Anyone Ever Try Bilstein 5100 F150 2WD Fronts for 2018-20 Expys?

[Expedition Dave]

Anyone Ever Try Bilstein 5100 F150 2WD Fronts on 2018-20 Expys?

FACT: Bilstein 5100s designed for Expys yield a 1.5 inch lift on the highest (lower shock) settings for 2018-20 Expys.

FACT: Bilstein 5100s designed for F150 4x4s on the lowest (highest shock) setting to yield 3 inches of front lift.

Question: What will the B5100s for F150 4x2s yield on a 2018-20 Expy?


*The below info is clipped from a thread by 95cobby*

F150 4wd Bilstein B8 5100 24-248129
Collapsed Length (IN) - 16.91
Extended Length (IN) - 22.46

F150 2wd Bilstein B8 5100 24-253222
Collapsed Length (IN) - 16.05
Extended Length (IN) - 21.40

Expedition Bilstein B8 5100 24-285056
Collapsed Length (IN) -16.10
Extended Length (IN) - 20.95

 

[RussD89]

My plan was the 2wd fronts, but an acquaintance of mine found the expy fronts and rears for me without the guestimate of a month or 2 wait for delivery so i just went that route. Considering I'm not upsizing my tires much (285/65r18), the expy model will suffice. Will have the tires on next tues, and get the shocks done myself when the opportunity presents itself after that.

 

[RussD89]

Gotta love the double post.

 

[Wilde]

So I just bought the Eibach version of the Bilstein 5100's for the F150 2WD fronts. These: https://eibach.com/us/2006/E60-35-037-06-10-FORD-F-150-pro-truck-sport-shock

They should be here this week straight from Eibach. Here's my reasoning. First, unlike what seems like the majority of people here think, I don't think the front needs to come up a whole inch more than the rear. In fact, I think I'd even be okay with the front and rear coming up the same amount, but maybe a 1/2" more in the front would be ideal. Second, the 2wd version should have the ability to go both higher than I want to go and lower than the 4wd version. Third, I heard the Eibach shocks were smoother than the 5100's. The 5100's definitely made the ride a bit harsher on the highway when I put them on my 2017 F150. They were also definitely better over harsher bumps, and off-road, than the stock suspension. Since the Eibachs are in stock and the 5100's aren't... I figured I'd take the chance with the Eibachs and see how they work. Worse case, I'll switch them to the 5100's later on.

I'll post the results after I install them.

 

[Expedition Dave]

I really DON'T want to lift my truck's front 3 inches, but 1.6 inches may not look "right" with 34s. 3 is too much, and 1.6 is not enough...

Now if we do maths we know the the F150s raise the nose 3 inches and the Expys raise the truck nose 1.6 inches. It is worth noting that the max extensions of both shocks is 22.46 vs 20.95 inches.

If you use subtraction you get a difference between the two of 1.51 inches. Now if you add that difference to the Expy front shock lift of 1.6 inches + 1.51 inches it equals 3.11 inches.
Which turns out almost exactly how much the F150 shocks raise the Expys nose.

That strangely makes sense, right?

So, if we are to work off that hypothesis, the F150 2WD Bilstein 5100s (21.40-20.95 = .45) for 2wd at their lowest setting *should* equal a 2.05 inch lift...

At least I think so...

Look I already have one pair of Expy fronts, and F150s 4wds on the way, so I am at a loss.
But, I think I'd be real OK with a 2inch F150 2wd lift in front, and a 1.5 inch Expy in the back... I don't think the difference will have much bearing on squeezing the tire in and I believe my ride, my cant, and my CVs will be happier for it.

 

[wakeboarder]

I really DON'T want to lift my truck's front 3 inches, but 1.6 inches may not look "right" with 34s. 3 is too much, and 1.6 is not enough...

Now if we do maths we know the the F150s raise the nose 3 inches and the Expys raise the truck nose 1.6 inches. It is worth noting that the max extensions of both shocks is 22.46 vs 20.95 inches.

If you use subtraction you get a difference between the two of 1.51 inches. Now if you add that difference to the Expy front shock lift of 1.6 inches + 1.51 inches it equals 3.11 inches.
Which turns out almost exactly how much the F150 shocks raise the Expys nose.

That strangely makes sense, right?

So, if we are to work off that hypothesis, the F150 2WD Bilstein 5100s (21.40-20.95 = .45) for 2wd at their lowest setting *should* equal a 2.05 inch lift...

At least I think so...

Look I already have one pair of Expy fronts, and F150s 4wds on the way, so I am at a loss.
But, I think I'd be real OK with a 2inch F150 2wd lift in front, and a 1.5 inch Expy in the back... I don't think the difference will have much bearing on squeezing the tire in and I believe my ride, my cant, and my CVs will be happier for it.

The amount of lift should be determined by the distance between the lower shock mount and the snap ring groove that you plan to use.
A second way to calculate the lift would be by measuring the distance between the grooves on the Bilsteins for Expeditions. You know this additional amount above the base will yield 1.6 inches of lift. You can probably calculate what the 2wd F150 shocks would yield if you compare the base to groove height to the expedition Bilsteins.