Who has had Bilstein HD shocks on their first generation Tacoma's?

Any body have an experience with regular Bilstein HD shocks (yellow/blue) on their first generation Tacoma's? The stock Bilstein's I have are shot and although they make the 5100's for my 2000 Tacoma (which I would really like to have), it is not recommended to install the 5100 on a stock suspension as it will damage the shock. So I am looking to purchase the Bilstein HD's and I was hoping that someone on this site has them or had them installed at one time and could tell me what the ride was like.

Thanks...

 

Curious, where you heard that? It looks like ToyTec offers the 5100's for your truck, wouldn't think they would if it could cause damage to the shock or your truck.

Are you still stock? Still running the stock TRD coil springs?

 

I spoke with a technician at Toytec and he is the one who told me to not run 5100's on a stock suspension.
Yes I am still stock and I still have the TRD coil springs, it will be a while before I put in a lift kit but it is in the works....

 

i ran the HD shocks for almost a year when i first got my truck...

great shock that rode better than the original shocks the truck came with...

i later slapped some non TRD coils and a coil spacer on them and they ran smooth...

 

I can install the front 5100 struts, it is the rear 5100 shocks that I can't install on a stock suspension. They make the rear 5100's designed for a 0-1.5" lift and a 0-2.5" lift, either one will supposedly bottom out or top out...
In any event, the Toytec tech said that a stock suspension would damage the 5100 rear shocks which is why I am now looking to install the Bilstein HD's...

 

Thanks for your help, just the info I was hoping to hear.

Anybody else had any experiences with the Bilstein HD's?

 

I just put 5100's on the front of my 2000 TRD ex.cab 4x4 about 3 weeks ago & have had nothing but improved handling & much better offroad performance, seems strange that they would give you that info seeing how Bilstein designed the 5100's just for Toyota for ride-height adjustment. Unless I'm missing something I think you've been misinformed, & I installed them using my stock coils, no problems,no issues....

 

I ran stock leafs with 5125's that are designed for 0-3" lift from Wheeler's w/o any problems at all.

 

I apologize if I was misleading....
According to Toytec, you can install the adjustable 5100 shocks on the front stock suspension with no problems. The problem is with the rears. The Tech at Toytec stated that the 5100 rear shocks were designed for trucks that have lift kits therefore they will get damaged on a truck with a stock suspension. So I can put 5100's on the front of my truck, just can't install them on the rear.
The part about the Bilstein 5100's that I don't get is when you call Bilstein, they will tell you that they do not make the 5100 for a 2000 Tacoma (I have called them several times asking). Places like Down South Motorsports, they buy the shocks from a company called RCD (Race Car Dynamics). RCD purchases them from Bilstein and then makes changes to the shocks so that they will fit the 2000 Tacoma. I believe Toytec does the same thing (correct me if I am wrong). In any event, I am stuck with the yellow/blue HD shocks until I decide to fork out the cash to put a lift on my Tacoma... With the way gas prices are going, I am holding off on that project...LOL

 

Aww hey bro', you weren't misleading as I was a little confused when looking for the Billy 5100's for our year Tacomas, as I understand it, the 5100's for 99' - up to 04' Tundras (full size toyota I guess) ARE the series model for our TRD's, they just don't say its for a 2000 Tacoma (why? I don't know) & the 5125 series are for the rear, they could have made it a little clearer haha!!

 

Ok but back to the subject at hand.. how do the stock yellow (front) and Blue or yellow for the rear ride with the stock TRD suspension?

 

I looked at the pricing on Tire Rack and the customer reviews seemed really good a lot of 5 star responses (with the exception of a few people). But I agree with you, I'd still like to hear from others on this site that have had these on their Tacoma's. Mikesdoublecab already gave them a thumbs up....anybody else?

Thanks!

 

I guess I'm not totally clear, forgive my mental sluggishness haha, when you say Bilstein HD's , are they a Hydraulic Bilstein ? All I know is my Toy came with gas charged Bilsteins on all corners (yellow w/ stupid blue colored boot on them which of course is OEM for the TRD, so you're talking about a whole different Bilstein all together ?.....

 

I had hd billies on the front on my 98 and they worked just fine.

 

No problem, I probably should have been a little clear....my fault.
The Bilstein HD (HD stands for heavy duty) they are pretty much Bilstein's standard after market replacement shock/strut. They are the standard blue/yellow shocks, see the link below...
Bilstein HD shocks

 

Thanx!

 

Here is the straight poop from Sonny at downsouth motorsport. The 5100 up front are the best choice for stock height. 5100's in the rear might work if you have 0 sag in the springs. The 5125 is the shock for the rear if you have stock height. The 5100 will bottom and top out if you use it for a stock height. I am installing 5100's in the front and 5125's in the rear this weekend. I will try to post some pics.

 

I recently installed some bilstein HD struts and shocks on my 02 taco and they are a big improvement over the stock toyota issued billies. The HD shocks are easily double the diameter of the stock TRD shocks.

 

Hmm, wow thanks for that information. I have a 2003 in need of some suspension "refreshing", and I do not plan on lifting it at all. I was going to go with 5100's all around, thanks for the heads up on the rears! Let us know how things go/impressions of the shocks!

 

All you have to do is run a 1" lift block on rear . Then use the front to level it out . Just installed them 5100 today . Got all of it on line as a kit . No it is not RCS's Bilstine . Outstanding set up !!!