ORP OEM Bilstein Suspension vs. Aftermarket Bilstein Shocks

[sscarter]

Apologies if I missed a discussion of this topic, but a quick search didn't find any threads that were pertinent:

Q. What is the difference, if any, between the OEM Bilsteins that come on the ORP and the aftermarket Bilstein 6112/6100 shocks?

Sponsored

 

[Joe Dirt]

Well the red ones that come on the off-road premium are actually Toyota designed built by Bilstein.

I personally feel they're an upgrade to the SR5 shocks. 6112 kit is a superior upgrade to these red ones.

The differences are night and day in the valving as well as the coil that is supplied with the kit.
I run Bilstein on all my 4Runners going back 30 years. They just last.

 

[sscarter]

Well the red ones that come on the off-road premium are actually Toyota designed built by Bilstein.

I personally feel they're an upgrade to the SR5 shocks. 6112 kit is a superior upgrade to these red ones.

The differences are night and day in the valving as well as the coil that is supplied with the kit.
I run Bilstein on all my 4Runners going back 30 years. They just last.

Mike, thanks for weighing in. Good to know that the 6112 kit is an upgrade. I've been running Bilsteins on my 2019 ORP for about 180K miles and have found them excellent. Only problem was a broken spring on a front strut, which required replacement of the pair (not under warranty, sadly).

I'm laying plans for a 6th Gen ORP in a few months, and am deciding on suspension upgrade. Haven't yet decided between Bilsteins and OME MT64. While I've been happy with the Bilsteins, the OMEs sound like a step up in damping and handling. In case I decide for the Bilsteins, I didn't want to spend money on an "upgrade" that was not that different than the OEM Bilsteins.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Mike, thanks for weighing in. Good to know that the 6112 kit is an upgrade. I've been running Bilsteins on my 2019 ORP for about 180K miles and have found them excellent. Only problem was a broken spring on a front strut, which required replacement of the pair (not under warranty, sadly).

I'm laying plans for a 6th Gen ORP in a few months, and am deciding on suspension upgrade. Haven't yet decided between Bilsteins and OME MT64. While I've been happy with the Bilsteins, the OMEs sound like a step up in damping and handling. In case I decide for the Bilsteins, I didn't want to spend money on an "upgrade" that was not that different than the OEM Bilsteins.

I don't have much experience with the ome brand other than years ago friends would switch out their coils to that brand and they rode like a box of rocks.
But these new configurations for the trail Hunters OME setup have probably been tested well.


I know Bilstein ran an R&D for quite
Some time on the 6112 kit before being released much longer than any of the other vendors.

I'm running the Alldogs 2 in coil kit and utilize the factory red bilsteins that came on my orp.

But, I will go with the 6112 kit when the time comes.
I guess
I just kind of stick with what I know.
I'm not crazy about Surprises when it comes to a lot of work changing out suspension parts.
Anyway, just my two cents, good luck.

 

[Turbo8]

Oem bilstiens have:
2" body
Fixed spring perch
14mm shock shaft
Piggy back reservoirs (don't really do anything)

6112 bistiens have:
2.65" body
Adjustable spring perch
18mm shock shaft

The 6112 shocks hold far more oil, preventing shock fade and aeration during extended desert or washboard runs where the ORP OEM shocks heat up fast and lose damping.

The 6112's adjustable snap-ring perches allow you to dial in front ride hieght, compensate for sag, or offset heavier front accessories/skids. ORP OEM shocks are fixed unless you buy and install preload collars.

The MT64 are even heavier duty the the 6112s.

2.85" body
Adjustable spring perch
22.5mm shock shaft

 

[sscarter]

Oem bilstiens have:
2" body
Fixed spring perch
14mm shock shaft
Piggy back reservoirs (don't really do anything)

6112 bistiens have:
2.65" body
Adjustable spring perch
18mm shock shaft

The 6112 shocks hold far more oil, preventing shock fade and aeration during extended desert or washboard runs where the ORP OEM shocks heat up fast and lose damping.

The 6112's adjustable snap-ring perches allow you to dial in front ride hieght, compensate for sag, or offset heavier front accessories/skids. ORP OEM shocks are fixed unless you buy and install preload collars.

The MT64 are even heavier duty the the 6112s.

2.85" body
Adjustable spring perch
22.5mm shock shaft

Thanks much! I love having data to help with any decision. The 6112s are a big step up (32.5% larger body diameter) while the MT64s are a smaller incremental step up from 6112s (7.5% larger body diameter).

Now I just have to decide whether I "need" the MT64s vs. Bilsteins. After I described my typical driving to a Mudify salesperson, he recommended MT64s, but he does have an incentive to sell the more expensive item so I still have a question mark for this decision.

 

[Turbo8]

6112 also have ~1/2" more droop travel which shouldn't cause issues. The MT64s have ~1-1/2" more droop, which causes the springs to hit the oem upper arms at droop.

 

[clk55r1d3h]

I’ve heard the mt64s have a real plush ride which for me would be my go to. Fox 2.0 are also very comfortable, but not the best performance wise. Although, still better than the stock ORP. Bilsteins last a long time and have good performance.

 

[porkyfly]

Warning: the MT64 lifts the front by a minimum of 1.75". So if you want to remain stock height don't go for those.

They are the gold standard for both ride quality and capability though.

 

[sscarter]

I'm still ambivalent about doing more than leveling the front. I guess 1.75" is a bit too much to just level the front on Gen6? I think my Bilsteins lifted the front of my Gen5 about 1.25" to level.

I'm ambivalent about overall lift because I rarely drive anywhere I can't go with stock height (except front lift to level). In the few cases where I've been afraid to tackle a "road" due to height issues, I've been able to hike in to the destination where I want to photograph.

I like the idea of having more flexibility to go places where a lift would help, but I worry about possible complications from lifting, in terms of component wear or lower fuel mileage.

I'm not planning to install oversize tires -- I'll stick with stock tire diameter by downsizing wheels and installing taller tires to match original diameter. So I don't need more lift for big tires.

Since I rarely need more height, I don't want to lower fuel mileage, increase cabin noise, or increase component wear by lifting more than I really need.

How real are my concerns about mileage, noise and component wear? And how much front lift would level a Gen6 ORP?

 

[RunnerRocks]

Measure your ORP front and rear to determine how much front lift will provide level.

While stock, our ORP (non-hybrid) was 1.5" lower in the front. We raised the front 2" and rear 1" to maintain a bit of rake.

Noise increase may be a result of installing aggressive tires. Depends what you will tolerate.

Mileage reported by members here is all over the place. With one size larger E-rated tires, air dam & cross bars removed, our mileage varies between 19.5 and over 22.

 

[sscarter]

Measure your ORP front and rear to determine how much front lift will provide level.

While stock, our ORP (non-hybrid) was 1.5" lower in the front. We raised the front 2" and rear 1" to maintain a bit of rake.

Noise increase may be a result of installing aggressive tires. Depends what you will tolerate.

Mileage reported by members here is all over the place. With one size larger E-rated tires, air dam & cross bars removed, our mileage varies between 19.5 and over 22.

Very helpful, thanks!

 

[sscarter]

Warning: the MT64 lifts the front by a minimum of 1.75". So if you want to remain stock height don't go for those.

They are the gold standard for both ride quality and capability though.

Just spoke with Mudify, and the only available option for OME MT64 is 3-inch lift for front and 2-inch rear. They have other options for 5th-gen, but not for 6th-gen -- at least not yet.

I'm not sure I want or need to lift that much, since I would rarely need it and it would require UCAs and diff drop. I think I may have to go with Bilsteins just because the MT64s are locked into the higher lift. Too bad -- I had decided to splurge on the MT64s.

 

[clk55r1d3h]

Just spoke with Mudify, and the only available option for OME MT64 is 3-inch lift for front and 2-inch rear. They have other options for 5th-gen, but not for 6th-gen -- at least not yet.

I'm not sure I want or need to lift that much, since I would rarely need it and it would require UCAs and diff drop. I think I may have to go with Bilsteins just because the MT64s are locked into the higher lift. Too bad -- I had decided to splurge on the MT64s.

I thought they were adjustable but come pre adjusted to 3” lift, which means you’ll have to lower it yourself. My question is can we swap out the trd bilsteins with mt64 at some point. I like the idea of the trd lift kit cuz it’s a complete kit that won’t give you issues. I don’t see why we can’t do that.

 

[sscarter]

I thought they were adjustable but come pre adjusted to 3” lift, which means you’ll have to lower it yourself. My question is can we swap out the trd bilsteins with mt64 at some point. I like the idea of the trd lift kit cuz it’s a complete kit that won’t give you issues. I don’t see why we can’t do that.

I don't see how I could lower the MT64s because the rear spring sets the rear height and they only offer the 2" lift option. I suppose it might be possible to substitute a different rear spring and then lower the front, but that would waste the cost of the OME rear springs in the kit. I'll have to give that some thought...

Sponsored