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Which billy's do I need to get???

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Sheepdog, Mar 23, 2010.

  1. Mar 23, 2010 at 11:06 PM
    #1
    Sheepdog

    Sheepdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Gary
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    Eibach/Bilsteins, Beefed shackles, Bushwacker Cut-Outs, Custom roll bar, TG Sliders, Elite Front Bumper, XRC8 Winch
    So I currently have a 2.5" spacer in front and I have 2" shackles for the rear. Before I want to install the shackles, I want to get new shocks but I'm not sure which ones I need. I asked the guys at downsouthmotorsports.com and I couldn't get a straight answer from them. So I want the 5100's in front for the 2" of lift they can provide, and I want the extended shocks for the rear so I don't blow up my stock ones. Which bilsteins do I need to get?
     
  2. Mar 23, 2010 at 11:20 PM
    #2
    dylandercole

    dylandercole Well-Known Member

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    sway-a-way 2.0 coilovers, 1.5'' AAL, 1'' toytec shackle lift, Go-Rhino 3000 Grille Guard, Kicker KS6502 speakers, JVC KD-S24 Head unit, billstein 5125 rear shocks, Deck Plate mod, K&N air filter, Wheelers offroad front and rear braided brake lines, diff breather mod, power slot rotors, ebc yellow stuff pads
    for 2'' of lift the 5100 should be fine.
     
  3. Mar 23, 2010 at 11:30 PM
    #3
    JESSMAN

    JESSMAN Well-Known Member

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    ARB BUMPER WARN M 8000 LIGHT FORCE LIGHTS Bill 5100 DOWNY FRONT LIFT RANCHO OLD MAN E REAR and JERRY CAN IN THE BED
    I have the Rancho 5100s work great:cool:
     
  4. Mar 23, 2010 at 11:31 PM
    #4
    blackwatertaco

    blackwatertaco If you ain't stuck, You ain't tryin hard enough.

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    Rancho 5100's?????
     
  5. Mar 24, 2010 at 12:02 AM
    #5
    Sheepdog

    Sheepdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Eibach/Bilsteins, Beefed shackles, Bushwacker Cut-Outs, Custom roll bar, TG Sliders, Elite Front Bumper, XRC8 Winch
    I want to stay with bilsteins because that's what toyota uses for their TRD trucks and I hear the 5100 series kick ass.

    I'm looking for their emails, I'll post what they said when I find the messages.
     
  6. Mar 24, 2010 at 12:37 AM
    #6
    Downsouth Motorsports

    Downsouth Motorsports Downsouth Motorsport Vendor

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    Good evening,

    Here is the email I sent back to you:

    Good morning,

    With the 2" shackles, I would steer you into some 5125 series shocks, but not this particular set. You will need some that are a little bit longer in length. The 5100's would work fine for daily (street) use, but if you plan on doing any wheeling where you will flex the suspension, they might be a little short. Hope this helps.

    Let us know if there is anything else that we can help you with...

    Thank you,
    Marco


    The reason I said that, is because I thought you might be right at the edge of the 5100 rears being a bit too short. They are listed for up to 1" lift, but we do have guys running them on trucks with more rear lift. But after some more thought and reading, I'm 99% convinced they'll be fine. Just haven't ever had anyone call us back with a solid "They're fine" feed back. The only real draw back will be that the shocks may limit your droop travel a little bit.

    The 9.24" travel 5125s are the next size up from the 5100s. We run these when a customer has 2.5"-3.5" of rear lift. Ideally we'd have you take a ride height measurement (after the shackles) to help determine which length shocks will work best.

    Still not a definite answer, I know. But maybe some TW members who are running 5100 rears will chime in and help....

    Thanks,
    Marco
     
  7. Mar 24, 2010 at 5:51 AM
    #7
    Downsouth Motorsports

    Downsouth Motorsports Downsouth Motorsport Vendor

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    Good Morning,
    Its about 5:38am here PST and came across this, not sure where to start on this one especially about the straight answer part.

    Ideally we'd have you take a ride height measurement (after the shackles) to help determine which length shocks will work best.

    That is what I found in one of the post that was written an this thread.I drive a 96 Tacoma daily and the rear of mine is stock and I ran an 8.5" Travel and 8" Travel 5125 shocks. The reason we ask some many questions about the shocks especially on the Gen.1 is because you have a long and a short side.The 2" Shackle in the rear because of the shackle pivoting and allowing a little more travel then what a block would have, that is the concern..Technically you would be fine with the 5100's from Bilstein/RCD and the parts #'s would be BE5-D559-T0 and BE5-D560-T0 because of there extended lengths and one shock is a little longer then the other about and inch.

    A lot will depend on what type of driving you will be doing...
    Street guy and mild off road, 5100's all day long.....out beating the crap out of it and thinking it is a race truck...then we would rather have a ride height measurement and get you the shock that we think will work and have you adjust your bumpstops.

    I hope this helps.....
    Have a Good morning everyone....
    Thank you,
    Sonny




     
  8. Mar 24, 2010 at 6:55 AM
    #8
    Downsouth Motorsports

    Downsouth Motorsports Downsouth Motorsport Vendor

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    Thanks for the support....We appreciate it....

    Sonny
     
  9. Mar 24, 2010 at 3:56 PM
    #9
    Sheepdog

    Sheepdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sweet. SO you want me to take measurements AFTER I install the shackles?
     
  10. Mar 24, 2010 at 4:03 PM
    #10
    dylandercole

    dylandercole Well-Known Member

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    sway-a-way 2.0 coilovers, 1.5'' AAL, 1'' toytec shackle lift, Go-Rhino 3000 Grille Guard, Kicker KS6502 speakers, JVC KD-S24 Head unit, billstein 5125 rear shocks, Deck Plate mod, K&N air filter, Wheelers offroad front and rear braided brake lines, diff breather mod, power slot rotors, ebc yellow stuff pads
    yea. OR you can do something a little crazier. Install your shackles, then disconect your stock shocks, then jack up the truck in the rear (not by the axle) and wait until your axle starts to lift off the ground. thatl tell you exactly how much travel your rear has. and then measure from shock mount to shock mount to see which size will allow you to use all of your travel. For the record I just measured from shock mount to shock mount after I installed my AAL and shackles and gave Sonny those measurments and he told me which 5125 size I needed
     
  11. Mar 24, 2010 at 4:15 PM
    #11
    Downsouth Motorsports

    Downsouth Motorsports Downsouth Motorsport Vendor

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  12. Mar 24, 2010 at 4:36 PM
    #12
    mikesdoublecab

    mikesdoublecab LT Chase Truck

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    Mohawk Mike
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    Engage Offroad long travel front and rear with some fat tires.
    how many inches are ur shackles, eye to eye?
     
  13. Mar 24, 2010 at 7:07 PM
    #13
    Sheepdog

    Sheepdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    They are 6.5" from the center of the top eye to the center of the bottom eye. The stock ones are like 3.5" eye to eye. Beffed made these ones for my like 4 months ago and I still have yet to throw em on.
     
  14. Mar 24, 2010 at 7:11 PM
    #14
    Sheepdog

    Sheepdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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  15. Mar 24, 2010 at 7:25 PM
    #15
    mikesdoublecab

    mikesdoublecab LT Chase Truck

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    Engage Offroad long travel front and rear with some fat tires.
    on stock leafs, that will sag to closer to 1.5" to 1.75" lift...

    with that setup, i would look into 5125s in 8.5" travel...

    you could squeeze the extended length of 10" travel shocks, but the compressed length would be a lil tight, especially if you articulate the axle hard and fast enough...

    you can cycle the suspension though by lifting the truck and resting it on jack stands, take both rear wheels off, disconnect your shocks from the axle, and let the axle droop completely with the shackles on...

    then measure the distance from center of upper shock mounts to center of shock mounts (eye to eye) on the axle...

    chances are, at full droop, the extended length will be between 22" and just before 24"

    an 8.5" travel shock will average 14" to 22.5" and 10" travel shock will average just under 15" to just over 24"

    you can get into a Bilstein short body 7100 10" which is 14" to 24" and it's a rebuildable shock with resi...

    a stock shock is just over 13" compressed, so you don't want your compressed length to be too far over that or you could end up bottoming out the shock and doing some damage...
     
  16. Mar 24, 2010 at 7:37 PM
    #16
    Sheepdog

    Sheepdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That's the kind of answer I was looking for!!! Well done Mike!!! So you're saying I should get some 5125's at 8.5" for the rear? And what should I run up front?
     
  17. Mar 24, 2010 at 7:48 PM
    #17
    mikesdoublecab

    mikesdoublecab LT Chase Truck

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    Engage Offroad long travel front and rear with some fat tires.
    yah, years ago, i ran a similar rear setup...

    for the front, if you are TRD, try and get your hands on some nonTRD coils... the progressive rates of the TRD coils are stiffer...

    a good combo would be some Bilstein HD stock replacement shocks.... not too soft, not too stiff...

    of course, coilovers and full leaf packs would be the ideal, but if on a budget, that's a good alternative...
     
  18. Mar 24, 2010 at 7:59 PM
    #18
    Sheepdog

    Sheepdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So where can I get that stuff and how much will it cost do you think?
     
  19. Mar 24, 2010 at 8:11 PM
    #19
    mikesdoublecab

    mikesdoublecab LT Chase Truck

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    Engage Offroad long travel front and rear with some fat tires.
    i would hit up Downsouth Motorsports... they should have the 5125s and the 7100s in stock... just depends on your budget...

    7100s are like $200+ per shock...
     
  20. Mar 24, 2010 at 8:58 PM
    #20
    Sheepdog

    Sheepdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ya the 7100's ar a bit outta range for me. But like the whole set of 5100's for $300 is more like my budget. So If I can get that kinda price, I'll do it. But much more and I won't be able to. :(
     

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