Bilstein 5100 vs Bilstein 4600 Shock Absorber

The purpose of this blog post is to help you understand the difference between the Bilstein 5100 and 4600 shocks. We will cover what each shock does, how much they cost, who should buy them and any other important considerations that we think might affect your decision.

Bilstein 5100 vs 4600 Table

There are a number of factors that need to be considered before making a decision about which shock absorber is best for your car, including vehicle make and model, driving style, and budget.

bilstein 5100	bilstein 4600
Weighs 4.06 pounds Item	weight 3.89 pounds
Monotube, filled with pressurized gas	Monotube, gas filled shocks
Has a PSI of 220	Has a PSI of 200
Sporty and adds heights	No additional height added
Fade free, makes the handling and transition smoother	Balanced handling with very little friction
Non-replaceable spring	No spring change
Digressive valving	Digressive valving
Vulcanized neoprene rubber bushing	Vulcanized rubber bushing
Comes with protective boots	Rubber boot to protect the shaft and keep dirt
Limited lifetime warranty	Limited lifetime warranty
Check Price on Amazon	Check Price on Amazon

Why Compare

Have you ever driven a car with bad or worn-out dampers? If you did so, you already know terrible it feels. The car vibrates a lot, handling is not smooth, you tend to jump on the bumps.

All these problems are instantly eliminated by installing shock absorber. Shock absorber is placed in a vital position. It is the bridge between the suspension and the vehicle body. What we have today is two shocks made by Bilstein. Bilstein being a frontrunner in the shock absorber industry have always been known for their quality. And having been providing quality products for over 60 years now, they are also trusted across the world.

The comparison is necessary because it is very easy to get confused. Not all vehicle owners have prior knowledge about the products too. So, we took the liberty to compare them by every small detail we could find. After reading this, you’ll have firm knowledge about the products.

Shock Absorber – Technical Overview

The main difference between Bilstein 5100 and 4600 Shock Absorber is that 4600 Series uses a mono tube design, while the 5100 Series is a twin-tube shock absorber. The Bilstein 4600 5100 shocks can be paired with Eibach Pro kits for improved handling and performance.

The biggest difference between the 2 types of shocks is the height. If you have a truck with a higher bed, then you should buy 4600 shocks. If you have a truck that is high off the ground, then 5100 shocks are what you want.

The Bilstein 4600 shock absorber uses a mono tube design. It is made of high tensile strength steel, zinc plated and finished with a durable epoxy powder coat to resist corrosion.

The Bilstein 5100 shock absorber uses an internal floating piston (IFP) technology for enhanced damping control. The 4600 Series does not have this technology. It is manufactured with an advanced steel alloy, the 5100 Series is zinc plated then finished with a durable epoxy powder coat to resist corrosion.

The 4600 Series will typically feature shock absorbers that are pre-set for optimum road handling when paired with lowering springs. The 5100 Series comes in various damping force settings, allowing you to adjust the shock absorber for your desired level of performance.

Type

There’s plenty of options for dampers. You can easily find over hundreds of after market shocks. They vary in size, compatibility, type and many more. Of them, type is a core concern as it decides how your chosen damper will operate.
Mono tube, twin tube, strut based, telescopic, tri tube and more, options are many. You have to settle with one that suits your vehicle the most.

Generally, we see the mono tube a lot. It has the perfect balance of technology and specification. Both of these shock absorbers by Bilstein are mono tube. Mono tube is very simple in action. It is somewhat like a pump. With a free-flowing piston inside, it absorbs impact and pumps it out as heat energy. This activity might seem simple at first but requires tough built quality. And as per the buyers, both 4600 and 5100 comes with the genuine power.

Function

Function wise, Bilstein tops yet again. Well, there’s hardly any surprise as they company has dedicated R&D team to better their functionality and they seem tireless.

Looking at the table, it is established fact that they dampers are extra ordinary in pen and paper. What will amaze you is that the company didn’t settle for spec sheet brilliance, they went on to test it on road. The company have put equal amount of concentration in safety, driving comfort, breaking and handling. Engineers have stated the Bilstein shocks as synonymous to legendary driving experience. Another fact that proves they are loftier is all of your shocks are OEM quality, including these two.

Built Material

Bilstein maintains a strict control over the materials they use for their shocks. They only settle for the best.
Both of these shocks are created out of top-class ingredients. We failed to find out any compromise done here. The dampers have a huge 46mm piston made out of steel with a zinc coating. Bilstein was the first company that came out with the idea of pressurized gas technology. So, no doubt they would be the best in that class.

Bilstein dampers have patented digressive valving with vulcanized rubber bushing. To ensure that the don’t lack in quality they only manufacture in Germany or USA. These shocks fits easily and they are crafted by most skillful makers in the industry. Either on or off roads, with this quality in hand, you are good to go.

Lifespan

We’ve stated this in our previous articles that the shocks are so well built, they easily last for 50,000 on an average. These two are no different. They last at least 5 years or 50,000 miles on average. With good roads and sensible driving, you can cross 60,000 miles too. You have to care for what you are driving as it involves you along with your loved ones.

Suitable Vehicle

The 4600 series is a very balanced damper. It accommodates SUVs, Jeeps and light truck. Al though it is good to go for both on and off road, it is mostly used on road by the vehicle users, it has tremendous weight lifting capacity.

5100 series is rather extreme. It goes off road and on road in extreme of weathers. It adds height to your car, gives it a more lifted look. This shock is the perfect shock for lifted trucks and SUVs.

Price

Price is an important segment when choosing shock absorber as it varies from person to person. Shocks are found in rather wide range. This is why you need to fix the amount of money you want to spend in your shock investment.

The 5100 series being an advanced version is priced higher compared to the 4600. But that won’t be such a deciding fact as you have to work out compatibility first.

Summery

Any investment should be well researched because it involves your money. Reading this article will give you a clear picture of sheer greatness of these two shocks and why you should choose this.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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