The Bilstein 24-285681 is a rear shock from the B8 5100 series, made for 4WD Ram 2500 trucks with a 2-inch rear lift and no factory air leveling. The manufacturer describes the 5100 line as a direct-fit shock for lifted trucks and SUVs, built as a monotube with a 46mm piston and a zinc-plated finish. Owners on user forums say the rear 5100s ride firmer than worn factory shocks and do not add height, so a buyer replacing tired stock units on a lifted 2500 gets a predictable ride height. The monotube body is the core upgrade over a basic stock replacement, since the manufacturer ties this design to consistent, fade-free damping under repeated hard use.
Verify fitment before ordering. Listings disagree on model years, with some covering 2014 through 2019 and others 2014 through 2026, so confirm the year, 4WD configuration, and no-air-leveling requirement against your truck. For the install, plan for the upper mount, which sits inside the frame rail. Owners on user forums say it is the tight spot, and at least one owner had to modify an open-end wrench to reach it. Searches for Bilstein 24-285681, B8 5100 rear shock, 2014-2019 Ram 2500 4WD rear shock, and lifted Ram 2500 rear monotube shock all point to this same application.
No. Owners on user forums report that the rear 5100 replaces the factory shock without adding height. It is longer than the factory unit, so it can be used alongside a rear coil spacer.
Fitment is listed inconsistently across sources, with some covering 2014 through 2019 and others 2014 through 2026. Confirm the model year, 4WD configuration, and absence of air leveling with the manufacturer before purchase.
Owners on user forums say the upper bolt sits inside the frame rail and is difficult to reach. Plan for a short wrench or a ratchet with an extension.
Owners on user forums describe the upper bolt as the main obstacle on this application, so set up tools for that reach before starting. A forum write-up for the same generation 2500 (covering front 5100 shocks and a steering damper) advises reusing the factory rubber bushings rather than the smaller ones in the hardware pack, and tightening the locknut only until two to three threads show above it. That guidance comes from a front-shock install, so confirm bushing and hardware sizes against your truck and the manufacturer's instructions before you begin.
