Shocks and ride height?

The 5100s that replace the front shocks (with springs) are height adjustable. The 5100s that are installed on the rear do not adjust the height. They allow an extra inch of travel though.

The non coil over 5100 are not ride height adjustable.

https://cart.bilsteinus.com/details?id=629852998821932772

manley wrote:
There’s LOTS of ignorance on this thread. The 5100s WILL adjust your ride height.

So it looks like there are two types of 5100's.

Lynnmor wrote:
The Bilsteins have very high gas pressure so they will lift the truck a tiny amount.

Micrometer???

4600's are for stock, 5100's are for stock ride height and up to 2" lift. Same shock so pick the color you like on a stock ride height truck.

First you all are arguing over 2 completely different products. And some of you agree and don’t even know it!
Today’s homework assignment. Go home and read about regular old 5100 shocks and ride height adj ones.
Tell me what the difference is tomorrow.

manley wrote:
There’s LOTS of ignorance on this thread. The 5100s WILL adjust your ride height.

Actually there is no ignorance at all since the example you posted is exactly what we have been saying that the coil increases height, not the shock.

Even with a 5100 adjustable "shock" is actually not a shock when installed. It is a strut/coil-over assembly which is a coil and shock in one. The coil adjustment on the shock pushes the coil up therefore increasing ride height since it is the coil that carries the weight, not the shock. You can only do this if you vehicle uses a strut/coil-over assembly in the front which I don't think the OP's truck has.

You can do the same with a spacer or longer coil, but the fact still remains that the shock itself DOES NOT increase height, the coil/spring does.

ShinerBock wrote:

ScottG wrote:
No, neither of those shocks will change ride height. The 5100's are for lifted vehicles. They do not lift the vehicle themselves.

This.

Shocks do not carry weight and only absorb/dampen quick suspension fluctuations therefore they do not effect ride height. Springs/coils carry the weight of the vehicle and do effect ride height. You buy different shock lengths depending on the height of your truck, not to make it higher.

Not!
5100’s are for stock to 2” lift, I run 5100’s on my unlifted 2001 Ram and they work great!

Hi SD,
Look at this. It’s the link specific for my truck, and it’s easy enough to look at the shock for your truck:
Link

Good luck!

I’m still a little confused how both a long and short shock are interchangeable on my truck but thanks for the replies.

I guess it comes down to semantics. The 5100 shock by itself does not change the ride height if you install the spring at the OEM seat level. What the 5100 will do is allow you to change the seat height of the coil-over which changes the ride height.

So, technically, the shock absorber does provide a mechanism to adjust the ride height even though the shock absorbing mechanism internal to the shock will not change ride height by itself.