Bilstein 5100 Lift Too High

I just installed Bilstein 5100's on my 2005 DblCab Short bed and it didn't go quite as I expected. The TSB rear springs were installed (4) months ago in May 2017. I did some reading on here and 1.75" setting is recommended to level the truck. I just wanted to make more room for 265/70R17's on some new wheels I bought. I took before measurements of hub to fender and are as follows-

Front Driver-20"
Front Pass- 20 1/2"
Rear Driver- 21 5/8"
Rear Pass-21 3/4"

When installing the 5100's I set them on the 2nd slot from the top, the 1.75" location as per the instructions, with the stock springs. I installed new top hats with bushings and isolators. I installed the lower spring seat properly. I didn't install a 1/4" spacer on the drivers side to level it out. The front end of the truck is now "Bro Lean" status. The front is now 23" high hub to fender! I also have a bit of vibration on the drivers side. The passenger wheel bearing has been replaced but not the drivers side. I need to determine if its that or the needle bearings. I am guessing the truck wont settle down an inch. I am debating taking it apart and dropping it one setting on front shocks or getting and 1.5 AAL from wheelers and some 07- Tundra shocks. Has anyone else experienced too high of a lift in the front? My rear springs are (4) months old and I can't imagine them sagging that much so quickly.

 

Check your installation again to make sure everything is in correctly. I see you have a sport, so you shouldn't have the TRD OR coils that are progressive, those may make somewhat of a difference in height if you did. Try loosening the Upper control arm though bolt and re torquing on each side of the truck, this may make a small difference since the rubber bushing may bind. If you haven't had an alignment yet, you may also mark the cams on the lower arms, loosen them, and re torque. This doesn't do anything for you, then I would say yes, drop the spring perch down one notch. Let's get a pic of your coil over assemblies for reference when you have the opportunity.

 

I bet you will be surprised at how much it will settle over the next few weeks. Mine dropped a full inch.

 

I torqued the lower control arm bolts and the bottom shock to control arm bolt with the truck sitting on the wheels so I wouldn't bind the rubber in the bushings. I didn't touch the upper arms bolts. Ive also had the truck aligned at Firestone, 1deg camber, 2deg caster, and slight toe in. Ill take a pic of the assembly after work today.

edit- The truck has 111k miles on it.

 

Are you positive the spring seat is on right? Can you take a picture? If the circlip is on the right setting that is the only way you'd be that high with stock springs. Lift springs upon first install will ride high for a short time but they settle fast.

As far as the driver side vibe, more likely than not it's the driver side needle bearing. Only true fix is the ECGS bushing, which if you can do 5100's yourself you can install the bushing yourself.

 

Mine are at the .85 notch and my fronts are 22" from hub to fender so that seems about right. With allpro expo springs in the rear it is at 23" with a fiberglass shell.

 

I know you said that you installed the spring perch correctly, but you might be surprised how many people still do it wrong and put it upside down. Take a picture of the installed shock and spring.

 

We have a winner. Spring perches are upside down. Guaranteed.

 

i forsee a ECGS diff bushing in your future. 10 bucks says your vibes go away when you put it in 4hi.

As far as lift height, get us a pic of everything. I got exactly 1.75in of lift on my truck on the 1.75in setting.

 

Sounds like you've already been on the right track. Alignment numbers are ok, but if you lower the spring perch, you'll need another alignment, and maybe get those numbers better. As for your vibration, drive to where the vibe is at its worst, then switch the truck in to 4hi. If the vibe goes away in 4hi, but comes back when it 2hi, most likely you're front driver diff bearing is the culprit. ECGS came out with a bushing to fix that issue.

 

The suspense is killing me!

 

Agree with this guy. Wait it out, that shit will drop. Mine dropped atleast an inch or more once it adjusted to the plate bumper weight.

 

I went out to the parking lot and snapped some pics. I am pretty sure this is the proper orientation of the spring mount. Also in the second pic you can see the top slot for the 2.5" lift above the spring mount.

 

Perches are good...

How about some pics of the top hats?

 

If you think you can out and see if the suspension settles, do that. If it doesn't, probably down one notch ought to do you good.

 

Should fit flush on the seat. Here's mine set @ 0 w/ 885's.

 

The top hats are installed the way they came off. Shock, dust boot, washer, bushing, top hat, bushing, washer, nut. The studs point up. I expect it impossible to install the top hats upside down.

 

Reused stock springs typically wont sag when installed onto 5100's. They have already been set and shouldn't sag any more than they did on the old shocks. TSP leaf springs sag before you even install them. Give it a week or two and if it's still to high move the perch down.

 

What do you mean should sit flush on the seat? The end of the spring is aligned with the notch in bottom mount. On top the isolator is new and doesn't have anything to index the spring too.

 

I think he meant the top of the spring should sit flush with the isolator. I didn't see any issues with how it sits on the porch, so that must be what he's saying. It really looks like you have everything correct. Yeah the stock leafs sag almost immediately even with the TSB done. If you like the way the front sits, then you may think about an AAL to get the rear better if you don't drop the front down.