Bilstein 5100 w/ OME 885

Is it impacting anything or just bugging you visually?

 

Drivers side
22 1/4”

Passenger side
Just under 22 5/8”

 

Bugging me visually. Probably just mentally. Hahha. I’ve asked 4 people and no one notices. I show them the measurements and that’s the only way they know.

 

I wouldn't preload or stack spacers for something visual but that's just me. My truck leans pretty good too.

 

You’re paying too much attention to measurements. If it’s lower by 1/2” you should just live your life and not think about it. That’s not discernible to anyone and will not in any way affect the drivesbility/performance of your truck. Leave it alone. Remember too, subtle differences in tire air pressure can affect height measurements. As well as the ground you measure on. Mine is also still lower on drivers side. It’s fine

 

Your off say 1/2". Did you put a .5" spacer on the driver side?If you put a 5/8 spacer on driver and a 1/4" on passenger than with the taco lean you should come out even 3". The spacer will equal double amount of lift. You also need to take in to account the taco lean and longer top plate studs.

 

Yeah. I don’t feel too comfortable with that either. I may be over stressing this.

You’re right. I am paying too much attention this. It’s just incredible to me that with a 1/2” spacer this is the case.

I have a 1/2” spacer on the drivers front. No spacer on passenger side.

 

ok if would have used a 1/8” spacer truck would have been level provide 2.5” of lift with Billy’s set at zero and 885’s . You went with a 4/8” minus a 1/8” for taco lean because 1/8x1/8 is 1/4”that would leave you with a additional height of 3/8”

 

Hi everyone,
I, too, just ordered 5100s and 885s. I am also OCD and although it might seem easy to forget about the differences in heights for some, for others with OCD, it can be very anxiety provoking. Having said that; here is a conversation I sent to Chris4X4, that I'd like to open up to the forum. If there is a remedy that someone has figured out, could you share it with me/us. I'd like to have the truck sit as evenly as possible.

Hi Chris,
we don't know each other, but I'd like to pick your brain when you have a minute, if you wouldn't mind.

I have a 2009 DoubleCab Shortbox 6 speed and I have Bilstein 5100s and 885s on the way.
I'm upgrading from a 2.75" ReadyLift levelling kit with a 1/4 inch spacer on the driver's side.
I have RideRite airbags in the rear and run them offset psi to compensate for the "taco lean".
I'm a little frustrated with all the conflicting information and have been searching this for weeks and my OCD/anxiety makes the problem worse.

My question is:

Should I re-install the 1/4 spacer in the new set-up or go for a 3/8 or 1/2? I've read that the taco lean is worse with aftermarket coils, because the stock coils are side specific, to account for the extra weight on the driver's side.

The lean really bothers me and I can be obsessive about it, so I'd really appreciate anything you could advise me on.

I have the truck almost perfect with the setup now, but the driver's side is still low by a few mm (maybe 1/8 inch) and I don't want that to be exacerbated by the aftermarket coils.

I'm in Canada and can't find the spacers here and the shipping from the States is terrible, so if I'm going to order from there, I'd rather it only be once and get it as good as possible the first time.

I'd appreciate any advice you could pass on....

Thanks Chris!
All the best,

Barrett

UPDATE:

just talked to a 4x4 shop and was told that the OME and Bilsteins do not work well together. Reason being that the spring doesn't seat properly on the shock seat and the spring "kicks out " and "bows", so the shock is not centered in the spring. They said that it happens about 30% of the time. Is there any truth to this and, if so, is there a fix to keep the spring from "kicking out" that I could do while the install is happening? GAWD, this is frustrating!

 

Do NOT fret over such a small difference between left and right front heights. Leave it alone, no one can tell and it doesn’t affect the ride or performance in any way!

Bummer to hear about what they’re saying with OME coils on 5100’s. I have personally used 5100 shocks with OME lift coils on our 4runner and my tacoma and have had absolutely zero issues. Just smooth driving and great performance for not much money!

 

@Bartlett18 again - DO not stress about a small difference between sides (like a few mm or less than an inch). That is just plain crazy! Leave it be!

 

I have only been running my 5100s and 885s for about 5 months but it's been great...smooth ride, was within my price range, and the 1/4" spacer got me level on the front (driver and passenger side sit at the same exact height)...I went with a single AAL and the rear is higher so I maintained the factory rake but I think the back passenger side is slightly higher than the back driver side by .5" or so. It doesn't bother me since I figure it's a truck and as long as it tows my fishing and hunting boat, allows me to haul camping gear, and get me out of messy situations, it's perfect.

To answer your question, I think 1/4" spacer would make it even and I have not had issues with 5100s x 885s

 

hanahou7,
This is what I was looking for! Thanks for taking the time to respond. I appreciate it! I'll get the 1/4 inch spacer and hope for the best in the front. In the rear, I have the air bags, so that should help me with any tweaking I might need. As far as the "incompatibility" of the OMEs and the Bilsteins; can anyone chime as to whether the coil could be tack welded, or otherwise "fixed" to the shock to discourage this, possible, "kick out"? I'd rather "overdo" it with a possible simple fix, then have it turn on me and need to disassemble/reassemble the assembly.

Again, thanks for the kind response!

All the best,
Barrett

 

They're not incompatible. There's nothing to do. Just install.

 

Perfect! Thanks! Looks like I got some bad information from the shop I talked to. This is good news! Thanks for the info, Matt!
Take care,
Barrett

 

Hey man, I just was wondering how it all turned out for you and rough price you paid for everything? I think I am going to be probably going the exact same route as you. Any before and after pictures?

 

Any alignment people out there?? After installing the 885 and 5100s, should an alignment be done immediately, or after a week or two, giving time for the coil to break in a bit? Or, will the amount it will sag be so minimal that an alignment right after will be fine?

Thanks!!

 

Immediate is good.

 

Hi all!
I need your help.
My 5100s and 885s are in and the truck is going in this Tuesday, Oct 1. I have a 1/4" spacer in the driver's side currently (will be put in the new set ups passenger side), but the 1/2" spacer (for the driver's side) has gone missing in the mail. I can't get another 1/2" in time (AND I don't want to pay the HUGE delivery fees, to Canada, again). My solution has been to call a metal shop and have them slice a 1/2 inch off of 6061T round bar and have my mechanic use his drill press with a hole saw to make the inner hole. I approximate that the outer diameter of the spacer in the truck now is 5 inches, but I can't measure properly.

To be sure that I do things right, I'm wanting to know the outer diameter and inner diameter of a spacer for our 2nd Gen Tacoma, so I can get the right size of round bar this weekend. I can't find the dimensions anywhere in the internet. Can someone please let me know, if you know off the top of your head, or, measure one that you have that hasn't been installed yet? I'd really appreciate it! I'll keep looking and post the dimensions if I happen to find them. Thanks in advance!!

Barrett

 

Like Matt said Immediate is the best time.