Bilstein 5100s uneven

Yeah, that's definitely odd. Maybe the clip wasn't fully engaged in the groove and it slipped down? Did yo notice anything while driving (heard a clunk or something) or did you just notice it while walking out to it one day?

You could also switch the shocks around, and see if the lean follows, or if it stays the same. If the lean stays on the same side, you've got other issues like maybe alignment cams shifted or something...

 

That was my initial thought is that the clip slipped down a position, but both sides are still in the correct position. I did hear a noise from the passenger side the fist day I drove it, but didn't notice a difference right away and haven't heard anything since. I didn't notice the difference until about 3 days after I installed them.

 

one more thing to check is the amount of threads sticking out of the top plate and if your rubber bushings (that sandwich the top plate) are still intact. But like I said, it's probably easiest to just take them off and set them side-by-side and compare them, should only take a few minutes.

 

Could it be possible that the spring is worn out on that side? Just a thought...

 

Possibly, but if that were the case then wouldn't it have been noticeable before the switch?

 

Probably, it was just an idea...I'm not very knowledgeable, but seemed like it could be a possibility. I'll be quiet now...

 

Haha, didn't mean to come across as a dick. I'm not very knowledgeable either, I'm just learning as I go, so wasn't sure if there was a possibility that it wasn't noticeable until I put the new ones on for some reason.

 

Hmmm... driver side lower. You are using used coils right? Are they the originals that came with the truck? How many miles on them? Are they on the same side as before? It is not unusual for it to take a few miles and/or bounces to get thing to settle after you've had everything apart.

Also, did you fill up the fuel tank from empty or add weight on one side in the bed?

 

Driver side is higher than passenger. I had thought it might be the gas tank as well, but the tank is full and the passenger side is still lower. It is the original coils, they have about 130k on them. Previous owner mostly just towed the vehicle behind an RV

 

Well, you are reusing the old springs, which could be part of the problem. To avoid this I bought new aftermarket springs for about $50 when I changed my shocks out (with 5100s), and got new hardware too. Everything looked fine but I figured I'd replace everything at the same time, less work involved.

I used the "off-road" version of the springs, which have a 595# rating, up a bit from stock. My truck has about 160k. It's the one part of the suspension that does the most work.

 

Could be a bad bilstein 5100??? I had a drivers side lean with mine that I fixed with top plate Spacers....

 

the shocks dont hold the truck the coils do. you had a drivers side lean because almost all tacos do giving it the nickname "taco lean"

 

False.... blow a front shock and see what happens..... happened on a tundra and it was 3" low on drivers side due to blown out shock...

 

I plan on changing the coils down the line. For now I was just trying to get the truck leveled out and then buy the parts for the rear and new coils for the front a little along until I had everything I need so I'm not breaking the bank. However it looks like I might be buying new coils sooner than planned. I'm gonna take it to the hobby shop Saturday and see if I can't get this figured out and update the thread, but if not it appears I'll likely be ordering some coils.

 

not false. unless it mechanically locked up internally the few pounds of force from the nitrogen charge will make no difference to ride height.

 

So explain to me how a blown shock on my tundra made the front drivers side ride 3" low and was replaced with the same shock and was back level?

 

like i said something internally must have bound up for a drastic difference like 3".

 

Is it possible the at the top there is a bushing that may have been put in wrong position causing it to droop. This happened to me on a another truck sounded like a bad shock took it back they corrected it.

 

Possibly, I'm going to the shop tomorrow and I'm going to take them apart to see what the issue is. Hopefully it's an easy fix and not something that's going to take a bite out of my wallet.

 

If you are re-using the coils is it possible you got the passenger and driver's side switched? The stock drivers side is typically a little stiffer to help account for the extra weight on that side