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Which Bilstein rear shock

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Mr.Fahrenheit, Jun 9, 2010.

  1. Jun 9, 2010 at 7:10 AM
    #1
    Mr.Fahrenheit

    Mr.Fahrenheit [OP] Dennis = sinneD

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    hey tw,

    just installed wheelers 5-pack on the truck. the pro comp shocks i currently have on there wont do, they are almost maxed out just sitting level. i measured the length of the rod and its 8". so im guessing i need a 10"......i guess my choices are billy's 5100, 5125, and 5150 but i dont know what the difference and which set is better.....

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Jun 9, 2010 at 7:16 AM
    #2
    Ridingontrd

    Ridingontrd Well-Known Member

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    Call Sonny @ Down South Motors.
     
  3. Jun 9, 2010 at 7:18 AM
    #3
    steve o 77

    steve o 77 braaap

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    x2, he will know.
     
  4. Jun 9, 2010 at 7:20 AM
    #4
    nelson18matt

    nelson18matt Well-Known Member

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    5100 will be too short

    5125 are longer versions of the 5100's and

    5150 are the same as 5125 but have a piggy back resi

    a 10" sounds right, but i'd still call up DSM to make sure
     
  5. Jun 9, 2010 at 7:23 AM
    #5
    Ridingontrd

    Ridingontrd Well-Known Member

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    How much lift over stock are you at?
     
  6. Jun 9, 2010 at 7:33 AM
    #6
    Mr.Fahrenheit

    Mr.Fahrenheit [OP] Dennis = sinneD

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    well i got 1.5 leaf springs and 1.25 shackles so almost 3"......
     
  7. Jun 9, 2010 at 7:40 AM
    #7
    Ridingontrd

    Ridingontrd Well-Known Member

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    ok,10" of travel might not be enough.

    Call this guy.
     
  8. Jun 9, 2010 at 8:44 AM
    #8
    mikesdoublecab

    mikesdoublecab LT Chase Truck

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    Engage Offroad long travel front and rear with some fat tires.
    before you call Sonny, cycle your suspension first and measure correctly...

    most 10" travel shocks are 16" or longer at compressed length...

    your rear suspension compressed, is only about 15" so a 10" shock will likely bottom out and if you take a pretty good bump or flex in rear, you will damage the shock bottom or even force the shock to shear the upper shock mount off the frame...

    also, what shackles are you running? if i recall, stock shackles should be 6" eye to eye... your pic looks like stock shackles... maybe just the angle of the pic...

    if the rear was at 3" of lift, your truck would be sitting bull dog as the ratio from front to back is about 1.5:1

    3" in rear typically sits level with a 5" front lift...

    1.5" in rear typically sits level with a 3" front lift...
     
  9. Jun 9, 2010 at 5:41 PM
    #9
    Mr.Fahrenheit

    Mr.Fahrenheit [OP] Dennis = sinneD

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    i did research and the shackles i have appear to be the daystar 1.25 and thats plus the 5-pack alcan springs from wheelers for 1.5 of lift.

    [​IMG]

    i measured the pro comp shocks i currently have the body is about 12ish inches and the rod is 8" fully extended. sitting level the exposed rod measures about 6-1/2". do i need longer ones, i only have a little over an inch of up travel.

    also how can i measure my suspension fully compressed and extended???
     
  10. Jun 9, 2010 at 6:01 PM
    #10
    mikesdoublecab

    mikesdoublecab LT Chase Truck

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    Engage Offroad long travel front and rear with some fat tires.
    the way to cycle your rear suspension is to lift the truck up and put the truck's frame on jack stands... unbolt the shocks, and let the axle drop all the way down... measure the distance from upper shock mount bolt to lower shock mount bolt for your extended length...

    then, take a floor jack and place it under the differential, and jack the axle all the way up until the axle rests up against the bump stops, and then measure from upper mount to lower mount for your collapsed length...

    i suspect you will likely end up wanting to get into a 9" travel Bilstein 5125, part number BE5-A463-H5...

    you probably won't need to get anything longer unless you plan to jump and aggressively drive through whoops to maximize the droop of the axle...
     
  11. Jun 9, 2010 at 7:06 PM
    #11
    Mr.Fahrenheit

    Mr.Fahrenheit [OP] Dennis = sinneD

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    ok thanks mike going to go measure right now.......
     
  12. Jun 9, 2010 at 8:27 PM
    #12
    Mr.Fahrenheit

    Mr.Fahrenheit [OP] Dennis = sinneD

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    K&N CAI, HUSKY LINERS, LOW PRO TOOL BOX, GRAY WIRE MOD, OPTIMA RED TOP, GOODRIDGE STEEL BRAKE LINES, FAB TECH LIFT,
    ok i found spec's on the current shocks i got:

    model - extended - collapsed - travel

    92050X - 20.59 - 12.7 - 7.89


    extended:

    i lifted the truck without the shocks on, measured 25" but my parking brake cable and e-locker motor wiring were pretty damn stretched.


    collapsed:

    now i couldn't really push my axle up into the bump stops so i just dropped everything back down and measured from eye to eye which was left-19-3/8", right-20-1/2" and i measured the distance from the bump stop to the frame. 6-1/2" so subtracting that from the previous number gives me left-12-7/8" and right-14" roughly
     
  13. Jun 9, 2010 at 8:43 PM
    #13
    mikesdoublecab

    mikesdoublecab LT Chase Truck

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    Engage Offroad long travel front and rear with some fat tires.
    you can get an extended rear brake line from Wheelers Offroad...

    for the locker wire, just loosen it from the frame brackets...

    if you can afford it, look into the Bilstein 7100s...

    they are rebuildable with reservoirs so they won't heat up...

    they make a short body 10" that will just barely clear while still letting you get quite a bit of droop and articulation...

    part number AK7110SB

    contact Sonny at Downsouth Motorsports for TW member pricing...
     
  14. Jun 9, 2010 at 11:06 PM
    #14
    Mr.Fahrenheit

    Mr.Fahrenheit [OP] Dennis = sinneD

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    i have 4' extended brake line already, but thanks

    so you recommend 10" rod length??

    i found this 5125 BE5-6253-H5 but its only 8.60" this is hard because i can get length without problem but its the collapsed measurement that is key here huh??

    are there any other brands that you might recommend that would fit better and are good quality??
     
  15. Jun 9, 2010 at 11:19 PM
    #15
    mikesdoublecab

    mikesdoublecab LT Chase Truck

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    Engage Offroad long travel front and rear with some fat tires.
    the 5125s are a lil short...

    at the very least, try for the 9" 5125s

    optimal would be the 7100s in 10" short body...

    there are higher end shocks out there, but only Bilstein has the shorter collapsed length...
     
  16. Jun 9, 2010 at 11:31 PM
    #16
    Mr.Fahrenheit

    Mr.Fahrenheit [OP] Dennis = sinneD

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    K&N CAI, HUSKY LINERS, LOW PRO TOOL BOX, GRAY WIRE MOD, OPTIMA RED TOP, GOODRIDGE STEEL BRAKE LINES, FAB TECH LIFT,
    ok thanks for all the help mike
     

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