1st gen bilstein 5100s @1.75

Anyone have pics of their first gen with the billstein 5100s set at either .85 or 1.75 in the front. I want my truck level with the back but can't really afford new leafs. I have the stock coils which are like 9 years old but heard the eibachs or the ome coils arent really designed to work with the billies. Anyone heard when they will be back in stock? I heard october .....

 

Couple things.

1. 1st gen Bilstein 5100s have 3 setting, 0, 1.25, and 2.5. The 2nd gens have 4 settings, I think including the two you mention.

2. OME 881s and Billies are regularly paired up by lots of folks on this site. However....

3. The 5100s are designed as a leveling shock to be used with the stock coils. The more you raise them, the stiffer the ride.

4. (OK, way past a couple...) The OME coils provide the lift. They are a taller spring with a higher spring rate (IIRC, 500 lb vs. the stock 375). Each OME coil adds another 10mm lift (880, 881, 882, etc.)

I have Billies with my OMEs, but the Billies are set at zero, so the OMEs provide all the lift and the ride is softer (still firm, but nice). I ordered the Billies first, but then I realized how toasted my coils were, and that I would have to crank the Billies way up to level the truck, which would compromise ride quality. So I got the 881s.

Ideally, you'd pair OME Nitrochargers (shocks) with the OME coils, because they are tuned to work together. But this isn't necessary, and the Nitorchargers are expensive.

 

here's my 1st gen, 5100@1.75 with stock coils...

 

Whats involved in adjusting the lift? Can it be done once they are installed , is front end alignment required after install?

thanks

 

check out the suspension threads for 5100 install...it has been done a million times...

1. Installation requires compressing the coil spring with a special tool and inserting the shock inside. This is done off the truck. You do not want to do this yourself unless you are a confident mechanic and have a good spring compressor available. Then, this assembly is easy to just install on the truck. One big bolt at the bottom, three at the top.

2. Once on the truck, no, it is not easy to adjust. The whole damn thing needs to come apart again if you want to change the height. The adjstment itself is just a little spring clip in a groove that is easy to move with pliers and your fingers.

3. If you replace the springs, too, you should get an alignemnt. Not sure if you just do the shocks, but proabably, because you are altering the geometry a bit. You are increasing height, which changes angles (probably caster mostly). Safe bet, align.

 

Thanks for the answers and pics. This helped a lot. Now I am torn between the billies and the OME. I'm leaning toward the bilsteins with new coils but the whole unavailable thing makes it kind of hard.

 

thats looks great do you have any lift in the rear or just the front?

 

thanks 98tacoma. no lift in the rear. just in the front.

 

im getting some bilsteins soon hopefully mine will look like yours. what size tire do you have

 

Careful though dude, you don't want to be labeled a "BRO' TRUCK" like I was when I put my 5100's on the front.......

 

anyone have any more pics

 

how is the ride set at 2.5? and why did you drop it back to 0

 

The 1" setting for my double cab didn't quite level it, but brought it very close (especially with a full tank of gas). I thought about going to 2.5", but I didn't want to compress the springs that much and get a rough ride and I did not want the bro look.
Matt

 

The BS is the best part. That would be like cutting the fat off the rib-eye. But nice synopsis of your odyssey. Especially the panic/whining part.

Oh, and 98taco, here is mine at 1.75, but it is like Lisa's: 5100s at zero, OME 881s lift to 1.75. Approximately. Maybe closer to 2 in this pic. The back is 1.5 from Wheeler's leafs. I have not measured since they have had time to settle.

 

Billies set @ 1.25" Middle Setting and I have the 5 pack leaf springs from wheelers.

 

deff get that alignment, it will ruin your tires like mine. it wears on the outsides until one day you get out of the truck and look down and scratch your head saying dang, these are almost new.