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In today's world of off-road performance, suitable shock absorbers are as abundant as ice cream. Choose your color and you can find a fan base, which is the best for whatever reason. In a modern technological environment, defining vehicle usage and off-road use will help narrow down the most suitable shock absorption products that are most suitable for specific off-road applications or required performance. Taking the Bilstein off-road shock absorber as an example, we can see a rich variety of products covering all corners.

It is a good thing to have multiple choices. Having multiple specialized products from multiple manufacturers is a great thing. In this article, we will study several specific shock categories and how ordinary customers determine which shocks are suitable for their needs and applications.

In the off-road performance catalog, Bilstein lists at least 14 different series, divided into eight different categories, all of which are dedicated solutions for specific performance or functional levels. If the customer is not sure where to start, we recommend using the company's year/brand/model search. This will help when trying to source vehicle-specific parts. For custom applications, you can also find an extensive off-road catalog that can be downloaded. 

From the classic blue and yellow B6 4600 single-tube shock absorber to the top 9200 racing series performance shock absorber, Bilstein has the perfect product for every application. This includes OEM replacement, lifting and leveling, performance and motorsport equipment. The lineup now also includes B8 control arms, which are designed and configured as bolted vehicle-specific upgrades to improve off-road reliability. 

Before we delve into the Bilstein product line, we should take a quick look at some technical descriptions, different shock-absorbing components and OEM-certified shock-absorbing mounts. Bilstein measures the impact by the diameter of the piston. The industry standard measurement for off-road impact specifies the outer diameter of the impact body. For example, to clarify, piston diameters of 46 mm, 60 mm, and 70 mm will be equal to the outer shock absorber bodies of 2.0 inches, 2.65 inches, and 3.0 inches, respectively.

The surface area of ​​Bilstein's patented single-tube piston is 228% larger than the average traditional OEM double-tube on most factory-equipped shock absorbers. The single tube design has excellent tube strength, better heat dissipation and longer shock-absorbing life, while providing higher sensitivity and excellent vehicle control. 

Bilstein's single-tube shock absorber contains an integrated aluminum rod rail and seal. This prevents dust from entering while maintaining an almost frictionless surface, thereby extending the shock life. The hardened chrome-plated piston rod is super-finished and is known for its peak-to-valley smoothness of only 0.0002 mm. The self-adjusting progressive piston can immediately react to any road conditions, providing maximum motion control and comfort. The cherry on the cake is a floating piston that separates the high-pressure nitrogen from the hydraulic oil column. This design prevents oil aeration (foaming), maintains viscosity, and maintains complete damping characteristics.

Bilstein's direct installation and replacement application is designed to use designated OEM certified shock mounts. This eliminates the need for custom manufacturing and makes everything fixed like an OEM alternative. All direct-fitting Bilstein shock absorbers have extremely durable and long-lasting OEM quality materials and hardware. This includes; vulcanized neoprene bushings, ring brackets, crossbar brackets and large ring brackets. You can use Bilstein's year/make/model lookup to determine the directly suitable shock absorber for your vehicle.

One thing to note is that just making impact upgrades or replacements does not mean that your vehicle is ready to wreak havoc on the Baja Peninsula, and it certainly cannot withstand any form of monster truck or truck jump. If you think that any aftermarket shock can do this, please continue to lock your key in the refrigerator and continue reading. Now, introduce the different Bilstein off-road product categories.

These classic shock absorbers are perfect for direct replacement options and are designed for stock ride height applications. The air shock absorber is a bolt-on upgrade that improves consistent non-fading performance and comfort under all conditions. The 46 mm single tube design has a digressive piston and is equipped with OE quality hardware. Bilstein sells B6 4600 series shock absorbers with a limited lifetime warranty.

The 5100 series covers a wide range of products, focusing on lifting, leveling and vehicle specific applications. All 5100 series shock absorbers are galvanized to provide additional resistance to harsh environments and are always ready to handle the additional requirements of loading or unloading that may be required to lift the vehicle. The baseline 5100 shock absorber supports an increase in ride height from 0.5 inches to 6 inches.

The B6 5100 adjustable ride height shock absorber is a practical alternative to spiral spring washers, with the added advantage of single tube technology. These shock absorbers also provide greater suspension travel, can be adjusted to increase the ride height to 2.8 inches, and will utilize OEM front coil springs and mounting hardware. 

Bilstein's B8 5112 and 5162 products are bundled into a vehicle-specific kit system. These kits are designed to increase the ride height from 2 inches to 2.3 inches, provide greater ground clearance, increased wheel travel, and allow the use of tires up to 33 inches in size. B8 5112 and 5162 products can be installed at the factory location without modification, providing smooth and stable driving on and off roads.

Very similar to other products in the B8 5100 series, Bilstein's B8 5160 has the same galvanized high-performance single-tube shock absorber, but adds a remote reservoir. The increased oil capacity effectively dissipates heat faster and ensures long-term durability. Ride height increase options range from 0.5 inches to 6 inches, and there are multiple remote reservoir installation options.

The 5125 and 5165 (remote fuel tank) shock absorbers are similar to the 5100 and 5160 (remote fuel tank), but with a higher package, the shock absorber stroke can be increased from 4.5 inches to 14.3 inches. These are custom-installed applications that can be used for pole-to-eye and eye-to-eye installation configurations, and can be rebuilt at the factory.

Upgrading it to the 6112 series is where serious off-road vehicles should start. All other shock absorbers listed previously use 46mm shock absorber bodies. These 6112 shock absorbers use large-diameter 60 mm progressive pistons to improve ride comfort and enhance damping control over rough terrain. The integrated adjustable steel billet hard anodized spring seat and the attached spring support 0 to 2.9 inches of lift. OEM top mounts and isolators are designed for use with new trucks and SUVs that use shock-absorbing suspensions to provide trouble-free operation. They are sold in pairs with everything needed to complete the exchange.

These 7100 products are the old-school heroes of off-road racing with a 0.5-inch large Heim joint bracket. M 7100 and 7100 classic are available in a variety of lengths and valves, with or without reservoir, as a shock absorber configuration or standard shock absorber, M 7100 and 7100 classic are very suitable to meet the needs of motor sports and off-road recreational vehicles. The M 7100 shock absorber (8 inches to 14 inches stroke) can be completely rebuilt by the owner, while the 7100 classic (5 inches to 10 inches stroke) can be repaired at the factory. These are ideal for Volkswagen's specific off-road applications.

So far, the 8100 product is easily distinguished from all other shocks. All parts are processed from blanks and are designed for competition-level performance. The 8100 shock absorber can be used as a smooth body, double-pipe bypass and shock (B8 8125) configuration. Each shock absorber has an external 60 mm remote reservoir connected by a #-8 high temperature hose. These big boys are rebuildable by the owner, come with a two-year limited warranty, and run heavy-duty 18mm piston rods to provide additional tensile strength and smoother driving. The sleek body and bypass 8100 shock absorber are designed for direct mounting, easy to install the vulcanized rubber mount, and provide unheard of bolt fixing performance.

It should be noted that the dual-tube external bypass provides position-sensitive damping, with independent adjustment of rebound and compression. This allows incremental changes in the damping force for precise adjustment. In addition, Bump Zone eliminates the need for hydraulic collision pedaling by increasing bottoming control during the compression stroke. The shock travel of the 8125 ranges from 5 inches to 16 inches. There are 46 mm or 60 mm single tubes to choose from, and it is configured as a coil spring with 2.5 inches and 3.0 inches inner diameter.

These new puppies combine all the required off-road performance provided by the 8100 and 8125 series shock absorbers and combine them into a compact small single-coil direct mount suspension kit package. Through the three-piston design, position-sensitive damping is achieved through compression and rebound. To break this, there are three different compression zones and two rebound zones, controlled by three independent pistons. Bilstein B8 8112's fully evolved impact technology provides efficient and super-utilized area control through impact motion.

This vehicle-specific design optimizes wheel travel, provides comfort in daily driving conditions, and achieves maximum control when pushing large suspension inputs. This is the dream setting for everyday drivers of off-road vehicles. Very similar to the 6112 little brother, the 8112 system is designed for new trucks and SUVs that use shock-absorbing suspension through OEM top brackets and isolators. The 8112 shock absorber is provided as a complete kit. The spring is preloaded to the ride height recommended by the factory and can be adjusted from 0.6 inch to 3.5 inch lift.

The 9200 bypass (8 inches to 18 inches of travel) and shock absorbers (8 inches to 16 inches of travel) are specially developed for professional off-road racing competitions. These shocks act on a 22 mm hardened piston rod. All components are made of aviation-grade materials and designed according to the strictest tolerances. According to racing applications and needs, the 9200 shock absorber is available in a variety of lengths and valves, suitable for a variety of custom racing applications. The three-tube and four-tube bypass shock absorbers are 60 mm or 70 mm in size and can be ordered with remote or knapsack storage tanks. The shock absorber can be used as a 46mm or 60mm piston diameter configuration and accepts a 2.0 inch or 2.65 inch outer body diameter shock absorber spring. For ultra-high performance applications, Bilstein recommends upgrading the 60 mm remote reservoir with an anti-cavitation valve designed to almost eliminate potential shock attenuation.

Bilstein's thick-walled single-tube crash block uses a 1.25-inch hardened chrome shaft and is available in stroke lengths of 2, 3, and 4 inches. These adjustable nitrogen pressures are equipped with extremely durable Delrin® pads. The outer diameter of the anti-collision block is 2 inches, which is suitable for general frame bracket accessories.

As Bilstein continues to develop and expand its off-road product line, the company pays special attention to the development of discovered kits. Part of the expansion is to include the manufactured upper control arm (UCA). Off Road Xtreme recently ran a feature on Bilstein's B8 control arm, but the product line continues to grow. These 4130 chrome steel Bilstein UCAs are designed to correct the suspension geometry and increase the usable suspension travel of crane trucks and SUVs. They are CAD designed and an increased caster angle has been implemented. The improved ball joint cup allows 1 inch of travel to be added to the inventory. Bilstein B8 UCA uses polyurethane or Delrin® bushings and heavy-duty OEM quality sealed ball joints, an advanced upgrade that cannot be ignored.

Bilstein Shocks Absorbers is not the only player in the game. With the development and development of the off-road industry, we have seen multiple shock absorber manufacturers begin to play a role. Like Bilstein, major manufacturers and manufacturers of premium shock absorbers are also supporting vehicle-specific products that are directly installed. In general, certain vehicles are more inclined to gain the interest and support of the aftermarket industry. Off Road Xtreme recommends carefully researching the vehicle before purchasing to determine its off-road feasibility and available aftermarket upgrades. 

Finally, performance and reliability are what most off-road enthusiasts seek. We can admit that any company with 50 years of history and praise in the field of off-road motorsports is a success. We can believe that this will cross over with their current products, which are closely connected to our modern vehicles.   

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