rear shock options

i have a 99 tacoma and i curreently have rough country rear shocks and i would like to replace them with better off road shocks i have the rough country rear shackles also for the 3 inch lift and i have the bilstein 5100 adjustables up front. i am also about to order the toytec 3 leaf spring pack so im going to need a taller shock but dont know if i should get the bilsteins or go with a different brand for the rears.

 

for 0-3" of susp. lift a 5125 can be had and will fit the staggered factory mounts.
The staggered shock length for the factory staggered mounts.
is 8" and 8.5" (travel) respectively. (6-6.5" travel oem)

* the eye bushing(s) may need to be changed out to
3/4" ID bushings-hourglass design (If I remember)
If that is not already included with their purchase.
Believe Wheeler's Off Road sell the bushings with the shocks.
others may not... as these are designed to fit a cheby also.
^ individual purchase --> here

Bilstein mfgr. #'s

F4 BE5-6252-H5 Bilstein Shock **Drvr's side ( 8" )

F4 BE5-6253-H5 Bilstein Shock ** pass. side ( 8 1/2" )

^ longer then these... you will need to alter you factory shock mounts.
as well as purchase a longer rear brake line.

 

so what length should i get to go with the rough country shackles plus the 1.5 inch leaf 3 pack?

 

I don't run longer leaf spring shackles... don't like them.
I run the factory shackles... with custom built leaf spring paks.
My susp. lift comes from the springs, not a shackle.

so maybe someone having that...
would better answer your inquiry.

If yer junk is a 4X
I would not recommend lifting the front susp. more
then 2.5" of suspension lift (2.75 max)
more susp. lift accelerates component(s) wear
as well the chance of drive line vibrations.
Sucks when CV boots fail often

* how to be sure your front susp. lift is not too excessive ?
look at the CV boot ribs...
You should be able to slip a piece of notebook paper
between every boot rib... when the truck is static...
and with the wheels pointed straight (forward)

The rear susp. shouldn't be lifted more then 3" of lift
Extending droop is acceptable... but not the same as lift.
More then 3" of Rr susp. lift will fubar the Rr drive shaft angle.
And likely create a host of issues.

 

yeah i was thinking of going back to stock shackles and just going with 3 inch leaf spring pack

 

so if i get the 5125 will i have to use the shock mount spacers that you used on your tacoma?

 

If yer inquiry is directed towards me...

No... not necessarily...

Could be a consideration, depending on how extreme you push yer junk
and what leaf springs are out back.

Just so happened that my Deaver leaf springs would hit...
but keep in mind that was during full compression...
and all the way to the Rr. factory bump stops.

Many folk increase the height of their bump stops post Rr. susp. lift...
so the addition of axle's bump stop height could effectively do the same thing.