Just Installed Bilstein 5100 and wheelers 3 leaf HD AAL

Well I finally got my lift installed over the weekend. I got Bilstein 5100 all around and a set of Wheelers 3 leaf progressive HD AALs. I set the Billies at 1.75" up front and the AAL was supposed to give me about 1.5" in the rear. Right now the rear is is lifted about 2", I think it will settle out a bit though. So far my overall impression is that this is a good setup for the price, I like how it rides, yes it is a little firmer up front but the rear is far better not sure how to describe it but it feels more "solid"? less side to side motion.

Below is a before/after pic, sorry it wasn't better. In the before pic I have stock TRD offraod with stock 265/70/16 tires. In the after pic I have 265/75/16 tires.

 

Those HD AAL' s are made to carry extra weight. I have like 500 lbs of tool in my bed, HD AAL, air bags, 885's & 5100's. Supports the extra weight and off roads well. Corners flat usually, off camber corners get it leaning.

 

I recently installed the same items and included the front diff drop. Purchased it all from Wheelers. They were definitely helpful when I placed my order. I agree that the ride is a bit stiffer, but considering I had the 3 leaf rear spring pack on my Taco and hit the rear bump stops on even the slightest dip, it's an awesome improvement. Currently running 265-70 17 Dura tracs and hoping to bump them up to 285's soon enough.

 

So was that 1" in the back or 2.5" you got from the AAL?

 

Well I was hoping that I would get a little more load capacity with the HD AALs for the little bit of hauling and towing that I do, I also only had the oem 3 leaf pack.

Tysc, did you need the front diff drop?

Right now I have closer to a 2" lift in the rear, I currently have a 1 inch rake, I'm hoping it will settle a little and be closer to level.

 

I got the same leafs for the rear of my 05. I am going to be putting the Eibach coils up front set at .085. I was told this would make it sit level. Did you keep or ditch the Overload?

 

yeah I took out the overload for now, I kept them just in case it settles too much

 

Im looking at doing bassicly the same thing. I put a post in the suspension foums but its not getting much play there.

Im thinking of doing the 5100s and the toyotec 2" aal but with a camper shell on the back I'm not sure how much lift I would really get and will it look goofy with 265/75r16 tires

 

why would the 265/75/16 look goofy?

 

Didn't know if it would look to small

 

evile
In my build I have a picture of my truck with 1.5" of lift in the rear with 265/75/16 nand an ARE shell.

Tried to go and get the picture to embed it here however due to Offshore internet that will not be possible.

 

Single AAl's ride harsh IMO. I don't even like riding in them let alone owning one. Feels like your riding in an empty dump truck.

Progressive AAL's offer a much smother ride.

Ive never seen a truck level from the factory nor do I understand someone limiting the ability of the truck and it's ride quality to "look level". I just don't get it...

What 5100's did they give you/did you order? Should be extended for that lift.

 

I think the size is good, mine actually rubbed a little on hard right turns when I first got the 265/75/16 on, they have since worn down a little and didn't rub.

Now with the slight lift I think they still look fine. I will be putting on a set of spidertrax 1.25" spacers soon to give it that wider more aggressive look.

 

and even worse rubbing....


function should come before form...

 

XXXX,

I think you are misreading my threads.

First off I did get the extended rear shocks, I realize that I wasn't very clear in my first post. I current have 2 inches of lift in the rear, I'm sitting 1 inch higher than the front still. I'm hoping that the rear leafs will settle a little so I look more level. Seems you don't like the leveled look, to each their own.

I had a bit of rubbing on hard right turns only before the lift and before the spacers. When I bought the truck I put 265/75/16 tires on based on what I read on this forum, seemed most people were not having issues with rubbing, I did. Few months later the tires wore a bit and it stopped, no big deal. I currently do not rub, I'm putting the spacers on for appearance.

So just so we are clear,

I got about 1.75" lift in the front and 2" lift in the rear, and it currently sits with about a 1" rake.

 

I would watch out with the extended billies in the rear... unless you are running a VERY thick leaf pack like the all pro expo, or for some god awful reason a block... you are likely going to bottom the shock out before hitting the bumpstop

I too am running stock TRD or coils at 1.75 and the wheelers SINGLE 2in aal and i love the ride... the extra load handeling in the rear is great and the ride is so much better... the single leaf AAL is not bad, it rides like a truck now, but not nearly as harsh as my 1ton chevy. I am running OME N182 rear shocks for same travel numbers as the billie extended ones but smaller compressed length so i dont run into the situation like stated above.

 

Question, why do people remove the overload?

 

This is what Wheelers recommends, but they also say if you want the added lift you can leave them in.

 

Either worried it will give too much lift or too harsh of a ride. I left mine in, ride, no issues with heighty or harshness in my opinion.

 

Thanks guys. But if it doesn't even touch the other leafs (being that it is curved in the opposite direction) how could it affect the ride? Considering the surface contact area, I would assume it acted like a lift black and did not affect ride... Please correct me