Looking for Bilstein 6100 ride quality comments

[natureguyusa]

I have 2025 Bronco Badlands, non-Sasquatch. I do not like the stiff, on-road, lack of comfort of the Bilstein ESCV shocks over small bumps, cracks in the road, and jostling you back and forth over road irregularities. I have no complaints about speed bumps or larger bumps off-road. It is just the annoying wagon-like feel on relatively smooth roads. Sometimes, a little raised bump that would be unnoticeable in most vehicles feels like someone punched me in the gut. With a static suspension droop of 4.5/6.5 inches (front/rear), the ride quality should be very plush. While the ESCVs are harsh on the road, I still feel more body roll than I would prefer.

I am considering Bilstein 6100s, but I have read lots of polar opposite reviews/comments about them. Bilstein told me that the 6100s would be much more compliant over small road bumps than the stock ESCVs. I have heard some people say they ride "much better" on the road (some people like riding in wagons), while others say they ride stiffer than the ESCVs. I really want to hear exactly how the 6100s ride on the road, over small cracks and bumps, compared to Badlands or Sasquatch ESCVs, and how they compare off-road. I have heard consistent, positive comments using the 6100s on off-road whoops and faster, forest road travel. I don't want to hear that the stock ESCVs ride great and that is what you get from an SUV or truck, or that I have the air in the tires too high. I know what an overly damped shock feels like.

I want to replace the stuts once, so I am not looking at anything from Fox or Icon that will need replacement in a couple of years. I really, really only want to do this once and not have to pull them off because they are not what I was expecting. I am looking at mostly the Bilstein line because they last a long time. I also considered the Eibach 2.0 series, but I feel they are too squishy, have a lot of body roll, and have a lack of larger bump control. Same with the Bilstein 5100 series, but those have worked well on my F150. If I can't get a detailed idea of what the 6100s are like, I feel I have to go for the much more expensive 8100s because they are at least adjustable. I suspect the 8100s are not as reliable over the long run due to hoses going to external reservoirs and the more complicated internal bump stop. I am not looking at gaining lift. 1-1.5 inch is more than enough for me. I am running 34-inch tires are will probably never go higher.

I would like to thank everyone who responds with comments.

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[Smocaine]

The Eibach Pro-Truck 2.0s are definitely squishier than stock and introduced noticeably more body roll and brake dive/acceleration squat, but honestly I really enjoy that about them - I call it an "expressive" ride. They soak speedbumps very well and I like how they ride on rough roads.
If you didn't get a factory rear swaybar, you probably have the provisions to fit one to reduce the body roll characteristic. They're not terribly expensive or difficult to install but would limit your rear articulation offroad and make certain bumps harsher depending on how your rear hits them.

 

[87-Z28]

Bilstein 6100s have digressive damping curves, ie, higher slope of force vs shock velocity curve at low velocities. You know if it is heads or tails when you drive over a dime. You want shocks that are either progressive or linear.

 

[ronij]

I have a non-sas badlands with 6100s. I would not describe the ride as plush. That being said, the ride suits my needs and preferences just fine. There is definitely less body roll.

 

[23OBX2.7]

It's likely the tire then pressures the same coilovers on my OBX with stock 18s feel great with very little body roll and brake dive while eliminating reverb of Hitachis.

 

[RoseLane4]

Good morning & Happy Thanksgiving!

LOWER the air pressure! Factory 39psi is great for fuel economy but horrible for ride quality!
I run 36 in the rear, 33 up front.

My Feb 2024 2dr BL’s had the Bilstein recall, so I switched the entire assembly to 6112’s - superior performance all-around & highly recommend. Potholes, undulations, rutted asphalt lines, cracks.. improved! The intended design for these portly Bronco’s.

 

[stevenstommyboy1]

Tire pressure will do this when to high. And it’s much cheaper than new shocks.

 

[Valhalla]

Shouldn't you run 33 rear and 36 front as the powertrain weight is more to the front?
To the OP have you considered a SAS takeoff? I hear they are a better all-around shock.

 

[natureguyusa]

Tire pressure will do this when to high. And it’s much cheaper than new shocks.

I am currently running 32PSI front and back for better tire patch contact. It made ZERO difference in ride quality. I run 40PSI on my F150 and it has shown no difference in ride quality from 30 to 45 PSI. My F150 also has load range E tires, and it still has better ride quality with Bilstein 5100s than my Bronco.

 

[Valhalla]

Check out the reviews on the 8112's. I do not have them .. just considering them strongly..

 

[stevenstommyboy1]

I have had different experiences than you with all of my Raptors and my bronco Raptor. Hope you can get it worked out and could very well be that you do need to change up your suspension components to suit your ride.

 

[natureguyusa]

Good morning & Happy Thanksgiving!

LOWER the air pressure! Factory 39psi is great for fuel economy but horrible for ride quality!
I run 36 in the rear, 33 up front.

My Feb 2024 2dr BL’s had the Bilstein recall, so I switched the entire assembly to 6112’s - superior performance all-around & highly recommend. Potholes, undulations, rutted asphalt lines, cracks.. improved! The intended design for these portly Bronco’s.

Hi RoseLane4. Thanks for the feedback on the 6100/6112s. Can you describe what "improved" means to you? Does the Bronco now absorb or float over the potholes, undulations, rutted asphalt lines, cracks, etc without feeling it in your seat compared to the stock ESCVs? Are they more compliant over small bumps? I have to ask for clarification because some people love a harsher ride. All my other vehicles go over these road issues, and I can tell they are there, but I don't feel them in the seat. I am currently running 32PSI front and rear. The air pressure made no difference to me.

 

[natureguyusa]

Check out the reviews on the 8112's. I do not have them .. just considering them strongly..

Got it. I have read/viewed lots of reviews on the 8112s. I have been strongly considering them. I am just not sure I want to spend that much more and have reliability issues down the road with the hoses and somehow I feel the internal hydraulic bumpstop is prone to failure.

 

[Moe-Jave]

I have 2025 Bronco Badlands, non-Sasquatch. I do not like the stiff, on-road, lack of comfort of the Bilstein ESCV shocks over small bumps, cracks in the road, and jostling you back and forth over road irregularities. I have no complaints about speed bumps or larger bumps off-road. It is just the annoying wagon-like feel on relatively smooth roads. Sometimes, a little raised bump that would be unnoticeable in most vehicles feels like someone punched me in the gut. With a static suspension droop of 4.5/6.5 inches (front/rear), the ride quality should be very plush. While the ESCVs are harsh on the road, I still feel more body roll than I would prefer.

I am considering Bilstein 6100s, but I have read lots of polar opposite reviews/comments about them. Bilstein told me that the 6100s would be much more compliant over small road bumps than the stock ESCVs. I have heard some people say they ride "much better" on the road (some people like riding in wagons), while others say they ride stiffer than the ESCVs. I really want to hear exactly how the 6100s ride on the road, over small cracks and bumps, compared to Badlands or Sasquatch ESCVs, and how they compare off-road. I have heard consistent, positive comments using the 6100s on off-road whoops and faster, forest road travel. I don't want to hear that the stock ESCVs ride great and that is what you get from an SUV or truck, or that I have the air in the tires too high. I know what an overly damped shock feels like.

I want to replace the stuts once, so I am not looking at anything from Fox or Icon that will need replacement in a couple of years. I really, really only want to do this once and not have to pull them off because they are not what I was expecting. I am looking at mostly the Bilstein line because they last a long time. I also considered the Eibach 2.0 series, but I feel they are too squishy, have a lot of body roll, and have a lack of larger bump control. Same with the Bilstein 5100 series, but those have worked well on my F150. If I can't get a detailed idea of what the 6100s are like, I feel I have to go for the much more expensive 8100s because they are at least adjustable. I suspect the 8100s are not as reliable over the long run due to hoses going to external reservoirs and the more complicated internal bump stop. I am not looking at gaining lift. 1-1.5 inch is more than enough for me. I am running 34-inch tires are will probably never go higher.

I would like to thank everyone who responds with comments.

I’m on the same journey and considered all of the same alternatives…

My Bronco is a 2D Badlands, non-sasquatch, on 35 MTs (35x11.5). I am a big fan of the Nitto Trail Grapplers in (C-load rating) and run them at low pressure. I run them on the lower side at 26 PSI cold, but most of my driving is on the dirt (but keep them there for my brief trips on road without issue). I have a 7MT and see about 18MPG mixed on average. The tire swap alone was a nice improvement over the stock tires and stock pressure recommendations. I run the same tires on my JT Gladiator Mojave and they run great there too (same size). The Mojave was my baseline comparison as it rides very well on the rough stuff we have out here. It has the factory Fox 2.5s with remote reservoirs (that have leaked/“weeped” and been replaced once all-around). The external hydraulic bump stop setup is very nice! For conditions out here, I was most interested in taming severe washboard conditions on dirt roads. Back to the Bronco, I also swapped in Sasquatch fenders to help contain the rocks/mud and it has worked very well on these “skinny” 35s. Apart from paint chips, the stock MT tires were loud and not great for the sandy washes we have.

A quick word on other comparisons. I have an F150 on stock FX4 suspension (also on Trail Grapplers) and that rides quite well on the same conditions. I’d say considerably less compliant than my Gladiator, but quite acceptable. A friend has an older 6.2 Raptor (SC Hennessy!) on stock Fox shocks, and that feels only a bit better than my F150, and not as good as the Mojave to me. I hear the current generation F150 Raptor (not the 37 package) has a magic carpet ride and that had me considering the 8100s to replicate it. That feels like an expensive experiment and I’m not willing to be a pioneer. I have read conflicting reports that suggest the 8100s may not be plush even if set appropriately for low-speed shock travel.

After the change to 35s, the HOSS 2 ESCV Bilstein units felt a bit overwhelmed where they would not with the stock 33 MTs, especially on rebound at moderate to higher speeds. I think the heavier 35s are a bit too much for them. I agree that ESCVs feels over-damped for road use and even on medium-speed dirt with washboards. Yes, they are good at higher speed — but really, only there. Too big of a compromise for me…

While I also seriously considered the 6100 and 8100 units (and dismissed the Fox for the same reason you mentioned), I went with the 5100s on stock springs. They are a relatively cheap experiment.

I’m happy with my setup (95% happy!). I set ride height to just about where the factory Sasquatch is (maybe a hair higher). I’m also sensitive to the same road conditions you described, and I’d say this is a huge improvement. I’d imagine even better on a 4D where the longer wheelbase helps some of the undulations. One friend thinks my Bronco rides better than my Mojave now, but it is a mixed bag to me. The fact that it is close is telling, however.

So, the 5100s plus my 35s on low pressure are a solid setup on my 2D Badlands. Only high-speed stuff isn‘t as good, but really not bad (or much worse than stock). I didn’t find high-speed performance of the ESCVs worth preserving, and the new setup is much better overall. This is the kind of feedback I wanted but could not find, so I hope it can help you in your journey. Please let us know if you find the magic carpet ride setup!

 

[Lak34ers]

I’m on the same journey and considered all of the same alternatives…

My Bronco is a 2D Badlands, non-sasquatch, on 35 MTs (35x11.5). I am a big fan of the Nitto Trail Grapplers in (C-load rating) and run them at low pressure. I run them on the lower side at 26 PSI cold, but most of my driving is on the dirt (but keep them there for my brief trips on road without issue). I have a 7MT and see about 18MPG mixed on average. The tire swap alone was a nice improvement over the stock tires and stock pressure recommendations. I run the same tires on my JT Gladiator Mojave and they run great there too (same size). The Mojave was my baseline comparison as it rides very well on the rough stuff we have out here. It has the factory Fox 2.5s with remote reservoirs (that have leaked/“weeped” and been replaced once all-around). The external hydraulic bump stop setup is very nice! For conditions out here, I was most interested in taming severe washboard conditions on dirt roads. Back to the Bronco, I also swapped in Sasquatch fenders to help contain the rocks/mud and it has worked very well on these “skinny” 35s. Apart from paint chips, the stock MT tires were loud and not great for the sandy washes we have.

A quick word on other comparisons. I have an F150 on stock FX4 suspension (also on Trail Grapplers) and that rides quite well on the same conditions. I’d say considerably less compliant than my Gladiator, but quite acceptable. A friend has an older 6.2 Raptor (SC Hennessy!) on stock Fox shocks, and that feels only a bit better than my F150, and not as good as the Mojave to me. I hear the current generation F150 Raptor (not the 37 package) has a magic carpet ride and that had me considering the 8100s to replicate it. That feels like an expensive experiment and I’m not willing to be a pioneer. I have read conflicting reports that suggest the 8100s may not be plush even if set appropriately for low-speed shock travel.

After the change to 35s, the HOSS 2 ESCV Bilstein units felt a bit overwhelmed where they would not with the stock 33 MTs, especially on rebound at moderate to higher speeds. I think the heavier 35s are a bit too much for them. I agree that ESCVs feels over-damped for road use and even on medium-speed dirt with washboards. Yes, they are good at higher speed — but really, only there. Too big of a compromise for me…

While I also seriously considered the 6100 and 8100 units (and dismissed the Fox for the same reason you mentioned), I went with the 5100s on stock springs. They are a relatively cheap experiment.

I’m happy with my setup (95% happy!). I set ride height to just about where the factory Sasquatch is (maybe a hair higher). I’m also sensitive to the same road conditions you described, and I’d say this is a huge improvement. I’d imagine even better on a 4D where the longer wheelbase helps some of the undulations. One friend thinks my Bronco rides better than my Mojave now, but it is a mixed bag to me. The fact that it is close is telling, however.

So, the 5100s plus my 35s on low pressure are a solid setup on my 2D Badlands. Only high-speed stuff isn‘t as good, but really not bad (or much worse than stock). I didn’t find high-speed performance of the ESCVs worth preserving, and the new setup is much better overall. This is the kind of feedback I wanted but could not find, so I hope it can help you in your journey. Please let us know if you find the magic carpet ride setup!

Went from sas 2.0 yellows to 6112s and it handles so much better and no nose dive. They do ride a little stiff and sporty. I would like something maybe a little more plush on the day to day. Waiting to see reviews on the Eibach 2.5s in 2026 before ai make any moves. 8112s look amazing but them locked into 35s max if I ever want to go bigger and not sure I would actually want to be turning knobs and adjusting them when needed. 6112s for the money, improved ride and longevity are tough to beat....maybe Eibach 2.5s???

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