Bilstein 5100 Question - Stock '03 Tacoma PreRunner

You would definitely go insane up here then. They used 300,000+ tons of salt on the roads just in Chicago this season. And the temps have been much lower than usual, so there has really been no chance to get down to the local DIY car wash with the high pressure hoses. Other than the clean and shiny Softail, our garage looks pretty damn sad right now.

But OCD issues aside, do you have to replace those "cushion" bushings? My local toyota dealer says he can have them tomorrow, for $30, although I'm not sure he is talking about the same ones. I don't see those parts on the factory diagram of the front suspension parts.

 

Softail as in a Harley I take it. Yeah, we are finally getting some riding weather in this week. Don't hold it against me for not having a Harley...I rode the FJR in to work this morning....and yes, it's as clean as the Yota.
Harley's are beautiful bikes and I admire the paint jobs, but I like the sportier bikes. Had a ZX14 before this, but the leaning over was killing my neck.

 

Ha, the only thing I'm holding against you is that you get to ride today.

I'm actually looking at a Fz6R for a fun around-town scoot that I can take out on the slab if I want, and still be relatively comfortable.

But back to the bushings, I think I'm going to install the fronts this weekend (high of 25F, dammit) without any new cushion bushings. Too late to order anyway. Hopefully the stock ones don't just crumble up.

 

You've got to post some pics of those shocks when you get them off your truck. I'm curious to see how the entire assembly looks.
.......and Good Luck on the install. The backs ones took less than 40 minutes but I gave it a "E" for Effort on the fronts, but could not for the life of me remove the top retaining nut. It would have helped if I had a vice grip. Everytime I would turn the top nut the strut rod assembly would turn. I used a pair of vice grips to hold the rod, but could not get it to budge. After being defeated and wooped like a dog, I took them to Toyota to have them remove and install.

 

Just a quick follow up.....
After seeing how worn out the factory shocks were, I decided to replace the right/left stabilizer links that attach to the sway bar. Very easy to do, and did not require having to jack the front of the truck up. They were shot! The ball and stud on both ends moved around like wet noodles, whereas the replacements were tight and took allot of force to move. The Drivers side bottom rubber boot must have torn some time ago because when I removed it, nasty water came out of the split and you could see the ball joint inside.
Didn't feel a significant difference like I did when the shocks were replaced, but I feel confident it's had to have helped being they were so worn out.

Ordered from Partsgeek.com
Beck Arnley Part Number: 8223-05113875 (R Side) and Part Number: 8223-05113874 (L Side). $24.70 a piece. Perfect replacement.

 

Just installed the 5100's on the front and the 5125's on the rear. I used the second setting on the 5100 and it leveled it out pretty good.

 

Love the Tires/Rims on your Yota. Look Sharp.

 

Looks great! I'm about to get the Toytec bilstein lift but use the Eibach coils to do the lifting

 

Looks great. So you went with .5 lift in the front? What are you center hub to fender measurements?
I am curious because Jammer went with 0 setting and his was level. I am just trying to plan ahead when we do my Dads 1st Gen.

Also what size tires are you running?

-Primo!

 

If your Bilstein Shocks in the rear of your Tacoma are 5125's, They're upside down. The boot faces down. I made this mistake and almost ruined my Bilsteins. If you look at the boot you'll see the only holes in it are at the top of the rod. If you installed your own shocks, you woud have seen the 1/4" indentation on the top of the body of the shock. With the shock in the upright position as shown in your photo, any dirt, dust, water that enters the boot will accumulate in that 1/4" indentation all the way down to where the plastic tie wrap straps the boot to the shock. Causing the shock to rust up to 3" of the body under the boot. Trust me, turn it around and save your shocks. Look at the Bilstein label on your shock. It's upside down.

 

I know this is old as dirt but im lost, i wanted to get the 5100/5125 set up but DSM is only showing the kit and or 5125s for 2005 and up. Kinda lost, i have a 2003 tacoma prerunner 3.4 ltr

 

Thank you primo, i ended up just going with the 4600 series, after talking with DSM since i have no intention of lifting

 

We put 4600 on my Dads 2000. I confirmed they are the exact same function/quality as 5100, just no lift and different color.

 

And was there a pretty big improvement? mine are stock with 130k on them on a 2003 prerunner

 

Yes. Money well spent

 

Hey guys; my name is Ryan, new to the forum, was a reader for the past couple years, but finally joining up! From New Brunswick, Canada.

I have a 2003 Tacoma; 3.4L V6, Extended Cab, 4X4, all stock. 210,000kms. Frame recall performed Nov 2017 (passed inspection in ‘09 tho!).

I ordered new bilsteins to replace the old suspension, based on your write up and pictures. Maybe you could help tho, as I’m not having much luck!

I ordered the rears, as per part numbers on the boxes in your pics;

33-185590
33-185606

received them, correct part numbers on the shocks.. but there’s no way they’re lining up with the shock mounts? Mount hole is impossibly small!

any advice? Wrong shocks? Doesn’t seem like you had any issue!

 

Please explain with a little more detail? What do you mean "Mount Hole"? The hole in the shock or the hole on the truck mount? Which one will not line up, top or bottom of shock. The mount bolt will not fit in the shock mount hole? Try a little Vaseline twist and and hammer it in. It should be a very tight fit, you don't want a gap and moving around.