Looking for advice on Bilstein 5100's and lift

Sounds good. I'd love to redo the rear but I'd like to do it properly as opposed to AAL since its so old. Just not in the budget

 

Mine has 265,000 miles on it. Just put Wheelers 1.5 AALs on when i replaced my rear shocks with Bilstein. It actually made it ride WAY better.

AAL is not my permenant solution. But the Bilsteins needed an inch of lift to not bottom out.

 

Yea I’m in the exact same situation. My springs only have 133k so I’m sure they have a little more life then yours. Just mainly hoping to fix my axle wrap and like you said get that little bit of lift for 5100 in the rear. Good to hear it made t ride better I’m worried about it being to stiff in the rear once I put them in. I was thinking of going with the icon progressive AAL kit

 

The progessives are a better choice for sure. I decided to save money and go with just the AALs becuase my plan is to replace my leafs with OME Dakars (and repkace my coils with OME 882s) for more lift. I just didn't want to spend all the $ all at once. I HAD to replace my shocks... my originals were completely done.

 

k Guys today I ordered the full Kit front/rear Billies, It will take a while for me to get them because I'm down in Cabo, Baja which is damn far from California, but I'll upload a picture once they are installed.

I used a code on Ebay and got me $50USD off sweat deal!

Thank you for your comments they helped me decide to go ahead with the purchase.

 

what do you have in the front? The Wheeler AAL lifted the rear of my truck way more than I thought it would, lol.

 

CABO! I've always wanted to go there. Looks beautiful. I really want to overland there from Tijuana. Wasn't there an earthquake there recently?>

 

Does anyone think that used 881s (50k miles) with 5100s at the 2nd setting would be too stiff or a crappy ride? Mine have sagged over time and I'm getting that stinkbug stance. Want to bring the front back up.

 

I used Bilstein 4 setting front shocks in front (part #

$141 24-249928 Bilstein 24249928 Shock Absorber

24-249928) set on the third setting. With MOOG original replacement coils.

 

@x2468

Man, Cabo is awesome, lots of beautiful beaches and places for offroading, I drove from TJ to cabo and Straight shot is about 18 hours, if you do the drive make a stop in, Ensenada, Loreto, La Paz and Cabo. You'll fall in love with the place.

I'm moving to Canada next year but if you decide to make the trip this year let me know.

We had a big storm last year but nothing serious, we are back and running 100% now.

 

Damn, that's awesome. It's on my bucket list for sure. Where in Canada are you going? East or west side? French Canadia isn't far from me.

 

How would you say the ride is (honestly)?

I'm thinking of putting the same struts up front, but with my current 881s... 6 years ago when I got them, the 5100s were what I wanted but they were backordered. The 881s alone with the nitrocharger struts (non-adjustable) made my truck more or less level (maybe still 0.25 inch higher in the rear). However now the coils have sagged, and the rear appears to be more like an inch higher... I'm thinking my 881s on the bilstein 2nd setting might level me back up again, and still hold if I add a winch soon.... or maybe I should go with an OEM moog replacement like you for a smoother ride... I'm not sure.

 

"Honestly"... here's where I was at. My truck was at 260,000 on original shocks, coils and leafs. It rides WAY better. But it rode like a buckboard wagon before I replace the shocks, coils and did the add a leafs. I had ZERO shocks and I was hitting the bumpstops in the back when I hit bumps at highway speeds. Some may think it still rides rough. But to me... now... it rides like a Cadillac.

 

LOL. I gotcha. I nicknamed my taco "the hemorrhoider" for.... well... obvious reasons. It rides stiff... not fun on washboard dirt roads or with big potholes. BUT, I will say it sticks in a corner like a mofo. Very little body role in hard turns, and very little dive under braking inspires confidence.

 

The AALs and Moog coils are temporary. I plan on lifting it more with Dakar leafs and 882s. I just had so much that needed replaced, I didn't want to go all in with a new leaf pack (additional lift) because then I would have been looking at new wheels and bigger tires at the same time.

 

yeah... i know what you mean. I thought by now I'd be ready for long travel but, life has been more up and down than linear, and now 7 years after getting 5100s in the rear I'm due for another set, my right rear pretty much leaked all it's oil out over the summer. I'd love a new set of leaves. I'm going to look into that. Been driving on the stock leaves with AAL for... 7 now.

 

If you look in to leaf springs, check out the Dakars and the All Pros. They are pretty reasonably priced. I'm either going to go with the Dakar+Dakar add a leafs or the All Pro Expeditions.

 

Love the look of your truck. Wish it were mine, been looking for a nice white single cab for a bit now.

 

Looks like a NWTI bumper...

 

@indetrucks
Thanks man, still a couple of things to get done, I'll post a picture when is finished, is going to be good!!