Rate My Lift Plans

So my goal is to start saving some money to get some Bilstein 5100's for my 06 Access cab Tacoma. I have my eyes on the ToyTec Bilstein 5100 adjustable shocks with the Eibach coils. So from what I have read on tacoma world and toytecs website, it looks like if I order them set on the first clip that should give me 1.5" of lift. But the diagram i attached says the first clip up from the bottom is around .85. So i want to do that .85 combined with the Eibachs giving around 1.5 ish of lift equals 2.35" ish of lift or something around there, and thats exactly what i want. But why is Toytec telling me that their first clip is 1.5 "approximately" on their website, will it settle that much? but these instructions say that .85 is the first clip. Any info on that is much appreciated because i am super confused in that area now! So with the combination of the trucks stock rake, would the 2.35 inches look okay with the 2" Toytec AAL in the back? Will it be level or will it still have some rake to it, or should I buy a different AAL or multileaf pack or what. Theres so many choices and I would just like to get some opinions of what you guys think about this. Does this sound right to any guys out there that have this same set up? Any tips tricks of hints is helpful and appreciated!

Also i apologize for any messups or weird form, im on mobile currently.

 

Bump cuz still confused

 

The Eibach's give 1.6" on their own, and with the 5100's set to .85" (these on their own would get you roughly 1" with an access cab) you should get roughly 2.5" - 2.6" in the front, and a 2" AAL in the rear should still give you a little rake, but a little less than factory (more level). It should look good.

 

Awesome, thanks for the good information. So from Toytecs website should i just get them unassembled then? Because they will assemble them before shipping at either 1st or 2nd clip because they are telling me that the 1st clip will give me 1.5" of lift here on a 6 cyl access cab. Thanks Fitz!

 

I purchased the toytec kit with the bilstein 5100s . The 3 inch preset. I have a double cab. After I installed it I noticed that there's quite a bit of rake. I'm not too pleased although I know the rear will settle a bit . My rear sits two inches higher then the feont Just an FYI before u purchase.

 

Whether you get them assembled or not is up to you. It's definitely easier that way, but there's a fee for it. The first clip will give you 1.5"/1.6" (because the first clip on the 5100's is the "0" setting (no lift) so the lift is only coming from the springs). If you set to the second clip (.85" setting on the 5100's) you will be getting an additional ~1" from the 5100's pre-loading the springs. So like I said before, roughly 2.5" of lift in the front.

3 things of note:

1. If you assemble them yourself make sure you don't mount the spring seats up side down. This happens all the time with these shocks.

(These are mounted properly)


2. At 2.5" you are on the upper borderline of needing UCA's (upper control arms). Some guys can't get their alignment in spec post lift at this height, or higher because of the change in drive angles. At this height, some guys have gotten away with not needing them, but many do.

3. Being that your in Ma. I'm guessing that your 4wd. I'm also going to guess that you will more than likely get the driver's side differential hum/vibration post lift. Fix this with the ECGS bushing.

http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-8536125-toyota-8-clamshell-bushing-eliminates-needle-bearing.html

 

@geekhouse23 Liftman.

 

OHHHHH i get it now, so the 1st clip that they say is giving me 1.5" of lift is 0 on the shock, would be nice if that was told on toytecs website but its whatever now i guess, so i think im definetely going to go with the second clip pre assembled then. Thanks a lot for the information on that matter! And i will definetely make sure that the spring seats are right.

I am going to try running without the upper control arms at first, if i get it in spec then great. But if not then i will order some built rights, ive had my eye on those for a while. And ya you guessed it, i am a 4wd, also where does this anti vibration bushing go on my truck? Never heard of a differential vibe post lift. Thanks for everything man

 

Do your lifting with proper length/weight springs, and leave the shocks at 0. Preload for lift has no benefits. It does have drawbacks though.

It seems the 5100 is a fine OEM replacement with the addition of perch choices. That's it. It may, or may not, ride well when matched with enough spring to do what you want. Dampers function to control springs. Picking the correct damper to control the spring of choice is the goal, not the other way around.

A phone call to Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road, with a list of your goals, will get you a good parts recommendation. If it's more than your anticipated budget, save longer.

 

Well the toytec package im looking at is their Bilstein package with the 5100's and Eibach coils so it pairs and rides good, from what I have heard. So should I keep the shock at zero then and take my 1.5 in the front with no preloading? Or should I be looking for a different coil such as an OME coil for it? Because atleast 2-2.5 inches would be my ideal. Thanks for the help and i may give Marie a call later

 

I would suggest being prepared to buy more stuff than you are planning on just in case. Start messing with suspension and things can snowball quick until you get it right.

I drove mine for 2 years with 5100's set at .85 and I had the diff vibe issue. It was pretty minor but it was there. I just put them back to 0 and installed OME 884 springs and a 3 leaf wheelers AAL in the rear. Then I REALLY had the diff vibe. So I installed the ECGS bushing and all is good there. On my double cab the 884's actually gave me about 2.25" lift and with the 3 leaf AAL in the rear it's just a touch higher in back than up front. And of course it leaned so I got a 1/4" spacer for the drivers side. I also noticed the ball joints on my stock upper arms were smoked so I got the SPC arms. Then a carrier drop kit, sway bar drop kit, diff drop... When it was aligned I asked for a little more caster and the truck now drives amazingly well on the highway. With the caster out of whack from the 5100's the last few years it didn't track the greatest. But it didn't wear tires either. So now my truck is set up the way I wanted it.

 

Hmmm i see what you are saying about the snowballing stuff when it comes to suspension, if i have to buy new UCA's i will. Thats not a problem for me, if its what the truck needs then it will get it. So you say you had 884's on some bilstein 5100's? Did those ride rough? Or would you say some 884's on billys would be a better path to take, also a cheaper path. Billys with 884 would run me about 650 ish its looking like for the coils and front and rear shocks with the 2" Toytec AAL. Also what 1/4 spacer am i getting? I dont see a trim packer on their site for bilsteins. So that would give me plenty of room funds wise if i have to buy some UCA's in the future after the lift.

 

Yes I'm running 884's with 5100's. It's firm but I wouldn't call it harsh. I actually think the rear rides way better with the 3 leaf AAL in there. Before it was always hitting the bump stops. I used a wheeler's poly spacer on the driver's side. It goes in between upper strut mount/plate and the chassis instead of being installed between the spring and mount like a trim packer would be.

 

Thats quite an interesting way to install the 1/4 spacer, I will probably end up going the 884 route with the bilstein 5100's then because its slightly cheaper. So could you explain why the 3 leaf AAL looks like it kind of has shackles at both ends of the 3 leaf pack? Like i get that its an add a leaf, but its not like a regular add a leaf ive seen where ya just slide it in between the other leafs in the pack. Thanks for the information on the set up, a firm ride is okay with me as long as it rides right!

 

A 3 leaf installs on the bottom of the stock leaf pack. So instead of putting one stiff arched leaf in there to make the others arch it adds to the bottom and only arches the stock leaf a little. Rides better. Without the overload like I installed it they are supposed to give 1.5" of lift. I think I got closer to 2. The overload is roughly .5" thick so if you left that in there it would give you 2" for sure.

 

I'll be honest, I only skimmed.

My recommendation is to order from headstrong offroad. Get the 5100s set at 0 and get OME 884 coils to give you your ~2.25-2.5" of lift. It will ride smoother because there's no preload.

For the rear, depends on your preference. Do you want rake? Level? Increased payload? Smoother ride?

1.5" and 2" single ALLs are great, cheap, increase payload, but ride a little rough. 3 leaf progressive AAL ride much smoother, but if you remove the overload leaf of your stock leafpack you reduce payload by 10%.

 

Mine actually rides smoother now with the 884's and the 3 leaf than it did with the 5100's at .85 and a 1 inch block in back. I do wish the rear was slightly higher so I'm going to put the rear overloads back in. Honestly I didn't think the 884's would lift the front more than about 1.75" considering mines a double cab but I got slightly over 2".

 

Awesome, 884 sounds like the route for me!

 

Damn you guys weren't kiddin, Headstrong has some awesome prices, and free shipping? well god damn

I will definitely be ordering from there 100% because that is awesome, and i want it level so i am kinda leaning towards the 2" aal for now just because for my bank accounts sake. If its not level i will figure it out later, no biggie. But really everyone that helped me here thanks a lot for all the tips and great recommendations!