HOrnbrod Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 My OME shocks are starting to clunk and am thinking about replacing them with Bilstein 5100s or similar. Can anyone provide the Bilstein model and part numbers for a nice riding set of front and rear street shocks? Any mounting problems? I have zero experience with Bilsteins. Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 B46-2126-H1 5100s with 1-2" lift rear BE3-6422-H0 standard height HD rear B46-1798-H1 standard height HD front Don't see a listing for 5100 non lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 http://cart.bilsteinus.com/search/mmid= ... vetype=4WD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted August 12, 2012 Author Share Posted August 12, 2012 http://cart.bilsteinus.com/search/mmid=42539/drivetype=4WD Thanks for the replies. I found a set of 5100s for the front and rear. The front was easy since it's the same as a lifted XJ. The rear was a bit more difficult because of the upper and lower eye mounts, but found an early 90s lifted Toyota T100 5100 shock that's the right length and a direct bolt-on for my application. Didn't want to mess with pressing out the bar pins or sleeves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 How's the ride? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted August 12, 2012 Author Share Posted August 12, 2012 Haven't got them in yet - just ordered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted August 18, 2012 Author Share Posted August 18, 2012 Got the Bilsteins on and I had forgotten the all the joys of installing new shocks w/o a lift. Those Bilsteins are hard to compress, much harder than the OMEs. The only way I could do it was to compress them on the bench first to the "at rest" distance between the mounts and tie them there with a couple of looped long tie wraps. Worked well. Anyhow, I been touting OME shocks for years, but have to say I really prefer the Bilsteins over the OMEs. Just a bit stiffer ride, but in a good way, nowhere near harsh. I love 'em. I used p/n 24-188197 (5100 series) on the front, and p/n 33-185606 (5125 series) on the rear. The travel with these is perfect for my 3" lift and I have about 1-1/2" more of down travel than the OMEs did. Also the rears came with the MJ-correct eye on each end; no need to remove sleeves or bar pins to install. And the previous clunking I had heard turned out to be a worn out rubber exhaust hanger, not the original OME shocks. Oh well, love the Bilsteins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Yeah I knew you'd like them. When I get the extra change I'll have them on mine too. I'll go with the HDs though as I have no lift. Same as I had on my Ranger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted August 19, 2012 Author Share Posted August 19, 2012 Yeah I knew you'd like them. When I get the extra change I'll have them on mine too. I'll go with the HDs though as I have no lift. Same as I had on my Ranger. Yep. Had many high mileage Benz's back in the 80's and early 90's while overseas, and about the only non-problems I had with them were the OEM Bilsteins. I had no previous experience with them on other vehicles. Mounting the rears with the rubber gaiter / shaft down as Bilstein mandates was also unique for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knever3 Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Good to hear some comparison feedback on two great products. Thanks! I still like my BDS shocks but who knows down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainman Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 this thread.. :clapping: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COFFMAN Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 this thread.. :clapping: :agree: X 2, along with the thread about what lift to use. Great info mountainman i want to play with your avitor ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepdoggydogB Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Got the Bilsteins on and I had forgotten the all the joys of installing new shocks w/o a lift. Those Bilsteins are hard to compress, much harder than the OMEs. The only way I could do it was to compress them on the bench first to the "at rest" distance between the mounts and tie them there with a couple of looped long tie wraps. Worked well. Anyhow, I been touting OME shocks for years, but have to say I really prefer the Bilsteins over the OMEs. Just a bit stiffer ride, but in a good way, nowhere near harsh. I love 'em. I used p/n 24-188197 (5100 series) on the front, and p/n 33-185606 (5125 series) on the rear. The travel with these is perfect for my 3" lift and I have about 1-1/2" more of down travel than the OMEs did. Also the rears came with the MJ-correct eye on each end; no need to remove sleeves or bar pins to install. Don,The fact that the only OME option we have now for 3 inches of lift on an MJ is the lifted XJ shock with less travel, I can tell you that my new OME XJ rears are more harsh than the old N40L ZJ shock. When it comes time to replace all four shocks I will also move to the Bilstein. :bowdown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDP Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Hey, joined the site a little while back but this is the first time posting. I'm in the market for rear shocks for a 3" lift on my Comanche and have been doing some research and came across this thread. Any way, reading through here had me looking at the bilstein 5125 series with p/n 33-185606 with extended/compressed measurements of 22.5/14.06 like you said you had bought, but upon more reading, and some measuring of my old stock shocks, it seems I'd want something more in the 15-25" range. Would the bilsteins with p/n 33-104645 or 33-185552 with rough measurements of 15-25" be a better choice? thanks for any input, its much appreciated. Also I'm not real familiar with shock valving but the 104645 is 170/60 and the 185552 is 255/70. Would one be too heavy or too light for an mj? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timeless Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Get the 255/70 valving. As for travel range, it depends on whether you want more up travel or down travel. Adjust your bump stops accordingly. For the lengths you want, the 33-186542 might fit the bill. Eshocks.com tends to have some pretty good prices and free shipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerry Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Bilstein shocks came standard on ZJs with the Up Country package in the 90's. They are usually blue with a black boot and are easy to spot because they mount "upside down". The fronts are a direct bolt in but I'm not sure about the rear ones. I've bought a couple of sets and used them on regular ZJs and prefer them over the Edelbrock Performers I have on my other ZJ. The front coils may also work well on an MJ and should give around 1" - 2" of lift and along with a firmer ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted December 26, 2014 Author Share Posted December 26, 2014 ZJ rear shocks will work fine on the rear of a small lifted MJ (up to 2.5") by pressing out the upper bar pin. I ran them for years on my MJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 got billies on both my bimmers and love them. 250k+ shocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattwheels Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 IRO, is currently having a sale on bilstein 5100's I just got 4 for 259, you'll have to email Kolak@aol.com though, but I recommend getting them before its to late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDP Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 thanks a bunch everyone, really appreciate it. I'll definitely look into getting them soon and try to catch the sale, thanks for the tip sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rohls Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Get the 255/70 valving. As for travel range, it depends on whether you want more up travel or down travel. Adjust your bump stops accordingly. For the lengths you want, the 33-186542 might fit the bill. Eshocks.com tends to have some pretty good prices and free shipping. I have a MJ with a 3" lift in the rear as well. Is the 33-185552 Bilstein a drop-in replacement? If not, what PN from Bilstein is? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 Sorry for dragging up an old thread here, but I'm sorta looking into getting these. Before I get caught in all the irrelevant details, my question is will the 24-188197 (front) and 33-185606 (rear) work at stock height? They have about 2" less compression than the stockers, which is why I'm concerned. Right now I'm at stock height, and (slowly... really slowly...) piecing together ~3" lift, and after research was thinking of going with Hornbrod's suggested. I just bought a new transmission for the Lada, so I figured I should treat the MJ before it gets jealous. (yes I know, don't mind me...). But it'll be quite a while before the lift is ready to go in, as I'm looking at pretty much complete suspension replacement, new links, springs, tires, axles/regear, everything, on a budget. But the MJ needs new shocks, so I was thinking of getting those now. But the stock shocks have a compressed length of ~13", and these new ones are ~15". Will the two inches less compression cause problems? I'd rather not mess around with bumpstops if I don't have to. The existing shocks aren't completely shot yet, so if these will be an issue, I think I'll just leave them alone until they're ready to get replaced along with everything else... I just found them at a small discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted May 8, 2016 Author Share Posted May 8, 2016 Old thread Gog. The Bilsteins started out fine, but got progressively stiffer the more I drove it. I junked the Bilsteins after about a year and a half and went back to OMEs. No more Bilsteins on my MJ for moi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 Well I guess that settles it then, I'll hold off on the shocks. :thumbsup: But I'm still curious as to whether or not it would be wise to run 15" compressed length shocks on an otherwise stock setup without figuring out bumpstops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AeroNautical Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 On 8/11/2012 at 9:48 PM, Jeep Driver said: B46-2126-H1 5100s with 1-2" lift rear BE3-6422-H0 standard height HD rear B46-1798-H1 standard height HD front Don't see a listing for 5100 non lift. Reviving this old thread yet again. I need stock length rear shocks, I've looked these part numbers up and can't for the life of me find actual extended and compressed dimensions. Is there a bilstein shock for stock rears in our MJs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now