newbie to anything dealing with lifts

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/F4-BE5-C477-T0-bilstein-tacoma.html

so is that the right one to get for the front?

 

Yeah. I assume those come with the dust cover boots, but you better make double sure, as I've heard some suppliers sell the struts without the boots included. Also would be a good idea to get a replacement bushing/washer kit for each strut. Toytec.com sells the bushing kits in pairs (one kit for both front struts) for $20. Since you say you don't know much about this stuff, it would be a good idea to read some of the how-to threads buried in this forum. Try starting with a search for "5100 install" and read up.

In general, a popular affordable way to lift a Taco around here seems to be 5100's front and rear with rear add-a-leafs, and new wheels with reduced backspacing if you want to run bigger tires, or you can run the stock wheels with bigger tires if you use Spidertrax wheel adapters ($90 a pair at 4wheelparts).

 

Only need wheel spacers or rims with different backspacing for 285 and wider tires. I have 255/85/16 (33" tire) on stock rims with no issues. You can also get a 265/75/16 which is roughly 32" tire.

 

So could I get 5100s in the front for a little raise, then just add a leafs for the back?

what bilsteins are on the back? and why do alot of people get "Bilstein 5100s All Around"? I also don't know much about lifts

 

just from reading i think thats what some people do. being the 5100 up front and AAL in the back

 

Yes, you could just get them for the front and AAL's for rear, using your stock rear shocks. But the rear 5100's provide a better ride and have better dampening over rough terrain than the stock shocks. The rear 5100's are just shocks, not struts and they do not contribute to lift in the rear -- the AAL's do the lifting. The front 5100's are height adjustable struts that are designed to work with your stock coils and they actually provide lift, if one so desires.

S.B. is correct above -- you only need wheel adapters/spacers or different wheel backspacing if you are running 285 or wider, or if you want a wider stance while sticking with narrower tires.