Harsh Ride with 5100s

I just installed my 5100's all the way around last week. The rear isnt too bad (considering I added a Fabtech AAL) but the front rides pretty harsh. I remember I used to speed over speed bumps at 20+MPH and still be fine, but now it feels like I ran over a wall. At this point, what can I do to soften the ride? I have them set at 2.5 and down tuning them is not an option as I need the space for the 33"s I have. Are there some coils I can add to significantly improve the ride? Or do I need a whole new set? Id like it to ride as good, if not better, than stock.

 

You can get C/o's and spindles, then set the coils to 0". This would give you the best ride quality for the lift most likely.

 

IMO, IIRC i dont think you'll be able to get that much softer of a ride with just the 5100s.

In order to lift, the strut is set at 2.5 which compresses the spring, creating lift and unfortunately a harsh ride. If you decompress pressure by getting a softer spring, you reduce the pressure, thus decreasing the amount of lift.
get it?

 

yea I get. so there would really be no point to getting coils for a maxed out 5100?

 

Are you going to be going offroad at all? I would get c/o's and it should give you a nicer ride. at 2.5"

 

Well I wanted to start doing some offroading and maybe try some desert runs. I cant afford a LT kit to build a full on prerunner but I was hoping for a somewhat decent ride so that hitting the whoops wont flip my truck over.

 

Definitely go with some c/o's than. Check out ICON and some others depending on your price range. The Toytec coils are capable for mild offroading.

 

by c/o you mean keeping my 5100's, set at 2.5, and replacing the coils right? And if so, wont I be running into the same problem that thornstra talked of?

 

I have 5100's with toytec coils and I don't feel a harsh ride at all. They provide up to 3" of lift, but mine are only at 2.5"

 

How does it ride on a neighborhood street as compared to Bone stock? rougher, smoother? thx

 

Get some OME coils. 885 for your double cab. Set the shocks to "0" and you should be good to go!

I feel you on the harsh deal. That's why I have a full OME set-up now. They're shocks are a little softer than the Bilsteins. Everything is butter smooth now. Oh and they don't heat up as quickly as the billy's either! Great for your whoops! Lol

It's cheaper to get the OME springs than to buy those spindles

Kind Regards,
Ryan

 

I agree with ^. If I already had the 5100's, I would get the OME springs to go with it. I am sitting stock and plan to buy the OME shocks and struts (full kit). But I don't see a problem with putting 885's on 5100's. It will be better than your current setup.

 

I have 885s on my 5100s and the rides not bad. The ride is not like stock but a lot less harsh that with stock springs. If you set the 5100s to zero then you get just over 2.5 of lift from the 885 coil (disclaimer, set 5100 to 0 or .85 at max). I'm not using the 1/4 inch spacer though but maybe in the future when I get some new UCAs. I believe the 885 coils are 590# springs and when you compress the stock coils on the 5100s its come out to be around 700#, so thats why its so stiff.

Coilovers are the best but more expensive than just the 885 coils

 

ok, OME's for ride.. done... but I thought the Coils by themselves only provided 1.75" of lift and a spacer was needed for more?

 

No. Advertising is wrong. It will provide a little more than 2.5" to 3" without spacer. You should be ok. If you want more lift you can add the spacer later.

Kind Regards,
Ryan

 

here is a picture of my truck with 885 OME coils and 5100s there is definitely more than 1.75 inches of lift... tires are only 265/70/17, and rear is toytec tsb AAL

 

Thanks!

 

This may sound stupid but I'd hit those speed bumps at 30+ instead of 20 & you'll find that your suspen. will smooth out just fine, my point being as in any suspension mods stiffer the shock & spring rate, stiffer the ride but along with the stiffer ride you 'll find you have a more responsive & stable truck at higher speeds whether on road or off. The first 4x I had was a totally stock 1972 Dodge power wagon . I bought the first generation Rancho lift kit for it (it was probably the first Dodge in San Diego county with the Rancho lift according to John Compton of Border Parts in Spring Valley, those old farts in here like me from San Diego probably know who I'm talking about). Anyway the kit consisted of 2- 4" cast iron blocks for the rear & progressive arced front springs with 4 Gabriel racing E's series shocks, I added 1 leaf to each front & 1 leaf to each side of the rear to give it a 1 ton suspension rating, talk about stiff but I'll tell ya the faster I'd hit whoopdies the more predictable & smoother it got, & landing from an all 4 off the ground test flight was smooth as hell, when in doubt ,,,, punch it !!