Ford Performance Kit vs Bilstein 6112/5160. Is it worth it?

[Hotshot Offroad]

Good afternoon everyone!

We wanted to share our most recent write up on our website with all of you. A couple questions we get daily are surrounding these two kits. Questions such as: Is the Ford Performance kit available? What is the difference between the FP and the 6112/5160? And which one is the better option?

Well, we have a write up for you to take a look at and see for yourselves! Of course if any questions pop up please feel free reach out to us anytime!

*As of 2/8/24, the FP kits are still on backorder. We do have Bilstein 6112/5160 kits ready to go for those interested!*

https://hotshotoffroad.com/blogs/ti...e-suspension-kit-for-21-f-150s-worth-the-wait

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[AHenry014]

This write up is something I would have been very interested in seeing a couple months ago. I was on the fence between Fox and Bilstein; the off-the-shelf versions and the FP counterparts (FP Fox kit technically designed for the 15-20 trucks). I opted to go Fox, which is something I don't regret, but there will always be that curiosity in the back of my mind. My decision was certainly swayed by the backorder that was, and apparently still is, happening. If someday something happens with my Fox kit, perhaps Ill make the swap.

This is great info. I give a ton of credit for Ford going the extra mile on their kit being painted. My experience with 5100's is that the finish goes south fairly quickly here in the rust belt (they are steel over Fox aluminum body). I imagine the 6112/5160's will do just as "poorly". Its good to know here is negligible differences between the kits as far as dampening/spring specs. That leaves a couple questions to choose between the kits; do you need more than the 2" and 2.5" lift positions? Is the painted finish important to you? Is disassembling/reassembling something youd like to avoid (since these are preassembled)? Is the warranty (if installed my ASE tech) valuable to you?

 

[Hotshot Offroad]

This write up is something I would have been very interested in seeing a couple months ago. I was on the fence between Fox and Bilstein; the off-the-shelf versions and the FP counterparts (FP Fox kit technically designed for the 15-20 trucks). I opted to go Fox, which is something I don't regret, but there will always be that curiosity in the back of my mind. My decision was certainly swayed by the backorder that was, and apparently still is, happening. If someday something happens with my Fox kit, perhaps Ill make the swap.

This is great info. I give a ton of credit for Ford going the extra mile on their kit being painted. My experience with 5100's is that the finish goes south fairly quickly here in the rust belt (they are steel over Fox aluminum body). I imagine the 6112/5160's will do just as "poorly". Its good to know here is negligible differences between the kits as far as dampening/spring specs. That leaves a couple questions to choose between the kits; do you need more than the 2" and 2.5" lift positions? Is the painted finish important to you? Is disassembling/reassembling something youd like to avoid (since these are preassembled)? Is the warranty (if installed my ASE tech) valuable to you?

Thanks for the feedback! The one thing that I will say that may be new is that the latest generation of 6112/5160 shocks (black label) have a full clearcoat finish on them. I will admit that the current 5100s as well the last gen blue label 6112/5160s did not hold up to winter very well - at least not from an outward visibility perspective. Seals still seem to hold up nicely! We have a customer with a Tacoma who is on his second winter in Wisconsin with new 6112s, and while his top hats and mounting nuts look pretty tough the shocks themselves are holding up pretty well!

 

[smackjones]

What changes with a powerboost vs a ecoboost? Any difference in the typical lift heights?

 

[RickBullotta]

Thanks for the feedback! The one thing that I will say that may be new is that the latest generation of 6112/5160 shocks (black label) have a full clearcoat finish on them. I will admit that the current 5100s as well the last gen blue label 6112/5160s did not hold up to winter very well - at least not from an outward visibility perspective. Seals still seem to hold up nicely! We have a customer with a Tacoma who is on his second winter in Wisconsin with new 6112s, and while his top hats and mounting nuts look pretty tough the shocks themselves are holding up pretty well!

I would go with the 6112's if someone would powdercoat them some other color than blue!

 

[Hotshot Offroad]

What changes with a powerboost vs a ecoboost? Any difference in the typical lift heights?

for PB models you will typically get between 1/2 to 3/4 less of a lift. For example, if a kit is a 2.5" lift, you would expect to get close to 2" at max.

 

[Hotshot Offroad]

I would go with the 6112's if someone would powdercoat them some other color than blue!

Are you speaking about the springs? Or the shock body? Because the springs are black but we offer powder coating for customers. And for the shock body; we only offer the new gen of the 6112s. Which is now with black and not the OG bilstein Blue.

 

[RickBullotta]

Are you speaking about the springs? Or the shock body? Because the springs are black but we offer powder coating for customers. And for the shock body; we only offer the new gen of the 6112s. Which is now with black and not the OG bilstein Blue.

You have my attention! I'm thinking of putting 6112s on my powerboost. I had the Fox 2.0's on it and did not like the way it drove.

 

[Hotshot Offroad]

You have my attention! I'm thinking of putting 6112s on my powerboost. I had the Fox 2.0's on it and did not like the way it drove.

The 6112/5160 is for sure our top selling kit. We also offer full assembly for you with new top hats and hardware so that way you dont have to deal with getting all of that done.

That kit and the Eibach 2R which we JUST got back in stock the other day. Here is a photo to check out the color matched springs if that is something that peaks your interest!

 

[GIjoe]

You have my attention! I'm thinking of putting 6112s on my powerboost. I had the Fox 2.0's on it and did not like the way it drove.

I recently ditched my fox 2.0 for the 6112. More control, better at absorbing bumps and hits, just so much better all around. I got 2.5”+ on my 3.5 and a very comfortable ride. My fox’s were under 2” initially and I adjusted them up to 2. The ride was very jittery.

 

[PaulO]

for PB models you will typically get between 1/2 to 3/4 less of a lift. For example, if a kit is a 2.5" lift, you would expect to get close to 2" at max.

I have a 2022 Powerboost and I have been told to not use the 2.5" setting so you don't max it out. Have you heard of this? I'm debating between the 2.0" vs the 2.5" setting. I still want a small bit of rake because I tow a small 3500 LB trailer.

 

[Hotshot Offroad]

I have a 2022 Powerboost and I have been told to not use the 2.5" setting so you don't max it out. Have you heard of this? I'm debating between the 2.0" vs the 2.5" setting. I still want a small bit of rake because I tow a small 3500 LB trailer.

We certainly heard of that in the beginning, but with some of our own testing we found them to work just fine! That said, Bilstein has recently changed their guidance on circlip settings to now officially include powerboosts. Expect to get about .5" less than what you'd get on a non-PB truck, but they work just fine!

 

[wessermgm]

We certainly heard of that in the beginning, but with some of our own testing we found them to work just fine! That said, Bilstein has recently changed their guidance on circlip settings to now officially include powerboosts. Expect to get about .5" less than what you'd get on a non-PB truck, but they work just fine!

Hotshot: I think it is interesting that you say that these Bilsteins and the Eibach are your top sellers. Price wise they are similar. I think you get more lift from the Eibachs. Do you have a preference for the F-150 between these two?

 

[Hotshot Offroad]

Hotshot: I think it is interesting that you say that these Bilsteins and the Eibach are your top sellers. Price wise they are similar. I think you get more lift from the Eibachs. Do you have a preference for the F-150 between these two?

To be truthful both kits are very similar in a lot of ways. And this can be a tough decision. The simplest way we can describe the two would be that both kits are firmer over stock. By firmer we mean more planted all around and not that soft bouncy feel these trucks have. Especially the rear. But they so maintain a very comfortable ride.

Eibach will be slightly Softer than the 6112/5160. Which some prefer. So This will really come down to personal preference at that point!

 

[PaulO]

To be truthful both kits are very similar in a lot of ways. And this can be a tough decision. The simplest way we can describe the two would be that both kits are firmer over stock. By firmer we mean more planted all around and not that soft bouncy feel these trucks have. Especially the rear. But they so maintain a very comfortable ride.

Eibach will be slightly Softer than the 6112/5160. Which some prefer. So This will really come down to personal preference at that point!

The Eibach 2R sounds like it might be a better fit for my PB. Do they come assembled? How high would you recommend setting the fronts and still be within specs?

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