Pick the lowest height that levels your stance, install 5100s at all four corners, align, and verify headlight aim. Set tire pressures for load and validate on a short road test. Buy the matched kit at Shockwarehouse.
Start with what you want the truck to do. If your goal is a tidy level and stronger control without giving up comfort, the Bilstein 5100 Series is the right lane. The key is to select height conservatively, install a matched set, and finish with alignment and simple checks so the result feels consistent every day.
Begin by measuring hub-to-fender at each corner on level ground. Most trucks sit nose-down from the factory by one to three inches. Choose the lowest 5100 clip position that reduces rake while preserving bump travel. If the rear is two inches higher than the front, a setting that nets about one to one and a half inches is usually ideal. Leaving a little forward rake helps once you add passengers, tools, or a small trailer.
Install the 5100s at all four corners whenever possible. A mixed setup delays the payoff because the truck still reacts with two different languages. With a matched set, the front stops pitching you into brake zones and the rear quits wagging after dips. The body moves once and settles, which is exactly what you want on windy bridges and crowned highways.
Finish the job the right way. Torque rubber-bushed hardware at ride height so bushings sit neutral and stay quiet. Book a four-wheel alignment to center the steering wheel and protect tires. Verify headlight aim that evening since the front is now higher. Set tire pressures cold in the morning shade based on your load. If you tow, save a second pressure target for trip days so the stance and steering feel are repeatable.
Validate your choices with a simple loop. Drive one rough section, a steady on-ramp, and a mile of highway. You are looking for one motion after bumps, a tidy arc through the ramp with fewer mid-corner corrections, and a wheel that rests near center at cruise. If the front feels too high or tops out on sharp speed tables, drop one groove and retest. If the tail still feels loose with cargo, confirm pressures and consider a small increase at the rear tires before you change hardware.
The 5100 is a great fit for daily-driven trucks and SUVs with light accessories, modest towing, and occasional dirt. It adds the control you feel immediately without making school runs harsh. Owners who run heavy armor or chase aggressive trails may eventually step to larger-body fronts and matching rears, but for most drivers the 5100 strikes the balance that lasts.
When it is time to buy, the details matter. Two trims of the same model can use different part numbers. That is where we make it easy. Shockwarehouse will match Bilstein 5100 shocks to your exact year, drivetrain, and package, then share height guidance and setup tips so your first drive proves you made the right call.
Closing
Level it, calm it, and keep it comfortable with Bilstein 5100. Shop Shockwarehouse for the correctly matched kit and friendly setup advice that turns the very first mile into a win.