Advice for Bilstein 5100 front shocks please!

Shaun what size tires are those?

 

265/75/16

 

Those KO2's 265/75/16's are what I am going to put on my truck when my stockers wear down a bit. I have allway had bfg KO's on my previous FJ and jeeps before that.
Great tires for my weekend warrior /camping trips.

 

This happens so often.....

 

Well, you went for a 2" lift, and got a four inch lift. If you leave them @ 1.75" you should be mostly level. You will drop by ~2". If you change to .85" you should drop by ~3" from where you are now, and have the rear sit ~1" higher than the front. Personally, I prefer to have at least a little rake.

The thing I would be concerned with, is the ride. On the one hand, as it is now, those coils are pre loaded twice as much as they should be, so that alone will make it ride like shit. It will ride nicer if you drop it by ~2". On the other hand, I'm assuming those KO2's are LT's. Those tend to have a stiff ride on their own. As I've mentioned before, my set up is 1.75", with stock Offroad coils, but I'm on P rated tires. I would call the ride firm. Not harsh, not stiff, but firm. I like it. But I think if I had LT's it might be a different story. .85" will have a nicer ride than 1.75"

BTW, despite the high front end, the truck looks good with the new wheels/tires.

 

Thank you and I appreciate all the help. Btw, ya the ride is awful the way it is right now.

 

Is that stock coils? I have a 1.5" AAL and was going to set my front 5100s at 1.75" on stock coils. Im thinking that should sit pretty level if not slightly raked.

 

Curious as to why you had the Taco lean with the stock coils...aren't the stock springs side specific to account for that?

 

Yeah man, no problem. You'll get it sorted out. It can be a can of effing worms though huh?

Whatever you end up with, the ride will only get better from here.

 

That pic is actually with them set to .85", with the original stock coils, and factory 2+1 leafs. The other pic is with them set to 1.75", new factory Offroad coils, and new 3+1 factory leafs, with a 2" AAL.

If you don't have any extra weight in the back, the setup you mentioned should be exactly what you said. Your measurements (center of hub to fender) should be front: @ ~22". Rear: @ ~23.5.

The springs are side specific, but the driver's side is still typically low by ~1/2". Measure from center of hub to fender on both sides. You most likely have it too. Most people wouldn't notice it. Some notice, but don't care. I didn't, until I heard about on TN. Once I did notice it though, OCD kicked in, and it had be corrected.

 

That is looking more and more like what I would like to do...

I don't want to measure! If i do, I'll be in the same boat...I'll have to 'fix it'!

 

I don't blame you, its purely aesthetics.

Some opinions if your looking for them: The ride (if your sticking with stock coils), .85". Better than stock. And I always liked the stock ride. I still like the ride @ 1.75, (on P rated tires) but it is was perfect on stock coils @ .85.

As far as aesthetics though, 1.75". I love the way the truck sits now. It's not over the top, and still looks pretty stock. But you will need to add/replace something in the back if you want to retain any kind of rake.

 

I'm not against 1.75 & an AAL in the rear if it doesn't make the rear too harsh or hop around on dirt roads...

 

I have to say, seeing as you have the AC, Off Road with 2+1 leaf springs, the .85 setting looks just what I would want with those tires. The ratio of tire size to lift/wheel well looks just about right to me. Almost ready to go that way...

 

Ok so I got the issue fixed and he was super cool saying if I didn't like it at what I originally wanted at the 1.75 setting he would lower it to .85, but after having it fixed at 1.75 I loved it at that setting. Had the alignment done right after with no issues. The ride was night and day. Rides great, sits level to me, and no rubbing so far. So finally the finished product and I am happy with how it turned out. Thanks to everybody on TW for the help and information, you guys are awesome!

 

I put on a full set of 5100s last weekend. I set the front at 0.85". Very happy so far with the ride. But the back end is still lower and 'saggy'...due to the weak Toyota springs. Hopefully they will get the leaf recall started soon in Texas and replace them.

And, yea, for anyone who puts these on the front, make sure that perch is put on correctly. There are some posts here on TW where the 5100 ring failed because perch was upside down.

I'll try to get some pics up of the front install soon.

 

Perches are correct @Fitz235

 

That's weird. You definitely look higher than .85". And look level with a 1" block in the rear. Typically, there is still an inch of rake with just factory leafs , and the front @ .85.

Well, your ride looks good either way.

 

Congrat's Shaun, Your truck is looking like a Truck! It looks great!