Bilstein 5100 length vs stock?

Specifically I’m looking for the length of the front shocks. How long are the front 5100s versus the stock Hitachi shocks on the 3rd gen SR or TRD OR Bilsteins? I’ve tried searching but I haven’t found any measurements of the stock shock length. @HeadStrong Off-Road posted the length of the 3rd gen 5100’s:

3rd gen 5100:
Collapsed = 17.58
Extended = 22.22

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-available-in-stock-and-ready-to-ship.455220/

 

I don’t have measurements, but a picture might help.
Clip is at 2nd position for .65 inch lift.

 

Not really, but thanks for the effort. 5100’s are supposed to be longer to support 0-2” lift. How much longer are they though?

 

Just measured the stock shock. Total length. Bottom to top.
24 3/8 extended.
About 20 5/8 compressed.

From center of bottom mount hole to top of the lower rubber bushing is about 21 1/2 extended.
From center of bottom mount to lower washer is about 21.25 extended.

1 inch difference would seem about right for a 0 to 2 inch lift.

I was guessing about an inch difference from the first picture, = 1,000 words.
Sorry if this still doesn’t help.

 

That’s perfect, thanks!!!

 

don't waste your $ on 5100's. Spend the extra buck and get 6112's.

 

Any chance you have the rears to measure?

 

6112’s are nearly 4x the cost. While everything I’ve read says they’re great, that’s a bit more than an extra buck. Most everything I’ve read on the 5100 is also positive, and my truck spends 90% of its time on pavement and the rest on logging roads.

 

THIS.

 

I’ve ridden in trucks with both on and off road, and I can tell you that the 6112 out performed the 5100 by far both off road and on road

 

Still have them two years later.
Stock Bilsteins.
Extended-23 inches from center of bottom mounting hole to lower washer.
Compressed-About 14.5 inches from center of bottom hole to lower washer.

In the picture from two years ago, they look to be about the same length as the 5100s extended.

 

Updating my own thread with info:

front 5100’s are longer


rears, about the same as stock.

 

Are they the same length with coils set to same lift? So stock with coils compared to 5100s on bottom perch with coils. Side by side of two shocks doesn’t mean much because they are supposed to change their length by design, you need a constant force to accurately measure. aka the coils forcing them to lengthen as to full extension.

 

5100’s all around 1.5” front lift 1.5” rear aal ride is stiffer but In a good way. No complaints here.

 

Huh?

5100’s are longer overall, but when on the top perch the spring section is the same length as stock. Lift is coming from the higher perch position and doesn’t change the preload on the spring vs stock.

On the lowest position the 5100 will be longer above the perch, but the spring, if stock, is the same length. The weight of the truck is going to compress it the same so it should end up as the same overall length as stock.

 

front 5100's are longer than stock for more droop. rear 5100's are essentially the same length as stock.

 

Okay guys.. just got my 2020 Taco Sr5 4x4 with upgraded wheels. I was looking at getting a little lift and was looking at going with Bilstein 5100s. Not to jack the thread here but will I need an extra leave after the upgrade to level the truck or will this be a equal swap. Plan to leave it at the lowest setting to keep the ride less stiff. Most of my driving it hwy. Thanks ...

 

equal when on lowest Perch

will give you slightly more droop considering it’s technically a longer shock as shown by the pictures above.

 

1. Measuring with coils on still doesn’t mean anything. The spring will compress and so will the shock. At static ride height (if the 5100s are set to the lowest setting) they will look the same as stock and will measure the same, only you’ll be closure to topping out the shock via bump travel as it nears its max collapsed length.

2. Measuring the extended and collapsed lengths gives you an assessment of how much up travel you trade for droop (if the 5100s indeed have 1” more travel - not sure if they do or not). If the 5100s do indeed have 1” more travel, that means with the stock length/rate spring, you’ll gain 1” of droop and lose the same amount of up travel (if the collapsed length is Longer) when at the lowest setting. Thus, putting them on the first notch Above the lowest setting would gain you lift with the same amount of up and down travel as stock - keep in mind the only way to increase true travel via a bigger shock and actually utilize it is to relocate the shock mount points. Bigger shocks on stock mounting points = trading bump travel for droop. This is why many do shock relocations in The rear running extended shocks so they don’t have to compromise.

This all depending on IF the 5100s have that 1” more travel than stock (I don’t know if that’s true or not). If they have the same collapsed and extended lengths, it’s moot and just may give you better ride quality (or worse if you preload up a notch).

those saying go 6112 - yes, thicker shock that better supports 3rd gen Tacoma weights and thus a smoother ride because of valving. You don’t get any additional travel over 5100s though so “performance” is subjective depending on your needs and what you use your truck for. Better valving though for sure and better all around ride quality because of it.

 

What im worried about is some of these shocks may compress at 20 inch instead of 17.5 or whatever .if its 5100 or fox etc where u can move the perch on lowest setting for stock height and it compresses now my travel till bottom out is only two inches or so??i feel like that set up would make me hit compression max faster?or do I knlw understand this right?? I just got 4600s and one is blown after 4 monthd and nothing but highway driving so im about to turn to fox but the one I want is the same as the 5100 with length being different then stock and I want to keep at it stock length...2.0 coil snap ring fox is 24 to 20 inch the 2.5 fox strut is closer to stock I believw with 22 and 17.5 etc. Not sure which is better for stock height