Bilstein Front Suspension Kits and Rear Reservoir Shocks: Engineered to Improve Your Truck’s Ride and Handling

Bilstein’s B8 6112 Series Front Suspension Kits and B8 5160 Series Rear Reservoir Shocks are engineered to work together. Bolt them on your truck or SUV and you’ll enjoy better handling and a more comfortable ride both on- and off-road.

One question Bilstein engineers get is why the B8 5160 rear shocks have a smaller bore size than the shocks in the Front Suspension Kits. After all, bigger is better, right?

Like other things automotive (we’re looking at you, camshafts), bigger doesn’t mean better performance—it’s tuning for the specific application that matters. For example, Bilstein’s B8 6112 high pressure gas-charged monotube shocks in the coilover kits have a 60mm (2.36 inch) piston and an 18mm piston rod. The B8 5160 reservoir shocks are also a gas-charged monotube design, but have a smaller 46mm (1.81 inch) piston and a 14mm piston rod.

That sounds like a big mismatch until you understand Bilstein’s engineering. Since the front end of the truck has a lot more weight and requires a stiffer spring, you need more damping force to control the suspension. The B8 6112 shock’s combination of a bigger piston/piston rod, application-specific valving, and high pressure gas provides more consistent damping force without fading or overheating.

Thanks to the external reservoir, Bilstein could fit a piston and rod in the B8 5160 rear shock that is large enough to provide consistent damping force and more usable wheel travel. The combination provides a more stable, controlled, and comfortable ride off- and on-road.

There is a lot more to the science and engineering behind Bilstein’s suspension kits and shocks. If you have access to Spotify and want to learn more, check out this Shock Talk podcast. In the meantime, here’s a closer look at the parts.

B8 6112 Front Suspension Kits
Available for many 1996 and later trucks and SUVs that use a front coilover suspension, these kits can be adjusted to level the front suspension or raise it for increased ground clearance and/or fit larger tires. Features include:
• Shocks provide consistent, fade-free performance in all conditions
• Cold wound linear springs tuned for the specific application to better absorb road impacts over bumps and dips
• Hard anodized, billet aluminum adjustable spring seats to tailor ride heights between 0 and 3.7 inches
• Mounts in the factory location using the OEM top mount and spring isolators
• Installation hardware included

B8 5160 Series Rear Reservoir Shocks
Bilstein’s B8 5160 Series shocks are a direct-fit replacement for your truck’s factory shocks. They have a remote-mount reservoir that dramatically increases shock oil capacity for excellent heat dissipation and damping sensitivity. A floating dividing piston in the reservoir also provides increased wheel travel and more shaft movement.

The nitrogen gas-charged monotube shocks have a tuned valving system for serious off-road performance and control. The B8 5160 Series shocks have 360 degree swivel banjo hose fittings on the reservoir hose so you can position the reservoir for a clean, low-profile installation. A reservoir mount clamp is also included.

CHECK OUT BILSTEIN’S B8 6112 SERIES FRONT SUSPENSION KITS AND B8 5160 SERIES RESERVOIR SHOCKS AT SUMMIT RACING