[vstrom]

My wife drives a 2013 4WD Xterra S and I want to upgrade the shocks to OEM Bilsteins. I drive a 2014 Pro4X Frontier and the ride is noticeably better. I've been looking at Shock Warehouse and Rock Auto. I'm looking for advice on who to order from. The reviews for Shock Warehouse were horrible. I got a price from the local dealership and it was eye-watering. Any other suggestions on where to get them are welcome.
Also, the rears are easy enough to change, how difficult are the fronts? Is it any more complicated than renting a spring compressor and swapping them out?

 

[picklez]

Rock Auto is the way to go for OEM stuff. Even up here in Canuckistan their prices are pretty hard to beat. For a couple extra bucks, why not go up to 5100's? The 4600's are decent shocks, but the 5100's are adjustable so if you decide to lift it, you can. I think a lot of people would argue the 5100's are a better shock overall as well. I don't know what they're worth in freedom bucks, but I see them for like 400 loonies for the set up here pretty commonly. As far as the swap itself goes, it's pretty straightforward, just read this thread for some little tidbits about reusing the factory hats. All the pictures are dead cuz photbucket is too greedy, but if you read through all of it, it should make sense.

 

[vstrom]

Thanks, picklez. I was leaning towards Rock Auto already. I'm tempted by the 5100s, but I know what the 4600s ride like. I don't know that we'll ever lift it and off roading isn't in the picture anytime soon. The issue is that I put the same 265/75/16 Falken Wildpeaks on it that I have on my truck. The stock shocks were tuned for the much softer and lighter Long Trails. The 4600s handle the Falkens really well. I'll be going through the link you sent me. Thanks again!

 

[Nissan4Life]

read that the 4600 and the 5100 are the same shock. The 5100 just have the spring base groves.

Look on the for sale section. There are OEM blistein take offs regularly. They also come with springs often so you don't have to go through the whole spring swap thing.

Renting the spring compressor is the easy part. compressing and taking about the coil over is the hard part. Not terrible complicated but a little more involved than something like changing your oil.

Rockauto use to be my go to. But their shipping pisses me off. Expensive (I get tho whole you pay for shipping part) for one, the fact that they ship from multiple warehouses and a separate shipping $ for each warehouse irks me. To avoid this I have tried to deleted all items from other warehouses so that my items just come from 1, however when I update, the warehouse locations then all get switched and I end up getting items from different warehouse and have to pay for each. Finally it take 1.5 weeks typically to receive. Instead I have been trying to buy from amazon whenever possible. Especially if it is offered with prime free 2-day shipping. Yes I have prime. For example Rock auto wanted 22.79 for the u joint i wanted +7.99 for shipping= 30.78. Amazon had it for $28

Finally. The ride of your truck is better than your wifes X is partly due to the longer wheelbase.

 

[Sabretooth]

I brought the set of 5100's from 4wh on some sort of special with free shipping came out to a little less than $300 but that was last year I don't know what they are now

I don't know if there's a difference between them except the adjust ability and they're zinc coated instead of painted yellow of course don't know how long that will look like that but it is nice looking compared to rust colored. One plus made me go with them was when they said they'll do exchange in store instead of me having to mail back to Bilstien on my dime
Here's the 4600's to compare
https://www.4wheelparts.com/eSearch.aspx?N=18m87&Ntk=primary&Ntt=Bilstien+4600

 

[vstrom]

I seem to remember checking Amazon before and could only find the fronts or backs. Just checked them again and they had both so I ordered them. I hear what you're saying about the 5100s, but we just don't need the extra. If I go looking to replace MY shocks, I'll be looking at them.
You're right, Nissan4life, multiple shipping for the same order is way more expensive.
As for the install, I was a mega-yacht mechanic for 7 years and I know my way around cars and trucks too. My problem is that I don't have anywhere to do it. I don't even have a driveway and putting a truck on jack stands in the yard isn't a good idea. I'll get it figured out one way or the other.
Thanks for all the input!