Which Bilstein 5100s for OME light duty springs?

[clunker]

I am piecing together a lift for my 02 Wrangler X 4.0L 5-speed. I've decided on the OME Light Duty Springs (932 Front / 941 Rear) and will pair them with Bilstein 5100 shocks. To address the inevitable question that will come, the reason i'm not going with OME shocks is purely aesthetic, I don't want yellow shocks.

The question is on the rears - the Bilstein 5100 rears are available in a 0-2" lift or 3" lift option. I assume a longer shock body on the latter.
The OME rear Light duty springs are advertised as a 2-2.5" lift and they are physically a bit taller then the heavy duty springs. I will not run the heavy duty springs as I am running stock bumpers and complete spare tire and carrier delete.

So, should I order the Bilsteins for 3" lift or the 0-2", to pair with the 2-2.5" lift OME rear springs?

 

[rjinaz86323]

Not saying this is the norm, but my Jeep had 5100s F&R. The rears blew out. Called Bilstien and was informed, yes, they are warranteed, but would take up to 90 days to get replacements. Installed a pair of Rancho 9000s (which were immediately available. Will replace the fronts with Ranchos when the current 5100 show the first sign of issues.

 

[AndyG]

None... They ride too harsh. basically Rancho is your best deal for the money until you start getting into the really high end or outboarding the shocks

I gave away a nearly new set.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I hope you chose the 5100 shocks because you like a more jittery/stiff ride. If you didn't choose them for that reason I'd go with something else. One moderately priced shock that is very popular and has a very good ride with great offroad control is the newish gas-charged Rancho RS5000x. I installed a set onto my TJ several years ago after wearing out a set of OME Nitrochargers I loved expecting to be disappointed after having been spoiled by the Nitrochargers. Nope, I literally couldn't tell the difference... the RS5000x was that good. Don't confuse the RS5000x for the older very harsh/stiff riding hydraulic RS5000 shock.

 

[AndyG]

I hope you chose the 5100 shocks because you like a more jittery/stiff ride. If you didn't choose them for that reason I'd go with something else. One moderately priced shock that is very popular and has a very good ride with great offroad control is the newish gas-charged Rancho RS5000x. I installed a set onto my TJ several years ago after wearing out a set of OME Nitrochargers I loved expecting to be disappointed after having been spoiled by the Nitrochargers. Nope, I literally couldn't tell the difference... the RS5000x was that good. Don't confuse the RS5000x for the older very harsh/stiff riding hydraulic RS5000 shock.

These and C range tires with 26 to 28 PSI create the perfect foundation for a good ride and good handling.

 

[clunker]

How about the Rancho RS7000MT then? Aesthetics matter and Im not keen on the Red/Silver Rancho RS9000XL series.

Edit: This is not a daily driver. Im not saying comfort doesnt matter, but Im going for a certain look and the red/silver/white/yellow doesnt work on my silverstone wrangler.

 

[CodaMan]

How about the Rancho RS7000MT then?

Way too stiff. Go with either the 5000X or the 9000. If you don't like the color, paint them like many members here do.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

How about the Rancho RS7000MT then? Aesthetics matter and Im not keen on the Red/Silver Rancho RS9000XL series.

Edit: This is not a daily driver. Im not saying comfort doesnt matter, but Im going for a certain look and the red/silver/white/yellow doesnt work on my silverstone wrangler.

Rattle can paint. 30 seconds per shock.

 

[txisboi]

How about the Rancho RS7000MT then? Aesthetics matter and Im not keen on the Red/Silver Rancho RS9000XL series.

Edit: This is not a daily driver. Im not saying comfort doesnt matter, but Im going for a certain look and the red/silver/white/yellow doesnt work on my silverstone wrangler.

If color is the issue, paint them.

 

[Moab]

Get ranchos and paint them. Dont ignore all this advice. Read the forums. Literally hundreds have switched to Ranchos with best results. There is no comparison.

 

[scottgraham]

Rattle can.
Ranchos are prone to premature rust anyway. If I were to have kept mine white, I would still have painted them white (that's prb why they don't put the stickers on them from the factory ) .
I color matched my wheels and put like ten coats of clear on them. You can buy boots any color you like pretty cheap on amazon/ fleabay.

 

[AndyG]

Let me make sure I'm getting this straight.... Picking shocks based on color. Ok.

 

[AndyG]

Let me make sure I'm getting this straight.... Picking shocks based on color. Ok.

This reminds me of a story about Moses...

Okay Lord so you want us to give the land that has the oil to the Arabs.....and you want us to cut the skin off the end of our what????

 

[Moab]

Let me make sure I'm getting this straight.... Picking shocks based on color. Ok.

LMAO! I know. I thought the same thing. And then i thought "if colors that important to you. You must know how to paint things the colors that you want?!!! Right?!".

I kinda don't think so. Lol.

 

[AndyG]

LMAO! I know. I thought the same thing. And then i thought "if colors that important to you. You must know how to paint things the colors that you want?!!! Right?!".

I kinda don't think so. Lol.

I've obviously been waaaay off base on my criteria for suspension decisions.

 

[clunker]

I appreciate the criticism. I guess I'll go with the shorter of the two.

 

[707kevin]

I've obviously been waaaay off base on my criteria for suspension decisions.

I don't like Chrome - what paint works best on the shock rod??? Tired of all that shiny silver!

 

[CodaMan]

So, should I order the Bilsteins for 3" lift or the 0-2", to pair with the 2-2.5" lift OME rear springs?

Every Jeep and every suspension is quite different. Until you cycle the suspension you just can't know.

 

[Ephry73]

I don't know. I know the popular vote is with the Ranchos, but I kind of really like and enjoy the 5100s on the TJ. Not too stiff and provide just the right amount of damping for the semi off-road conditions in Westchester county NY roads(they are horrible for stiff suspension lowered cars for example and uneven pavement everywhere as well as potholes and the like) OME springs as well.

 

[Zorba]

I don't know. I know the popular vote is with the Ranchos, but I kind of really like and enjoy the 5100s on the TJ. Not too stiff and provide just the right amount of damping for the semi off-road conditions in Westchester county NY roads(they are horrible for stiff suspension lowered cars for example and uneven pavement everywhere as well as potholes and the like) OME springs as well.

I'm with you - I just don't know. I have Bilsteins on my Mercedes, and prefer a firmer ride. How that translates to a Jeep is unknown - they're very different vehicles. Guys here would have you air down to 26-28 PSI with stock tires because anything more is "jittery" - they talked me into airing down from 40 to 32 and how much "better" the ride would be - I noticed zero difference (which wouldn't have been the case on the Mercedes) but kept it at 32 because the (stock) tire fits on the spare carrier better. Because Mercedes recommends lower tire pressures on American market cars because Americans like softer rides, I'm suspicious of the whole "jittery" rep Bilsteins have here. I run the Mercedes (and my wife's Fiat) at European tire pressures and it rides and handles MUCH better - but again, I don't know how this whole discussion translates to a Jeep and the whole Rancho vs. Bilstein discussion. I gotta make a decision in the next few months one way or another. What I haven't heard one way or another is how the Bilsteins handle off road, only the "jittery" comment about on-road which I'm inclined to put down to American luxo-barge float boat ride preferences. *shrug* If they're jouncy off road, that's an entirely different discussion and would push me towards the Ranchos.