Professional Opinion Needed: Spacer with 5100's! Good or Bad? Does it really matter?

w8n4mud · 11-05-2009, 12:24 AM

Here's the scoop. I currently have this spacer kit on the front.

I went to a shop where my Bilstein 5100's were going to be installed. The Bilsteins were already set at 2.5 and were lowered to accomdate the spacer kit.

What? Yeah that was my reaction. I assumed that the shop was going to remove the spacer kit when I wanted the upgrade, but they didn't.

So to make a long story short, am I losing/gaining anything by having this set-up? The shop is willing to go back in and undo the spacer kit and lift the struts back to 2.5, but is that really needed? It's level right now and looks higher than it did before. Just wondering if there is an advantage or disadvantage. I'm looking for opinions from people who know suspensions. Thanks guys.

2004robert · 11-05-2009, 01:02 AM

Im curious as well Just did mine myself with my spacer set them at .85 so far so good. Sits higher but is rougher.

derekabraham · 11-05-2009, 01:12 AM

I'd say don't do it.

You're basically stacking lifts, which could lead to some problems.

I say remove the spacers and put the 5100s at 2.5.

Padilla1880 · 11-05-2009, 07:53 AM

Spacer lifts sit on top of the coils, which puts more load on the coils, causing for a less than satisfactory ride. Since the 5100's are set at 0/lowest notch, the spacers are still providing the lift while the 5100's provide the smoother ride due to the valving on them. Essentially your still a spacer lift.

Setting the 5100's higher gives it more preload causing for a stiffer ride.

Setting the 5100's higher along with the spacer puts a ton more load on the shock/strut as well as the coils, which will give a horrible/unsafe ride.

Al I would advise against stacking like Derek said. Remove the spacers!

Or you could get some of those Eibach lift springs and leave your 5100's at 0/lowest notch.

chris4x4 · 11-05-2009, 07:55 AM

Those top plate spacers lead to breakage if you go off road.

mjp2 · 11-05-2009, 08:17 AM

On a good bump the shock will bottom out before the suspension hits the bumpstop. Do it hard enough and you'll break the only thing holding up the front end of your truck. Get the spacer out of there.

chris4x4 · 11-05-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjp2

On a good bump the shock will bottom out before the suspension hits the bumpstop. Do it hard enough and you'll break the only thing holding up the front end of your truck. Get the spacer out of there.

SLOH · 11-05-2009, 08:32 AM

hey...that looks familiar haha and yeah al i'm surprised they didn't take the spacer out for you, bad juju

w8n4mud · 11-05-2009, 10:38 AM

Little update: I parked head-to-head with Ron yesterday and originally his truck was slightly higher than mine (he has 5100's). Mine now sits almost 1.5 higher even though the strut is not at 2.5. I don't think it's at its lowest level. I'm not a hard core off-roader. I do like the occasional venture to the dirt trails. One reason I was debating was because of my stance right now. I will go down a little. The ride right now is as smooth as a baby's butt.

derekabraham · 11-05-2009, 10:42 AM

I hope it doesn't break in Ocotillo.

w8n4mud · 11-05-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjp2

On a good bump the shock will bottom out before the suspension hits the bumpstop. Do it hard enough and you'll break the only thing holding up the front end of your truck. Get the spacer out of there.

Would lifting the truck up with a jack allow me to see how much travel I have before the suspension hits the bumpstop?

Janster · 11-05-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w8n4mud

Would lifting the truck up with a jack allow me to see how much travel I have before the suspension hits the bumpstop?

It's not the downward droop or extension that he's referring to.

Top plate spacers force the entire suspension travel into a different position/lowered.

It's the UPWARD travel ....

You'd have plenty of downward droop but not enough UPWARD travel. Hence, the suspension/strut would compress & bottom out first.
(hard to explain).

Your options would be.....
#1) Install 5100's at the STOCK setting with the top plate spacer
OR
#2) Remove top plate spacer and adjust 5100's to desired height
Do NOT DO BOTH

w8n4mud · 11-06-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janster

Remove top plate spacer and adjust 5100's to desired height
Do NOT DO BOTH

Done. I took your advice and had them removed.

derekabraham · 11-06-2009, 11:02 AM

Padilla1880 · 11-06-2009, 11:04 AM

w8n4mud · 11-06-2009, 11:20 AM

Ready for Ocotillo

11-05-2009, 07:53 AM	#4
Padilla1880 "Let's Ride!" Name: Daniel Joined: May 2009, #17365 Location: Temecula, CA Gender: Male Posts: 1,174 05 TRD OffRoad V6 SR5 PreRunner 2005 Access Cab Automatic 4.0	Spacer lifts sit on top of the coils, which puts more load on the coils, causing for a less than satisfactory ride. Since the 5100's are set at 0/lowest notch, the spacers are still providing the lift while the 5100's provide the smoother ride due to the valving on them. Essentially your still a spacer lift. Setting the 5100's higher gives it more preload causing for a stiffer ride. Setting the 5100's higher along with the spacer puts a ton more load on the shock/strut as well as the coils, which will give a horrible/unsafe ride. Al I would advise against stacking like Derek said. Remove the spacers! Or you could get some of those Eibach lift springs and leave your 5100's at 0/lowest notch. __________________

11-05-2009, 10:38 AM	#9
w8n4mud There's a mod for that! Name: Albert Joined: May 2008, #6831 Location: San Diego,CA Age: 33 Gender: Male Posts: 3,431 06 PreRunner Sport Double Cab 2006 Double Cab Automatic V6 Bilsteins 5100's (Front & Rear), GrillCraft, Line-X'ed Skid Plate & Bumper Valence, MB Wheels & BFG 265/70/R17's.	Little update: I parked head-to-head with Ron yesterday and originally his truck was slightly higher than mine (he has 5100's). Mine now sits almost 1.5 higher even though the strut is not at 2.5. I don't think it's at its lowest level. I'm not a hard core off-roader. I do like the occasional venture to the dirt trails. One reason I was debating was because of my stance right now. I will go down a little. The ride right now is as smooth as a baby's butt. __________________ Signature by Evil Monkey

11-06-2009, 11:04 AM	#15
Padilla1880 "Let's Ride!" Name: Daniel Joined: May 2009, #17365 Location: Temecula, CA Gender: Male Posts: 1,174 05 TRD OffRoad V6 SR5 PreRunner 2005 Access Cab Automatic 4.0	__________________

11-06-2009, 11:20 AM	#16
w8n4mud There's a mod for that! Name: Albert Joined: May 2008, #6831 Location: San Diego,CA Age: 33 Gender: Male Posts: 3,431 06 PreRunner Sport Double Cab 2006 Double Cab Automatic V6 Bilsteins 5100's (Front & Rear), GrillCraft, Line-X'ed Skid Plate & Bumper Valence, MB Wheels & BFG 265/70/R17's.	Ready for Ocotillo __________________ Signature by Evil Monkey

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11-05-2009, 12:24 AM	#1
w8n4mud There's a mod for that! Name: Albert Joined: May 2008, #6831 Location: San Diego,CA Age: 33 Gender: Male Posts: 3,431 06 PreRunner Sport Double Cab 2006 Double Cab Automatic V6 Bilsteins 5100's (Front & Rear), GrillCraft, Line-X'ed Skid Plate & Bumper Valence, MB Wheels & BFG 265/70/R17's.	Professional Opinion Needed: Spacer with 5100's! Good or Bad? Does it really matter? Here's the scoop. I currently have this spacer kit on the front. I went to a shop where my Bilstein 5100's were going to be installed. The Bilsteins were already set at 2.5 and were lowered to accomdate the spacer kit. What? Yeah that was my reaction. I assumed that the shop was going to remove the spacer kit when I wanted the upgrade, but they didn't. So to make a long story short, am I losing/gaining anything by having this set-up? The shop is willing to go back in and undo the spacer kit and lift the struts back to 2.5, but is that really needed? It's level right now and looks higher than it did before. Just wondering if there is an advantage or disadvantage. I'm looking for opinions from people who know suspensions. Thanks guys. __________________ Signature by Evil Monkey

11-05-2009, 01:02 AM	#2
2004robert TRZTNO1 Joined: Apr 2009, #15439 Location: Reno Nv Gender: Male Posts: 31 05 Silver Tacoma sr5 3" lift 2005 Double Cab Manual v6 4.0 Revtec 3" Lift, Skyjacker rear 3" leaf springs, K&N Intake, Flowmaster Exhaust, Billet Grill, 5% tint on rear 35% on front, HID headlights and fog lights, nfab light bar, 7" Hella lights, Throttle body spacer, Aluminum racing wheels, BFG Mud Terrain KM2s 285/70/R17, short shifter, Black Smittybuilt nerf bars, Bilstiens 5100.	Im curious as well Just did mine myself with my spacer set them at .85 so far so good. Sits higher but is rougher.

11-05-2009, 08:17 AM	#6
mjp2 Living vicariously through myself Name: Milton Juevos Portimous II Joined: Feb 2007, #924 Location: NJ Gender: Dude Posts: 6,001 '06 TRD Access Cab, v6, 6-speed 2006 Access Cab Manual 4.0 Painted grill	On a good bump the shock will bottom out before the suspension hits the bumpstop. Do it hard enough and you'll break the only thing holding up the front end of your truck. Get the spacer out of there.

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