So it seems that Bilstein 5100's are the preferred shock of the Xterra community, so that is the way I will go. I figure if that many people are satisfied, so will I. :)

I have also found out that pretty much everyone who gets the 5100's get the 20% stiffer version. What I want to know is if that is what I should get based on my usage, or if I should get a 10%, or even stock.

My X is used as my daily commuter (10 miles to the bus station), road trip vehicle for the family, and my hunting/fishing/offroading vehicle. I am not nearly as hardcore as some of the guys on here, as my offroading adventures mostly consist of logging trails in northern Wisconsin/Minnesota. In order to get to some hunting spots I do have to cross corn fields (which really suck in these stock shocks), minimum maintainence roads, natural prairie grass fields, etc. I do not do any rock crawling and don't plan to in the future, and am not a mudder.

Would the 20% ones still be recommended for me? Will those negatively affect normal on road driving?

post me a link of where you get to select % stiffness
are you sure you arent talking about torsion bars?
when i bought my hd bilstein shocks there was no % stiffness option

however, i love them just the way they are, on road or off
i dont wheel my X anymore and im still glad i got these shocks, if they ever go out i will be replacing them with the same shocks even though the X dosent wheel wanymore

The last two alphanumeric characters will determine the stiffness (e.g. H0, H1, H2). H0 is 20%, H1 is 10% and H2 is stock, IIRC.

I have 20% stiffer and extended (in the rear) and can give you those part numbers tonight.

http://www.xterrafirma.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=4021


Bilstein 5100 series shocks - come stock, 10% and 20% stiffer as well as regular and extended length. They run around $60-65 each, depending on where.

http://www.xterrafirma.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=3926

INTERESTING
heres where i ordered mine from
http://www.4x4parts.com/public_html/shop/index.php3?page=shop/browse&category_id=b294e766ade8846be408971f91c56a7e&ps_session=85cc26d61b627aee444b1f5a9a821a9b

no stiffness option
i love these

Thanks Ricer,

That is the place I was eyeing and after I got some opinions on what stiffness I was going to call them up and find out what they offered. Sounds like whatever their default is, you like.

:)

werd, no prob
json has the same shocks, im sure he'll chime in with his opinion on them

here i am, i also ordered them from AC and i didnt have a % option..... i love the shocks...... great on and off road.....

the front shocks i got form 4x4parts.com were for 3 inch extended................and what they sent me were the 20% stiffer b46-1099 H0 ......... even though they don't say the model number on there website