Bilstein 8112 & 8100 Review for Toyota 4Runner: Still the King?

Posted by Sean Law-Bowman on January 10, 2026

Introduction

It's been a long time since we last drove a 4Runner on Bilstein 8112s and 8100s, and in the years since, we've tested just about every top-tier suspension option available for this platform: SDI E-Clik, Fox Factory Race Series internal bypass, Icon CDEV, Eibach's newest 2.5s, you name it.

Who We Are (and Why This Matters)

We test every suspension package we sell on our own vehicles so we can give real-world feedback that isn't sugarcoated by marketing claims. If something rides weird, fades early, blows up, or surprises us; you hear about it.

We originally crowned the 8112/8100 combo king of the desert years ago in Johnson Valley. But since then, we've spent time on SDI E-Clik, Fox Factory Race internal bypass, Icon CDEV, and other top-tier 2.5 and 3.0 packages.

Plus, rumor has it Bilstein is working on a DSA+ version of the 8112 for 4Runners and a DSA+ smooth body 8100 replacement with Zone Control-style technology. If that's true, it could shake things up, so we wanted to reacquaint ourselves with these shocks.

What Makes the 8112 / 8100 Special?

We have separate videos breaking down the engineering behind these shocks, but here's the fast overview.

Bilstein 8112 (Front Coilovers)

2.65" threaded body
60mm main piston (bigger than most competitors)
Bilstein Zone Control internal position-sensitive system
3 compression zones + 2 rebound zones
A design that adds damping outside the primary ride zone instead of bleeding off damping inside it

In real-world terms: Supple on small hits, bottomless on big ones. The extra support only appears when you need it.

Bilstein 8100 (Rear Bypass)

True two-tube internal bypass
One compression tube / one rebound tube
Tool-free 40-position adjuster knobs on each tube
Noticeably quiet for a bypass (especially inside a full-interior 4Runner)

Oil flows through bypass tubes until the shock cycles past the ports, then the main piston takes over giving you progressive bottom-out and top-out resistance.

Toyota 4Runner on Bilstein 8112 8100 Suspension

The Test Vehicle's Starting Point

This was a TRD Pro 4Runner, but not on TRD Pro shocks. The owner had swapped to a 3" Ironman Foam Cell Pro kit before we got it.

That created two problems:

1. The FCP kit was a downgrade from the stock TRD Pro Fox 2.5 IBP. Less control, less comfort, less composure.

2. The FCP kit sacrificed ride quality to gain height.

We've tested plenty of Ironman gear; it's not bad for what it is. But on a Pro, removing Fox 2.5 IBPs and replacing them with foam cell twin tubes is… ambitious.

This truck rode worse than the last TRD Pro we tested that was completely overloaded on stock shocks. So right away, we knew the 8112/8100 combo would be a major upgrade for this customer.

Why the Bilstein Package Is in a Different League

Here's what the 8112/8100 package brings over the Ironmans, the TRD Pro Fox shocks, and basically every other bolt-on solution:

More travel
Huge 60mm piston in the 8112
A position-sensitive system that adds damping support rather than removing it
Rear adjustability with quick knobs
Ultra-long seal life and extremely consistent performance
Silent operation (rare for bypass-style shocks)

Put it all together and you get a package that feels:

Comfortable on the small chatter
Bottomless on big hits
Controlled through mid-stroke
Predictable even with sway bars removed
Composed at speeds that would overwhelm most other systems

We went into the test expecting these to feel "good, but maybe dated" compared to newer high-end systems. Instead, they were even better than we remembered.

How They Compare to Other Premium 4Runner Options

After years of testing nearly everything available for a 4Runner, we think only two systems come close overall:

SDI E-Clik
Icon CDEV

These electronically-adjusted kits shine when:

Your load varies a lot
You sag in/out of the ideal ride zone
You're not running load-leveling upgrades
You want a "set it and forget it" experience

They don't quite reach the peak performance of the 8112/8100 when the truck is in the sweet spot, but they get close and they don't punish you for weight changes.

When SDI or CDEV Makes More Sense

Choose them if:

You frequently change rear cargo weight
You add/remove rooftop tents, drawers, fridges, gear
You drive mixed loads without wanting to adjust anything
You want electronically-managed damping instead of position sensitivity

When Bilsteins Make More Sense

Choose the 8112/8100 if:

You want the best outright ride and control
You like pushing the truck harder off-road
You care more about performance than automation
You want something that feels bottomless and refined
Your loads are constant or do not vary greatly

Are the 8112s and 8100s Still the Kings?

For most 4Runner owners chasing performance, the answer is yes.

The package delivers:

The best big-hit control we've felt on a 4Runner
A wider performance envelope than almost anything else
Ride comfort that's shockingly good, even without sway bars
Durability we've seen in the real world for years
A "bottomless" feel that's hard to replicate

Even after all the testing we've done in the last few years, it's still difficult to find a system that rides or performs better on this platform.

Are they cheap? No.

Are they worth it? Absolutely.

And if Bilstein really is about to release a DSA+ version for 4Runners, then the story only gets better.

Bilstein 8112 8100 on Toyota 4Runner Off-Road

Final Verdict

We'll be first in line to test the rumored DSA+ updates when they drop. Until then, the Bilstein 8112/8100 package remains one of the strongest combinations you can put on a 4Runner.

This system continues to set the benchmark for: