Rear leaf spring issue

So the next question along the same topic with wanting to replace the shitty rough country shocks in the rear should I do 5100 shocks to match the front of my truck or should I run the extended travel 5100

 

they were the EL095R....1 issue with them is the 2nd leaf was not diamond cut to clear the hangers, so there was metal on metal contact.... i posted a picture of this before.... when he told me he was frustrated and done with them because they were sagging and squeaking I thought he was over reacting until i witnessed it for myself.... it was strange to me because with the 2 sets of cs047r that i had exhibited none of these issues

 

Driving style? Pavement? Off pavement? Etc..

 

I would absolutely suggest swapping in new shocks at the same time you do the leaf springs. You'd probably want the extended LENGTH shocks since you are sitting a couple inches up. I did 5160s for the reservoir and little more length.

 

And no, not saying you need the reservoirs. I just did it in the hopes that if i did get excessive bouncing from towing my trailer (often up nasty pot holed forest service roads) it would handle it better. I believe the 5100s are the same as 5160s besides the Reservoirs?

 

So the truck is my daily driver and mostly highway I do some trail riding a couple of times a year but the trails we have in central Illinois are nothing super intense

 

Been to Badlands yet??

Welcome from a Northern IL member!!! Let's get on the trails ASAP!!

I would overbuild rather than underbuild. I would get HDs and install them and call it done. I have not regretted the HDs nor has the truck not been able to handle anything I have thrown at it.

 

Not yet I’m hoping for a long weekend to get out there, just wish there were more local trails here

 

I modded my medium Dakar as well. In my case I pulled the top overload and am at just over 2" lift. I pulled the overload (versus a leaf) as I felt that retained the normal operating spring rates. YMMV, good luck there are many ways to accomplish and even more opinions.

 

You really should consult with one of the suspension vendors that are mentioned on these boards. You will for sure need longer shocks and you are towing a pretty big trailer. You have different requirements than a guy offroading. Those Bilstein shocks have a certain type of valving that may not be the best for sway control while towing. Have you checked on the TW towing forum? The experts are there.

 

Northern Illinois here....St Charles.....

My last Taco I had Bilstein 5100 (24-186725P) which Toytec states 0-1"......i had Dakars CS047R on it and had zero issues....

Current Taco I have Bilstein 5100 (B110-P) which according to Toytec are for 3-4" lift....I do have 1" spacers in addition to Dakar CS047r leaf packs..... have super bumps as well.... have offroaded a bit more with this truck, including CO and zero issues.... I am even running the OEM rear brake lines because I have not found time to install the extended ones I have had for sometime now....

 

Ride-Rites: Increase your rear clearance, they don't take it away (if I understood the concern). They go where the factory bump stops are now. At 10 psi, they don't do anything beyond the factory springs... anything more, they begin to lift the rear end up. 20-35 psi for loaded trucks.

You don't need the compressor. Hopefully, you all have portable tire pumps (not hand pumps) that clip onto the battery or can just go the gas station... A tiny amount of air adds quickly. Mine does not lose pressure the way someone else's here did. I can go 6 months and it is never below 10 psi from 15-20 psi where I usually keep it.

Before airbags and new shocks:



After airbag install:





With new shocks:



Installed by Jason 'SpeedFreek' of Vista CA The Tacoma World Pro in San Diego County!:




Here are my measurements of lift they give:

I have had these air bags for over 10 years now. First on my 2005 which bottomed-out with any load when hitting a bump and then when I traded that one for my 2010, I had the dealer remove my air bags and I boxed them up. My 2010 had better springs (still the 3-pack) and they did not bottom-out. However, after a few years, the springs weakened a bit and I began to get the "harsh ride" so I had Jason (@speedfreek) install my old Ride Rites and they again worked like a charm! I also had Jason replace the stock Bilstein shocks with new 5100s, all around.

OK, so how much do the air bags raise the truck bed up:

Measuring from the street up to the wheel well, past the center of the wheel, empty truck bed, 3/4 tank of gas in tank, 265/75-16 tires:

Left (driver's) side:
5 psi = 36.5"
15 psi = 37.25"
20 psi = 37.75"
25 psi = 38"
35 psi = 38.5"
40 psi = 38.5"

At 5, 15, and 20 psi, the right side was .25" taller but the same at 25-40 psi.

Looks like 2" is the max lift, but with more pressure, the ride is surely stiffer. You can feel a big difference between 5 psi and 25 psi. I usually run mine around 15 psi.

Today I set it so both sides were level (37.75") with 20 psi on the driver's side and 18 psi on the passenger's side.


Everyone should have one of these or similar to re-inflate tires (after plugging nail holes or after deflating for off road driving.. and to add air to the Ride-Rites)!:

 

I go to Baja... the ultimate Tacoma proving grounds! So, yes! I did not know the plastic melted until the tires came off!

 

The right side was leaking, the left side just melted skirting:


So, the stock Off Road TRD Bilstein shocks are not the best... The 5100s are twice the size and very reasonable price.

 

Twenty five miles on that road took out those shocks? Amazing...... they should come here and try them on our roads after a bad winter. People drive roads like that daily. There is a long entrance ramp to the LIE that is worse than that for at least 1/2 a mile, maybe more and regular cars are up to 50 mph by the end of it. The side roads are worse for most of the year.

 

The same thing happned to me, three times and three times the OEM springs were replaced with the latest TSB springs and then I added the Toytec ADL and the springs collapsed on a long tow (19 foot BW boat) and we rode along for 2,000 miles on the snubbers. I got tired of the droopy butt look and had a local company build me a new spring pack.

With my SnugTop and heavy rubber Toyota bed mat and my rack, I have 3.0 inches of lift in the rear, 2.75 inches in the front and the truck sits absolutely dead level. That said, I think I will be doing the Ride Rite bags and Daystar cradles soon.

J