Adding 5100s

Thinking about adding 5100s to my 09 prerunner. Is there anything special I need to do/know?
I was expecting to just buy them and put them on and that's all...
From what I read, setting them to 1.75 levels the truck

 

I'm planning on getting 5100's also. I think its a pretty straight forward install. I'm pretty sure you need to do an alignment afterward Which sucks for me because I just had the truck aligned yesterday when I had my new tires and wheels put on. After installing my new wheels and bigger tires, which fill up the wheel well more, the height difference between the front and rear is a lot more noticeable. So now I want to level it out.

 

Just unbolt everything blocking your way to the coil over and your good

 

So I will need an alignment after? everything else on my truck is stock. I run 265/70/16 Toyo's.

Also, will I need longer brake lines?

 

I don't think it's enough of a lift to need longer brake lines

 

I'm not 100% sure about the alignment. I'm pretty sure anytime you change the height of the suspension you also change the angle of it.

 

Yes, an alignment is required. I have my billies cranked up to 2.5" and a 1.5" lift in the back using all the stock brake lines.

 

Will the stock coils work ok with the 5100's?

 

Planning on adding 5100's also. My plan is to buy 5100's online and have them installed somewhere that also does alignments and get it aligned right away. Then I plan on getting new tires very soon so I won't need an alignment when I get the tires. Does this seem like the way to go or am I missing something? I already have bilstein shocks that I believe are the original shocks but they are not 5100's and the truck now has 126,000 on it. I bought it used and know nothing of its maintenance history. From what I have read here I believe I can just replace the existing blisteins with 5100's using the same coils. I plan on putting 265-70-17 tires on instead of the 265-65-17's it has now. If anyone sees any problems with this plan please let me know before I start dumping money. I'm new and don't know shit but am learning a lot from this forum. Thank You.

 

Anyone?

 

I've been wondering this as well. I've searched all over and haven't found the answer.

Everyone seems to suggest eibach or ome springs, which I understand, but no one ever says whether the stock ones will work or how they ride. I've got a spacer lift I'm looking to ditch for 5100's.

 

From what I've been reading stock springs will work fine with 5100's. The guys running Eibach or OME springs on 5100's are running them at the stock height setting on the shock.
because the springs are already longer lift springs.

Guy's, feel free to chime in if I'm mistaken.

 

Yes.

When you set your 5100s to level it, you're basically moving the perches up and compressing the spring a bit. This allows you to use your stock coils. You see a lot of people running eibach or OME springs because they let the coils do the lift (setting the perches at the lowest setting 0" lift) not 5100s.

5100s are made to work with your stock coils.



Edit: Beat me to it V

 

stock coils will work with the 5100's, just know that adding preload to the soft stock coils might stiffen the ride a bit, especially if you go to the 2.5 setting (they should be fine at the middle though)

you don't need longer brake lines

you'll need a spring compressor to get the coil on the shocks, and to set the coil perch to the middle setting

but then it's just
take tire off
unbolt coilover
slide in 5100
bolt up

go


then get an alignment

2nd gen guys usually run the eibach's at the middle setting since 2nd gens are heavier than 1st gens, or get the appropriate OME coil to fit their weight

only if they need the full 3" lift though

 

Awesome. I really appreciate the info guys!

Thanks!

 

So then setting it at 1.75 with stock coils is probably the best idea? I've already got a 2.5 preload spacer which I hate because it rides like crap. If I set it at 2.5 will it ride better than the spacer or is it basically the same thing? And will I loose much height? I've got the TSB rear springs so it sits pretty level right now....

 

Are you trying to lift it? Or just trying to level

 

Easy...

Jack up the truck with a jack by the frame and support the frame after using jack stands, from there you are going to want to remove the jack and keep it free for later, unbolt the top nut of the shock. Leave it be for a moment up top, remove the two large bolts that support the ball joint in place, do not remove the middle one, then work your way to the two pivot points on the inside of the lower control arm, mark your eccentric cams to make sure you don't totally f your alignment, then loosen those two bolts, do not fully loosen, just enough to make the control arm lower. Put your jack under the control arm, loosen the bolt holding the lower eyelet of the coilover and SLOWLY drop your coilover, reinstall using the new one using the same steps in reverse.

I found that the sway bar has absolutely nothing to do with nothing when working these front coilovers, but if you want to unbolt it, go right ahead. Good luck OP.

 

Just ordered a set of 5100's front and rear, $309 shipped from DSM. Just looking to level my truck out, but I figure it's better to have 4 matching shocks.

 

It's already lifted. I'm trying to ditch my preload spacer lift. I just want it to stay the same and ride better. But if I have to go lower to improve the ride I will.