SilverSurfer5300
TYF Newbie
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2024
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I installed Bilstein 6112s back in May of '24 and set the collar to setting 3 to level the front with the factory rear shocks (pics and brief install writeup in the "What did you do to your NNBS GMT900 Tahoe/Yukon Today?" thread, page 2366). I've put just over 20,000 miles on them at this point and I thought a review of their performance so far might be appreciated.
*Edit for clarity: While these are marketed as extreme performance off-road coilovers, this review is exclusively of their on-pavement performance. There are ample reviews of their off-road performance on the Tacoma and Tundra forums where this coilover is extremely popular for those applications.
The first 3000 miles were extremely stiff (stiffer than the Bilstein 4600s I had on my '98 Ram 4x4), but somehow they were not unpleasant. Body roll was completely eliminated -even during simulated emergency lane change maneuvers from 30 to 50 mph. I was initially concerned that perhaps I had chosen far too stiff of a shock as there seemed to be almost no compression happening during cornering. Steering response felt more like a sports car than a truck -crisp, precise, technical. Yet surprisingly, given the stiffness, both big and small bumps at speed were absorbed better than anything I've ever felt. At lower speeds however, every pebble and crack in the pavement was felt.
Between 3000 and 5000 miles, there was a noticeable change in the feel of the overall damping, with everything becoming "softer," in what I now attribute to a break-in period. Body roll began to increase through long sweepers and fast lane changes, but still far less body roll than with factory shocks (or the Bilstein 4600s on my Ram). Damping of big and small bumps at speed remained outstanding. At low speed, it began to transmit less and less of the "every crack and pebble" feel and seemed to be becoming more refined. I was initially concerned that at this rate of change, they might wear out prematurely.
Between 5000 and 10,000 miles, the general softening/refining trend continued, but far more gradually than from 3000 to 5000, and with much less overall change than from 3000 to 5000 (at 10,000, they were only very slightly softer than at 5000). Road handling, cornering, body roll, bump handling were all still significantly better than any truck/suv suspension I've experienced.
Between 10,000 and 20,000 miles, there has been no perceptible change to the performance or feel of the shocks. It seems the break-in period for these 6112s was from 3000 to 10,000 miles. The Tahoe is still perfectly-leveled, handling is still outstanding, and comfort is as good or better than factory shocks.
If anyone is on the fence between Bilstein 4600/5100s or 6112s, I can heartily recommend the 6112s.
*Edit for clarity: While these are marketed as extreme performance off-road coilovers, this review is exclusively of their on-pavement performance. There are ample reviews of their off-road performance on the Tacoma and Tundra forums where this coilover is extremely popular for those applications.
The first 3000 miles were extremely stiff (stiffer than the Bilstein 4600s I had on my '98 Ram 4x4), but somehow they were not unpleasant. Body roll was completely eliminated -even during simulated emergency lane change maneuvers from 30 to 50 mph. I was initially concerned that perhaps I had chosen far too stiff of a shock as there seemed to be almost no compression happening during cornering. Steering response felt more like a sports car than a truck -crisp, precise, technical. Yet surprisingly, given the stiffness, both big and small bumps at speed were absorbed better than anything I've ever felt. At lower speeds however, every pebble and crack in the pavement was felt.
Between 3000 and 5000 miles, there was a noticeable change in the feel of the overall damping, with everything becoming "softer," in what I now attribute to a break-in period. Body roll began to increase through long sweepers and fast lane changes, but still far less body roll than with factory shocks (or the Bilstein 4600s on my Ram). Damping of big and small bumps at speed remained outstanding. At low speed, it began to transmit less and less of the "every crack and pebble" feel and seemed to be becoming more refined. I was initially concerned that at this rate of change, they might wear out prematurely.
Between 5000 and 10,000 miles, the general softening/refining trend continued, but far more gradually than from 3000 to 5000, and with much less overall change than from 3000 to 5000 (at 10,000, they were only very slightly softer than at 5000). Road handling, cornering, body roll, bump handling were all still significantly better than any truck/suv suspension I've experienced.
Between 10,000 and 20,000 miles, there has been no perceptible change to the performance or feel of the shocks. It seems the break-in period for these 6112s was from 3000 to 10,000 miles. The Tahoe is still perfectly-leveled, handling is still outstanding, and comfort is as good or better than factory shocks.
If anyone is on the fence between Bilstein 4600/5100s or 6112s, I can heartily recommend the 6112s.
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