
**This channel is for entertainment purposes only! Do not do what I do. Do not take my advice. I am not a professional. The methods I use may be completely wrong and/or dangerous. Please seek professional help with anything and everything and do your own due diligence (research). Working on cars is extremely dangerous. I am not responsible for any loss of life or limb or property. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. THIS CHANNEL IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!**
FTC Disclaimer: I am an Amazon associate. As such, I earn a percentage of sales made through Amazon associate links found in the description of my videos and on my website and other places.
00:00 Intro
00:55 Bilstein 5100 Vs. 4600
01:33 What I've Noticed
02:13 Why Bilstein 4600
03:07 Installing Bilstein 4600
04:14 Initial Impressions
06:02 The Look Of The Shocks
07:10 Final Thoughts
08:06 Conclusion

[@MegaHowtoMan]

4600 are amazing on my 03 Tahoe. Ride on highway is like a modern vehicle. LOVE the reliability of these Tahoes and Suburbans.

[@1RoadGarage]

GMT800 👍👍👍

[@glennsouthard9208]

The pinnacle of hm excellence

[@MrBowNaxe]

Great stuff Jimmy! I'm at that point with my Suburban. I've replaced the fronts before but not with the original Billsteins. The rear are still original if you can believe that and still have that iconic blue and yellow look to them. I remember when you put those 5100's on and thought I needed to also but, thanks to this video (like many others) I think I'll stick with the 4600's. Thanks for sharing and I can't wait to see what's next.

[@oldgm8056]

I remember your 5100 installation video like it happened yesterday! 4600 is amazing installed on 2002 Crown Victoria lowred for 4 years and still ride like a new while another brands not stand for more 1 year!

[@ALMX5DP]

I believe there are some minor valving differences between the 4600 and 5100s. I'm also on a set of mixed and matched Bilsteins 4600s up front and 5100s in the rear (mostly because retailers were out of the 5100s when I was buying the fronts). But they seem to work well together anyways so happy with it as is.

[@ED-ti5tc]

I think 4600 came stock on my 98. When they wore out, i put yellow Monroe on. They were ok. About 10 yr ago i found out AutoZone sold Bilstein. I bought a set for the rear and love them. If i remember correctly, going through AutoZone they have a limited life time warranty. But i love my Bilstein shocks. When i get my front end rebuilt, im putting new Bilstein all the way around.

[@SuperDuty23XL]

Plan on replacing my stock shocks on my F350 with 4600s. great video.

[@chadmiller8019]

I have 4600 on the f250 I had them on my pro4x Xterra for years. Our 02 Tahoe came with some 5100s on it and they are great too

[@jewllake]

I think the blue AC Delco shocks are the best. I replaced mine on my 2006 GMC Yukon 4x4 with over 140K miles a few months back. They felt very stiff when pushing down and came back up smoothly. I sold them of facebook market place for 60.00. I used the 4600 and I opted to buy the bushings from GM as they are beefier and include a heavy nylon sleeve to help eat up that very large hole on the top frame mount. I still have the stock Nivomat self leveling shocks in the rear. I do have the 5100 on my 2018 Z71 Crew Cab Sierra.

[@1RoadGarage]

I’m thinking about putting those Nivomats back in just out of curiosity… still in good shape.

[@Roberto-gp3yx]

Bc this is not a paid sponsored review … people need to understand that when it comes to a vehicle and its maintenance… no one pays attention to the suspension until they have a catastrophic failure let alone will they pay attention to oil changes and other fluid maintenance So it’s good to see a review based on how one feels their vehicle should be running and the mileage one puts on certain components of their vehicle

[@DirtE30]

Both fantastic shocks. Different valveving slightly. The other issue is the stock ride height of a lift capable shock. May have been bottoming the 5100’s at times.

[@ricebike]

I just looked it up... They carry a lifetime warranty 😊 Exchange the old ones and have them for backups

[@ricebike]

Plus google search for 4600 vs 5100 gives one lots of results Stating that the 4600 is for more daily driving vs 5100 are for altered suspension and bigger tires over factory specs

[@aportilla007]

I recently put 4600 on a 99 Jeep TJ. I also put in an OME steering stabilizer. The Jeep rides awesome.

[@ivuvu4065]

Can you recomend me some good shocks for 1995 suburban V6.5L Diesel? thanks

[@toyotabrony]

@1ROAD there’s nothing wrong of swapping g from 5100 to 4600. It’s still an upgrade monotube shock absorbers. Honestly Bilstein B6/4600 is still a must have shocks. 2: When are u gonna upgrade ur front 3157 turn signals, ur rear 3156 turn signals with sylvania zevo amber , and a Novita - LED flasher relay, and a Sylvania - zevo 3157 red led bulbs for ur 03’ Chevy suburban? Ur truck needs a full complete zevo bulb upgrades ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 We would love to see them how they perform well for ur Chevy application content 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@williamhanna5224]

Excellent !

[@robinhockett1191]

Hey Teacher can you put them on my HHR. Are they better then the struts

[@themachine8009]

I’ve always heard about Bilsteins but someone told me that they were really expensive. But they r not bad. I wonder if they have a pair that will fit my 2013 VW Passat. Thanks for sharing

[@toyotabrony]

U get what u paid for. Remember. Quality isn’t cheap, and cheap isn’t quality.

[@joeaguilar196]

Hi . brother like the awesome videos good job . Wanted to know if this would work on my GMC Yukon 98. I have the 3 inch lift kit rough country .

[@BradBlaylockwork]

If its still slushy check your jounce bumpers. When I replaced mine it made a big difference because one was gone.

[@rototiller78]

Love my 5100s on my '07 Lincoln Mark LT in which the 4600s would fit too. Also, the Bilstein company recommends the "boot" side bolted to the wheel side.

[@WalterMelons]

Wonder if it’s because gravity would help keep debris from working into the cylinder if the boot failed.

[@stephenmonroe7541]

Front shocks on those GMs only install one way.

[@theautumnwind2152]

Yes this reduces unsprung weight.

[@don_moody]

You can't flip the shocks to the boot side down on the front of this truck. Different mounts on each end

[@rototiller78]

Well, thanks @stephenmonroe7541 @don_moody for the GM clarification as I am familiar with Ford and Honda. Why would Bilstein want their shocks installed boot side down if they couldn't be? 🤔🤦‍♂️

[@ClaytonSensiba]

I love my 5100s in my 04

[@cameronwingate7477]

How about the KYB mono max or one of the koni shocks that are meant for a pick up trucks or SUVs?

[@toyotabrony]

The bilstein will still be better with 4600 compare to others. Because of that 46mm digressive internal piston.

[@r0ckworthy]

Do automotive shocks generally have a stack of shims inside? Like a dirt bike shock does. For instance are automotive shocks like the Bilstein 4600 a "cartridge type" shock or are they all the old-school type with just a damping rod with oil holes in it? Because on a dirt bike the old damping rod shocks are absolutely terrible and once you feel the difference of the cartridge design, the difference is obvious.

[@DirtE30]

The bottom bolt is the one you need to leave loose until loaded, the top isn’t nearly as critical in that way.

[@1RoadGarage]

🤔

[@abelscaliber7969]

@@1RoadGarageyea you preloaded the bushing

[@73SDR]

Fronts have the engine sitting on them, so they'll wear more. Bilstein makes a great shock. I have 4600s.

[@Lxmustang805]

The 4600s are the best , I ran them on my 05 Silverado 2wd . The ride is nice , and smooth . I’m planning on purchasing a set for my 2023 rcsb 5.0 f150 .

[@dougc190]

I put Bilstein 4600 on everything. Got them on a small blazer,which at first I put Monroe's on because I didn't have the money, and literally 6 months later I put the bilstein's on it, what A difference. Same with a 84 1 ton Chevrolet van put Monroe Magnums on it(again money problems but it cost me more in the long run), yeah they were just barely better than the blown ones, 30 ft Class c motorhome on a Ford chassis that was the biggest difference right there. So when I'm getting at is save your money and get the Bilsteins from the get-go.

[@nastysoda9212]

that's what my trd-offroad tacoma has stock. they do great off-road and great on road. I have another tacoma with 6112's and 5160's in the rear. And prefer driving on the 4600

[@warrenlucier5796]

The 5100's are more for off road, like out on a ranch etc. . The 4600's are made for paved roads and I had them on my 1996 Ford F150 with a towing package and my current Toyota Tacoma.

[@NiteHawk861]

Nice Tahoe!

[@PRO4XKEV]

Estimate the mileage put on the 5100 shocks? I am curious.

[@mikemcf9189]

Mileage is critical information - 5 years of use has nothing to do with it. Shocks generally have a 20,000 mile life.

[@toyotabrony]

@@mikemcf918920,000-50,000 miles in general. And especially for twin tube shocks.

[@victorbaird8220]

Jimmy has a nice hat 😊

[@douglasdever6134]

The 5100s are used more in the front with the spring perch, that has a coil spring mounted, allowing for adjustablity to give a 1-2" (or more) lift to the vehicle. Your system uses torsion bars so adjustable shocks are not needed. Honestly, should have gone with the 4600 the first time around and would have save a few bucks. Like you said, internally, basically the same single tube, gas filled, digressive valve shock. The 5100s are zinc coated steel, while the 4600s are painted. And the paint can wear off just as quick as the zinc can look dirty. Also, the 5100s are longer since they tend to be used with vehicles that have been lifted. If you crank your torsion bars to lift the front end, you might have needed the 5100s; not having lifted the front end makes the 5100 appear to be too long. But in some cases, length only matters at certain times.

[@ElCalla0]

Hey man I’ve been looking for some of these shocks and since you won’t use them can I buy them off you?

[@toyotabrony]

Why not look up at shock surplus? They got u covered

[@josenoyola9851]

Maybe the new keys from the 95 makes it stiffer than the original keys in the 03, so the keys have the tbars in the original position. So they sag too. Just my 2 cents

[@AndresRodriguez-hn8oz]

Interesting. I like my 5100s on my 01 Burb

[@1RoadGarage]

I really liked the 5100.

[@tossedsalad5532]

Jounce and re jounce is the Term from movement of shocks

[@1RoadGarage]

Got it.

[@cgriebel1]

...close. How 'bout compression and rebound.

[@dontworry1302]

Just finished putting Billstein 4600 front shocks in my 03 suburban about 3 hours ago. Would have loved to had this video as a guide.

[@xephael3485]

Unfortunately it was less of a guide and more of an opinion piece.,

[@dontworry1302]

@@xephael3485 Honestly the part that took longest for me was deciding if the extra cost of the Bilsteins was worth while, so would have been a guide for that I suppose. The actual process of putting the shocks in was so easy I spent longer greasing my caliper slide pins while I was there than doing what I was there for.

[@1RoadGarage]

Those slide pins… 👍 just did that too.

[@dontworry1302]

@@1RoadGarage Stripped one out on 5/6 sides of both the bolt and my tool. That cracking noise was the best sound I've hear in my entire life.

[@mrogersgmt800]

I recently installed 4 new 4600's on my single cab Silverado feels really stiff. Not sure if it's due to them being new. I can literally feel every bump.

[@kenj.8897]

Because your tires are now on the road instead of floating . You have better control now .

[@eugeneshackelford9112]

The two is designed for two very different ride and control. You can't make a judgment on pushing in on them because of course they are going to react differently.

[@theautumnwind2152]

Yes 5100s are digressive and 4600s are progressively damped. Basically offroad vs street

[@fish4fun354]

I've used both but prefer 5100 cause I didn't notice a difference and I don't like that the 4600 get all the weight from suspension pulling down on them when the front end is raised.

[@jonsmail8082]

Different lengths of shocks cause the shock to work in different areas of the stroke

[@toyotabrony]

And it depends of how u use them

[@roughneck2204]

From everything I researched. The 5100s are for lifted vehicles

[@georgebarrera9881]

Yes that is the difference between 4600’s and 5100’s

[@ivuvu4065]

Pleas anyone can recomend me the Blisten part number for a GMC 1995 Suburban L65 V8 6.5 Diesel. 4x4. Thanks! I have a lot of confusion

[@Mr69abody]

4600 are more for on road (firm). 5100 are more for off road (soft).

[@toyotabrony]

4600 can also be use for off-road. But mildy. So I’d prefer 4600

[@jbtOO7]

Just throwing it out there I'm not a huge fan of Bilstein shocks if you like them that's great whatever you like really that's what matters.

[@alanmerritt860]

For the price of them they should last a lot longer than 2 years. Also try sos pads on the other shocks to shine them up

[@toyotabrony]

Maybe he was on stock height with 5100, and overtime that can compress a bit too soon.

[@1RoadGarage]

It’s been 5yrs. I’m happy with that length of time. 🤙

[@jameshall4385]

The longer shocks are designed for a taller vehicle. They are probably compressed to much and not able to work as they are designed to for a suspension with more travel

[@Mr69abody]

If I pay for shipping can I have the 5100s? I'm chasing a weird suspension issue on my 03 suburban. The drivers front seems to dip further than the passenger side.

[@toyotabrony]

I would recommend 4600’s. If u wsnt sportier feel, better handling, and don’t want to lift. 4600. All day.

[@mikemcf9189]

You keep talking about FADE. I do not think you know what this means. "Fade" is from heat during heavy use and is why high-end off-road trucks have shocks with external reservoirs and baja truck shocks have radiators. Sure, they'll wear out over time but that has nothing to do with the "Fade" that you read about on the 4600 brochure.

[@cgriebel1]

Correct. Fade also corresponds with stroke/frequency. Short stroke shock shafts, as in the case of a auto/truck shock, don't really heat up the shock like a full-on off road vehicle (think trophy truck or motocross), where the stroke can be as much as a few inches both ways for mx or wayyy more for a trophy truck. Hence the piggy-back reservoirs to store more fluid and aid in cooling. The fluid in those shocks takes a beating, and is changed out regularly.

[@gilbertpadilla4496]

upside down valves in strut

[@trooperpol]

Maybe if you don’t cranked up the torsion bar the 5100 works shorter than they must. If you lift the suspension the story will be different

[@johncole3010]

Put 3m clear protection on the 5100.

[@master6435]

Does not Bilstein have a lifetime warranty?

[@toyotabrony]

Yes they do. But it depends on where u bought it from

[@master6435]

@toyotabrony it say on their company website

[@toyotabrony]

@@master6435true. But whatever u bought from, they will covered ur warranty. Unless u kept the proof of their purchase than u can.

[@toyotabrony]

@@master6435we know. But it also has other warranty they have of whatever website u bought for those shocks.

[@toyotabrony]

@@master6435 well of course it does. But it also depends on which which website u bought that sells aftermarket shock absorbers.

[@Reaglesracing44_]

5100 is not designed to be used with stock height vehicles

[@toyotabrony]

Yeah they do. It has options u can use from stock height to lifted applications.

[@1RoadGarage]

There are different 5100s.

[@antrinh5525]

i thought the 5100 is a better upgrade from the 4600.

[@toyotabrony]

Both are same.

[@nosurfenougheddie]

Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy. It’s Bilstein. It rhymes with nine.

[@toyotabrony]

We got two different types of people anyway. Bilstein or bilstine. Doesn’t matter

[@missingremote4388]

Comet and Cupid Donner and Blitzen

[@wesleyroberts2404]

Hey man I’d love to talk to you about the 95 Burban build, I got a 1996 burb and I want to ask you a few questions

[@NotaRobot_gif]

So much wrong info here. The 5100s have the same exact valving. The 5100 have more length. They start to wear out at 25,000 miles.

[@keithdavis3411]

You should stop better with struts absorbing stopping forward motion so to speak

[@toyotabrony]

It’s his video. He can do whatever he wants. So get use to it

[@don_moody]

The 5100"s and 4600 are NOT valved the same

[@toyotabrony]

4600 is based on 5100. Both are the same. Just one is for lifted application.

[@don_moody]

@@toyotabrony nope

[@toyotabrony]

@@don_moodyit’s true. Just ask shock surplus. According to them, difference is similar. Besides the shock length. Also I said this backwards. 5100’s is based on 4600’s.

[@turnandburnroadtripssouthe8432]

Deep down in the back of your mind you know those shocks on the other burb are probably worn alot too!….lol

[@toyotabrony]

Only depends his driving style

[@gotcheese9163]

Chevy suburban truck 😂😂😂😂

[@toyotabrony]

What’s wrong with that?

[@gotcheese9163]

@toyotabrony if you don't like what I wrote, then move on.

[@toyotabrony]

@@gotcheese9163nah I do like what u wrote. And I like to ask. What’s wrong with it?😆

[@BushcraftQuebec]

You just went down in quality

[@toyotabrony]

Ur wrong. 5100 and 4600 is still the same quality product. 5100 is based 4600. So he did not downgrade. Monotube is monotube

[@amariodom4858]

first haha

[@sledninja]

5100s are far superior much better ride

[@toyotabrony]

Both 5100 and 4600 are both evenly match dude. Realize 5100 is based on 4600. Both gives the same ride quality. Just lifted application and different color coated paint. Both are same.

[@sledninja]

Yeah you're putting the shock on the ground and pushing on it is a really terrible test method

[@toyotabrony]

It’s his video. And his method.

[@FredTheLutinoCocatiel]

Don't do it you won't like those either.

[@toyotabrony]

Ur stupid. Realize he had other Chevy and gmc that has equipped with bilstein b6/4600. And he loves those. So this will not a be a problem for him.

[@toyotabrony]

Not even close dude. He had b6/4600 on his other Chevy suburban and his wife’s GMC with bilstein b6 as well. So he loves them and have no issues.

[@dadgarage7966]

So you're saying those particular 5100s were too long for your application and that's why they rode poorly and wore out quickly?