Installing front Bilstein 5100s. What do I need?

[trdracing5]

I am planning on installing my Bilstein 5100 front shocks next weekend. I am going to go ahead and assemble everything before hand and then install on the Tacoma. What else do I need besides these items?

Bilstein 5100 shocks.....


OME coils....


KYB Shock mount....


Shock bushings and washer kit...


Coil Compressor...

Is there anything else I need to make this go smoothly??????????

[Tacomanator]

an 18 pack of your favorite beer

[ColtsTRD]

Originally Posted by Tacomanator

an 18 pack of your favorite beer

for afterwards off course

[AvsFanTRD]

if those are your coil compressors, i would recommend getting a better set.

[trdracing5]

Coil compressors were only a pic but I think the local auto parts rents out the same type. Is there a better type that I should look for?

[hendooman]

I used those, they sucked but they worked. Had to crank down real hard.

[08pretaco]

those will be hard to do if you preload your setup. the arms are not think enough to extract from the compressed springs

[BirdTRD]

Originally Posted by trdracing5

Coil compressors were only a pic but I think the local auto parts rents out the same type. Is there a better type that I should look for?

Those compressors are just fine if you use them wisely. I've used them several times. Here are some tips:
1. Grease the threads. It takes a lot of torque to compress the coils and you don't want thread binding to make it even worse.
2. Make sure the compressors are on exact opposite sides of the coil. Squeezing too much on one side won't ever give good compression (Not to mention the danger of it possibly slipping out.)
3. Take the claws off the bolts, work them as close to the top and bottom of the coils as possible, and put the bolts back in. Just squeezing a few coils in the middle won't really get you anywhere because the outer coils will continue to expand.
4. Compress the two sides equally. I personally do 3 turns this side, 3 turns that side. Back and forth, back and forth. This keeps the pressure evenly distributed for both ease and safety.
5. If you have, or can borrow, an impact wrench, use it!!! It turns and arm burning hour into a ten minute breeze.

[BirdTRD]

Originally Posted by 08pretaco

those will be hard to do if you preload your setup. the arms are not think enough to extract from the compressed springs

You can do it if you take the bolts out and spin each claw out to the middle-ish area of the coil where the gaps are a little bigger. If you leave the bolts in, you'll never get the claws in or out worth a damn.

[SlimDigg]

is this the ideal setup for the front of a 2001 double cab 4x4? I want to get the billies but i'm wondering whether to go with stock coils or aftermarket?

[Tacomanator]

Originally Posted by trdracing5

Coil compressors were only a pic but I think the local auto parts rents out the same type. Is there a better type that I should look for?

just have a shop put the shocks together for you. i had Midas do mine for $40, only took 10 min.

[BirdTRD]

Originally Posted by SlimDigg

is this the ideal setup for the front of a 2001 double cab 4x4? I want to get the billies but i'm wondering whether to go with stock coils or aftermarket?

There is no "the ideal" set up. Basically, this is one of those "You get what you pay for" situations. The more you pay, the better your suspension will be. Stock coils are fine. Aftermarket coils are better. You can spend anywhere between $100 for spacers and over $1000 for adjustable coilovers. The important thing is to do your research and find what you need/want. You don't need Icons if you only fart around on off road trails now and then. Those are designed for bombing through the desert at 60mph. Even if you don't need them, that doesn't mean you don't want them. You decide.

Originally Posted by Tacomanator

just have a shop put the shocks together for you. i had Midas do mine for $40, only took 10 min.

Yep, that's easy but I'm too cheap. My wife is already giving me enough shit for buying parts then coughing up $60 for ANOTHER alignment.

[ColtsTRD]

Originally Posted by Tacomanator

just have a shop put the shocks together for you. i had Midas do mine for $40, only took 10 min.

this is what i'm doing...I called up a Midas over here by me and they quoted me that same price

[SlimDigg]

[QUOTE=BirdTRD;2259802]There is no "the ideal" set up. Basically, this is one of those "You get what you pay for" situations. The more you pay, the better your suspension will be. Stock coils are fine. Aftermarket coils are better. You can spend anywhere between $100 for spacers and over $1000 for adjustable coilovers. The important thing is to do your research and find what you need/want. You don't need Icons if you only fart around on off road trails now and then. Those are designed for bombing through the desert at 60mph. Even if you don't need them, that doesn't mean you don't want them. You decide.

Well im not doing any serious offroading beyond old logging roads, i don't think i'm gonna need anything major.

I'm thinking, toytec 2" aal in the rear to compliment my new stock leaf pack, and 5100s. and in the front im looking at new stock springs with 5100s. There will be a brush bar on the front and it is a 2001 double cab, should i be looking at aftermarket springs? I want to keep the lift under 3 inches to prevent cv damage and alignment issues, and also because i dont want the truck that high.

[BirdTRD]

Originally Posted by SlimDigg

Well im not doing any serious offroading beyond old logging roads, i don't think i'm gonna need anything major.

I'm thinking, toytec 2" aal in the rear to compliment my new stock leaf pack, and 5100s. and in the front im looking at new stock springs with 5100s. There will be a brush bar on the front and it is a 2001 double cab, should i be looking at aftermarket springs? I want to keep the lift under 3 inches to prevent cv damage and alignment issues, and also because i dont want the truck that high.

5100's and coils such as a set of Old Man Emu's (OME) would have you prepared for anything. I can't remember the 1st gen coil model numbers but I think they are 881, 882, and 883. They have different heights and spring weights. Probably the middle one would give you a little lift and a little more stiffness to support your bull bar. Coils will only add about $150 to your cost and I would really recommend them over stock. OME's typically lift your vehicle only about 2" by themselves. If you decide you want more lift, you could move the 5100's up a notch or add a small top spacer.

[KauaiSandRambler]

Will these coil springs give lift in addition to the settings on the 5100's? Just asking as I got my 5100's and now in the marked for an aal (gotta buy my parts one by one so the wife doesnt get suspicious... she thinks these are necessary repairs). Would like to get a little more lift if the coil spring will add that and can go for a 2.5 aal insead of the 1.5".

[BenWA]

Sorry to hijack, but I'm putting my 5100's on my '06 4x4 this weekend and have a couple of basic questions about the install:

1 - If I set them at 2.5" with stock springs, do I need a sway bar relocate?
2 - Do I need a diff drop kit for 2.5"?
3 - For the rear, I am putting 5100's with toytec 2" AAL (no TSB). Do I need longer U-bolts than stock?

Thanks for any tips.

[bgbdwlf]

trdracing where did you find the KYB shock mount, i want to do the same thing and pre-assemble mine.

[kessler89]

Im doing 5100's on the front of mine tomorrow using the" crappy" spring compressors, this will be about the 6th pair of struts I've done, just my first time on a tacoma, ill let u know how they work

[trdracing5]

Getting one more thing to help make the job a bit easier....