Bilstein 6112

Quick update:

I went from stock TRD sport suspension to 6112 (3rd gen) and 5160's in the rear.

A few thoughts I have and my first impression after I installed and got an alignment. I just drove up the coast and hit the highway on the way up and took surface streets on the way back to give myself the real world conditions I want to see..

Overall I am very happy. I think this is how the truck should come stock and maybe the OR is much better but I could not stand the sport suspension. Those of you who say you like it are living in ignorant bliss because when you drive a truck that has a good shock set up, you would be amazed at the difference.

I noticed that the Dive I felt when I hit the brakes hard is gone, before my nose would drop a foot or more and now its very slight and seems better equipped to handle the weight on the front. The highway seems more stable and less roll left/right so the truck seems balanced on that axis as well. Before when I would hit a large dip at highway speeds I would notice the the driver and passenger sides of the truck would not raise and drop at the same time making the ride feel unstable, That has been resolved. I also noticed that its better with the "washboard" type roads and is able to absorb those smaller bumps and smooth out the ride. It was a jostle before and now its like a glide. You still know the bumps are there but it doesnt shake your cab apart.


In town: the ride is night and day. These handle the LA roads as well as I could hope and I feel like this is what I wanted when I bought the truck. Firm and tough but smooth on road. The combination of the 6112/5160 is well balanced and I only notice a slight advantage to the front under no Load. I used to hate to ride around in town as I felt the rebound and compression were so off for the sport. Now it rides like a truck. No weight issues. no nose dive. no left to right roll. better around a corner. takes potholes like a champ. I havent packed everything up and headed out to camp yet though...

If you are considering these.. I would def jump on them and you will not regret it.

Im excited to see them off road and fully loaded.

I am at a stock ride height and will likely run a 1-1.5 in lift in the future.

hope this helps you with what ever decision you make on your suspension.

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. So did you go with #2/#1 circlips settings for driver/passenger? If so, is the lean gone? If not, any lean present?

 

I just measured all 4 tires..

my setting was #2/#1


36inch from ground to flare in the rear- I have some things loaded up in the rear so I could be sitting a little low about a half an inch

35 1/2 on the front from ground to flare on the front.

I think the total is .5 inch - 1 inch diff from front to back on the stock settings. These could settle a little as well in the next month or so

 

Also less than 1/4 of an inch in the lean. I cannot see it with my eye and when I measure its so close I cant even really tell. Looks level and drives level

 

Thanks.

 

After doing a 6112/5160 lift, did any of you shim the differentials? i am noticing a very slight hum sound during acceleration between 25-35 mph.

 

Ecgs?

 

Thanks smitty99. Is everyone with a lift doing this? It is noticeable, but how urgent does it need to be done?

 

So I installed the 6112s on Saturday. The ride seems great. After settling the alignment seems acceptable until I can get it checked.
Initial measurements with about 10psi in the rear air bags were:
Front L//R
19.5/19.5
Rear L/R
22/22

Initially after instal on the 3rd clip the front was at 22 left and 22.25 right. After a bit of driving, two days later the front is now at 21.5 on both sides. This is with an All-Pro Apex bumper on the front and a few hundred pounds of rear canopy and gear.
I didn't take a before picture but it was sagging pretty good. I also installed 1.25 wheel spacers at the same time and I'm running my 265/75/16 winters

 

This morning after settling. I'll get some better pictures later.

 

I was wondering if 2" on the 4th setting is your final lift after settling for a while longer and how many miles do you think it took to get there?
It's hard to to gauge with the DCLB 4x4. Not a lot of consistent posts about it. I have a 2015 also. Installing mine in the morning. I want close to 3" and I was planning on using a 1/2" spacer if needed. Paranoid it may go more than 3" though. Thanks.

 

Is anyone going with the 3rd setting for 1.75 inch lift on their 2nd gen? I want to level out my tacoma & avoid the bro lean. How quick do the springs settle?

 

Mine were on the 3rd notch hub to fender was 22.75". 06 dblcbsb

 

Thanks!

 

I went on the 4th notch with my DCLB. The front hub to fender was 23" on right side and 22-1/4" on left side.

 

I have a 05 Access cab TRD Off Road, V6 manual. 74k miles. Had the TSB rear leafs put in a month or so ago. Looked way too ass-high but I waited a few weeks for them to settle. Still too much rake. Got a set of 6112 & 5160's from Headstrong, set at 2nd notch in front with 1/4" spacer driver's side. Installed them Saturday. Now looks near perfectly level with a tiny bit nose high. I think 3rd notch would have been too high. Will let them settle a bit and see where we're at. Ride and handling are outstanding. No obvious taco lean but will measure exactly once settled.

So, looks like TSB rear springs + 6112 front => 2nd notch for level.

BTW right side 5160's seem back ordered everywhere. HS sent me (after phone discussion with Matt @ HS) 2 L side 5160's. The only apparent difference is L side has the additional brake line relocation kit, same exact reservoir mounting kit. I've read the R side damping is different (and even HS's website says so) but nearly every other shock for gen 2 Taco is same part # R-L. Matt says he looked into this and can't find any evidence R-L are different damping. Anyway install went fine as has driving. Would have had to wait weeks or months for Bilstein to make more of them not worth it IMHO.

 

the left rear and right rear shocks have the same damping. The only difference between the two is the left comes with the brake line relocation kit

 

Welcome do you work for bilstein? Noticed you just joined today

 

Yes that is what I was told. At least Matt at HS could find no evidence to the contrary. Honestly I can't see why they would be different but for some reason they claim that in some of the ad copy.

 

3rd notch to level. Took about 3 weeks for the settling to finish.