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Bilstein adjustable shocks causing any issues?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by texastacobueno, Jan 23, 2010.

  1. Jan 23, 2010 at 12:45 PM
    #1
    texastacobueno

    texastacobueno [OP] Effin A Cotton, Effin A

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    Andy
    College Station, Texas
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    08 4x4 Sport
    Pop N Lock - Westin sportsman guard - Hella 500 fogs - extra D-rings - Mag Lite mounts
    Hey guys, still new to the game here at TW. I've been reading up on the Bilstein adjustable shocks because i just want to level out the front of my 08 Dbl Cab. I figured that 1.75" setting would do a good job of that and i don't want to go to high because I'm worried about that awesome Toyota warranty I paid for going up in flames. So what I was wondering is if anyone is running these at 1.75" and did you have to install a diff. drop as well as have you had any issues thus far? Thanks a million!
     
  2. Jan 23, 2010 at 1:02 PM
    #2
    tmat

    tmat Well-Known Member

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    Treavor
    Cypress, CA
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    07 Regular Cab, PreRunner
    BHLM, de-badged, custom Manoukian flowmaster exhaust system, Bilstein 5100 front adjustable shocks set at 1.75", "smoked" foglights, Satoshi grille mod, 265/75r16 BFG T/A KO tires, AFE Pro Dry S air filter, solid rear window, Weathertech floor liners and painted grill surround
    Hey there. Welcome to Tacoma World! I have bilsteins set at 1.75" up front and, for me at least, the front is just ever so slightly higher than the rear. If you want to level out the truck I think the setting below the 1.75" is what you would want (.85")? Anyways, I do have problems with it. My alignment is off (The truck wanders pretty badly on the freeway if I take my hand off the steering wheel) and there is some pretty annoying squeeking when I open and close my door, or when I go over small bumps in the road. The ride is not any different than factory. I do plan on getting a spindle lift and setting the bilsteins back to 0" of lift, which I hear makes the ride incredible. Hope this helps.
     
  3. Jan 23, 2010 at 3:19 PM
    #3
    rab44

    rab44 Well-Known Member

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    Got my tires on today going to install 5100 tomorrow. Im setting mine to 1.75 so i will let you no what its like im renting a sring compresser so this should be interesting.
     
  4. Jan 23, 2010 at 3:29 PM
    #4
    texastacobueno

    texastacobueno [OP] Effin A Cotton, Effin A

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    Andy
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    Pop N Lock - Westin sportsman guard - Hella 500 fogs - extra D-rings - Mag Lite mounts
    this is awesome info, can y'all throw some pictures up?
     
  5. Jan 23, 2010 at 3:44 PM
    #5
    bluecluee

    bluecluee Well-Known Member

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    Jason
    Baltimore, MD
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    '09 DC TRD OR Timberland Mica
    5100's Set at 1.75
    Anyone have stock TRD coils with the 5100's? I can't decide if I should buy aftermarket coils or just use the stock TRD OR ones with the 5100's.
     
  6. Jan 23, 2010 at 3:56 PM
    #6
    tmat

    tmat Well-Known Member

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    Treavor
    Cypress, CA
    Vehicle:
    07 Regular Cab, PreRunner
    BHLM, de-badged, custom Manoukian flowmaster exhaust system, Bilstein 5100 front adjustable shocks set at 1.75", "smoked" foglights, Satoshi grille mod, 265/75r16 BFG T/A KO tires, AFE Pro Dry S air filter, solid rear window, Weathertech floor liners and painted grill surround
    Here you go buddy; I guess you can't really tell that the front is higher, but the truck is on a driveway at a slight angle upward. When it is on flat ground it is a little more noticeable. Hope this helps ya

    DSC00485_0df8b939006c7bdc5e41e06d8d860566b7d135b5.jpg
     
  7. Jan 23, 2010 at 4:03 PM
    #7
    texastacobueno

    texastacobueno [OP] Effin A Cotton, Effin A

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    Andy
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    08 4x4 Sport
    Pop N Lock - Westin sportsman guard - Hella 500 fogs - extra D-rings - Mag Lite mounts
    that looks really good man, what size bfg a/t's are you runnin? i like the look alot
     
  8. Jan 23, 2010 at 4:04 PM
    #8
    rd263

    rd263 Banana Republic

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    Southeast of Disorder
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    Billy 5100's front,5% tint rear,20% sides,35% full front,Kenwood head unit,DRL mod,AFE CAI,Thule rack system,TSB rear leaf upgrade,Hella headlamps,Vent visors,Led brake lamps,Led backup lamps,clutch squeak TSB,TO bearing fixed,Debaged,100 watt fog lights ,Popnlock,shorty antenna,door sill protectors.
    mine are set at 2.25 with rear TSB done and my truck is level, drives great, no problems at all !!!! :cool:
     
  9. Jan 23, 2010 at 4:06 PM
    #9
    tmat

    tmat Well-Known Member

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    Treavor
    Cypress, CA
    Vehicle:
    07 Regular Cab, PreRunner
    BHLM, de-badged, custom Manoukian flowmaster exhaust system, Bilstein 5100 front adjustable shocks set at 1.75", "smoked" foglights, Satoshi grille mod, 265/75r16 BFG T/A KO tires, AFE Pro Dry S air filter, solid rear window, Weathertech floor liners and painted grill surround
    Thanks man :). All the info of my truck is in that blue dotted box to the left
    <--
     
  10. Jan 23, 2010 at 4:08 PM
    #10
    texastacobueno

    texastacobueno [OP] Effin A Cotton, Effin A

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    Pop N Lock - Westin sportsman guard - Hella 500 fogs - extra D-rings - Mag Lite mounts
    rd263, did you do a diff. drop when you installed yours? and like bluecluee asked, did you keep your stock TRD coils?
     
  11. Jan 23, 2010 at 4:08 PM
    #11
    texastacobueno

    texastacobueno [OP] Effin A Cotton, Effin A

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    Pop N Lock - Westin sportsman guard - Hella 500 fogs - extra D-rings - Mag Lite mounts
    nice, just realized what that was for!
     
  12. Jan 24, 2010 at 2:36 PM
    #12
    Way2muchtime

    Way2muchtime Well-Known Member

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    I was looking at the adustable Bilsteins for my Frontier but was told once you adjust them for ride height over say .5 inches the ride starts to suffer. Max was 2" and I was advised by multiple sources that my truck would ride horrible.

    Maybe I was fed a line because Taco owners seem to do this setup a lot without issue and the suspension design is pretty much the same between the Fronter and Tacoma.
     
  13. Jan 24, 2010 at 3:10 PM
    #13
    brutalguyracing

    brutalguyracing BIG DADDY

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    F.U> GUYZ
    broken mods
    this is my truck with 5100's @ 2.5 on stock coils & 2"aal in rear
    no diff drop kits but do have some vibe issues only after rear aal was installed...
    you should be fine on the .85
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Jan 24, 2010 at 3:21 PM
    #14
    rab44

    rab44 Well-Known Member

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    Did mine today 1.75 truck sits level and rides nice a little firmer. No vibes at all.
     
  15. Jan 24, 2010 at 3:23 PM
    #15
    kilgoja

    kilgoja Well-Known Member

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    :mudding:
    i'm going with ome 883 springs and set the 5100s to 0" setting...supposed to get around 1 1/2" of lift without compressing the springs at all
     
  16. Jan 24, 2010 at 3:42 PM
    #16
    scully

    scully Well-Known Member

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    Chris
    San Diego, CA
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    06 TRD Doublecab
    Rear TSB FJ Cruiser TRD anthracite wheels Bilstein 5100's allround Tint
    I had the same concerns and decided to go w/ 1.75. Leveled the truck, no issues getting the allignment back to spec and best of all, no vibes
     
  17. Jan 24, 2010 at 4:17 PM
    #17
    newfie8

    newfie8 Well-Known Member

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    Tinted windows all around. Fog lights. Intermittent wiper switch. Skid plate. Extra D rings. Grillcraft. Color matched grill. Hella 500ff HID behind grillcraft. Rcbs204 Lighting. 5100's up front. 265/75/16 Duratracs.Firestone riderites. Bora Wheel spacers. Tinted tails. De badged. Blacked out rims.
    Thanks everyone for replying to this Thread. Got the 5100's on order and i'm keeping a close eye on this Thread!
     

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