Need advice installing Bilstein 6112s, 5160s, & a Dakar leaf pack on my stock-weight Access Cab

I have stock suspension. Truck has 80k miles. I decided I want to completely rebuild the front & rear shocks including the leaf springs, but first I’m just going to start with the front since the rear 5160s are out of stock. I was talking to Marie on Tacoma World but unfortunately Headstrong doesn’t go as far as recommending notch settings, so now I humbly come to y'all for help.

My scenario:
I plan to order & install the Bilstein 6112's before the 5160s & medium duty Dakar leaf pack. I'm trying to find a sweet spot for which notch to choose on the 6112s. I want to avoid having a bro/backwards lean BEFORE upgrading the back suspension & avoid altering the notches AFTER I install the new rear suspension & leaf pack. I also want to avoid upgrade the UCAs so I don't want more the 2.5" in the front.

Marie told me the 650lb coil will add ½” lift to stock tacoma’s in addition to whatever Bilstein's notch setting says

Bilstein 6112s lift
#1 - 0.6" + ½” = 1.1”
#2 - 1.08" + ½” =1.58”
#3 - 1.59" + ½” = 2.09”
#4 - 2.15" + ½” = 2.65”
#5 - 2.46" + ½” = 2.96”

My current rake is 2.5”. I'm leaning towards the 3rd notch which in theory would give me a very slight ~3/8" rake with the rear stock suspension and a ~3 ⅛” rake when I install the new rear suspension. I'm not sure if this is too much of a rake. If I could get to a 2.5" rake after the upgrades I would be a happy man.

Other notes:
- I don't want my truck to be level, I want a slight rake after I lift it because I haul soil/mulch & construction materials & tools pretty often. I want to maximize my payload capacity so I can drive safely at GVWR.
- Eventually I plan to add a a slimline bumper & winch which is the main reason I want the 650lb coil
- Eventually I plan to get a camper shell or bed rack & headache rack.
- I found another thread where someone with an Access cab installed the 6112s on the third notch and got 2 3/4" of lift??? Should I go with the 2nd notch if that is the case? https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/6112s-lift-height.454510/

What does TW recommend?

Edit. Here's my truck

 

Why not install the leaf springs at the same time as the front shocks? You can install the rear shocks when they come back in stock

 

Good point. I guess I'm getting too focused on efficiency, as in saving time and installing the rear shocks with the leaf springs in one go. Will the stock rear suspension work with the 2.5" lift from the Dakar leaf springs?

 

1. Absolutely baffled by anyone willing to drop $1000+ on suspension but say “don’t want a new UCA...”. Anytime you deviate from stock angles, you SHOULD have a new UCA that helps provide additional caster unless you’re just a mall crawler and don’t care how you truck tracks on the freeway - and in that case why even buy expensive suspension? Buy 5100s, jack em up, and save yourself the funds. Just doesn’t make any sense if you actually want functionality...

2. With that in mind, I wouldn’t go past the first notch at all. 6112s, like 5100s, have ~1” more usable down travel over stock shocks thus at 1” of lift, you won’t be preloading the shock and will have a good ride for no new UCA


Again, by all means, if looks is all that matters - say fuck it to a new UCA. But just buy 5100 and jack em up If that’s all you care about. Makes no sense to use more performance oriented shocks/coils and disregard the only thing that actually makes the travel usable - upper or lower arms.

 

Point taken. I will consider getting a new UCA as well. I'm very new to all this so the more I learn the better. Thanks for your advice. An extra $500 isn't so bad.

 

I'm sure you'll get a ton of "don't half ass it" so here goes ... I 2nd the opinion above on the UCAs. I consider them critical and part of the package. I also always get confused about the coils and notches. My understanding is that if you use stock or other coils and put them on higher notches you're pre-loading the shock (to get you lift), but greatly sacrificing the ride quality == rough ride. Why not get coils rated at the weight you want designed for the strut at the lowest setting vs pre-loading it from the get-go? My guess is headstrong recommends the lowest notch as the setting rather than no recommendation.

Also, if you're towing / filling the bed a ton look at the daystar cradles / ride rite airbags. It will give you some tuning options. I have a trailer that gets pulled occasionally. The difference is remarkable. When I arrive, I deflate the bags and am good to go.

 

Forgot to respond to your second point. If I get the new leaf pack that will lift the rear ~2.5". If I only lift the front 1", won't that give me a huge rake of like 4"??

 

Same question as my reply above. If I don't preload the spring, set it at first notch for 1", and I get the new leaf pack won't that give me a huge 4" rake?

I considered the airbags but I ended up deciding on the leaf springs because I want a simple solution without worrying about the bags degrading or complications with the on board compressor.

 

You wouldn’t buy a new pack...

 

I see. Thing is I'm deadset on a new leaf pack in order to drive at GVWR safely

 

Lmfao

well, you wouldn’t get a pack you keep looking at. You buy a custom pack that holds the weight you’ll be carrying but at 1” or so over stock height. Your OP mentioning medium Dakar’s wouldn’t even hold all that weight nor would those 5160s be long enough for that rear ride height even if it did (say for instance you get the HDs instead)


I feel like you have your mind made up but you want someone to validate your thoughts lol. I say 5100s sky high and your original plan to save yourself coin. Or suck it up at buy a new upper and do it right for function.

no hate here, just be real with yourself - looks or function? Both? - then be prepared to shell out coin

 

Not sure why the "lmfao" is necessary. I'm new to all this so I'm sorry if the way I'm going about this is confusing. Just seen a lot of differing info on this website and wanted some advice from someone who bought the same kit and even better if they also have an access cab.

Headstrong Offroad offers the performance billstein kit (6112s & 5160s) with the Dakar leaf pack as an entire kit... I don't think they would advertise that kit if the 5160s weren't long enough?

I have my mind made up on which exact suspension I want, my only question was asking for advice on the notch setting given what my upgrade plan is...

I'm prepared to shell out coin, my dude. Not trying to cut corners. Didn't realize how vital the UCA was and now I've decided to get a new one for this setup. Just tryna do it right for my specific scenario since I can't get the entire kit at once.

No hate here, I'm just trying to be a sponge and suck up as much info as possible before I spend $2.5k on suspension

EDIT: Link to the kit I'm describing: https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/s..._Kit_with_OME_Dakar_Leaf_Pack_(HS05BK-3).html

 

Have you thought of going with the OME coils, like the 885 or 887? The 885 gave me about 2.5" for the front. 887 will be higher. Will need to check with Marie for confirmation. With these coils you can use the Bilstein 5100 on setting 0 or OME Nitrochargers.
I'm not a pro here on suspension, but the general feedback I get on here is using the notches on the Bilsteins preloads the strut and gives shittier rides the higher the notches you go. Also, then general advice is to go with a UCA from 2.5" of lift and higher.

 

the “Lmfao” was thrown in because I think it’s funny you say you did all this research but are so shocked to see how important UCA’s are which probably the most important part of making the equation and I can literally give you link after link after link of threads and builds showing you that including my own truck... so it simply made it look like you’re indeed cutting corners to save cash. How would I know the difference? I don’t know you lol.

Simply trying to help you avoid redoing things. But all good, gotta learn by trial and error sometimes

at static ride height yes, 5160s will be long enough for Dakar’s. Flex them offroad and see what happens to that shock. But who knows, you may overload the mediums so much your rear sits low enough not to top out the 5160s - but then there goes the rake you want...

I’d do more research if I were you if you don’t understand (or know about) shock collapsed/extended lengths, leaf packs, weight loads, etc and how they all need to be matched up if you wish to retain function.

 

Haha that's true. I guess Marie and others have mentioned when you lift the front over 2.5" you should start considering new UCAs. I wasn't planning to do a lift over 2.5" (maybe right at 2.5") so I didn't consider getting new UCAs. Sorry if I came off like I was cutting corners! Truly didn't mean to.

I appreciate your time & advice. I definitely don't want to do redo things, and that's exactly why I'm trying to dial in what notch to set the front suspension at while I still have the rear stock suspension.

Thanks for your 2 cents! Now new UCAs are luckily in the budget

 

I’d double check with Marie again to see if she recommends any coils to get the lift you’re looking for on the lowest notch. There are mounds of reading and differing opinions so who knows what’s right/wrong/opinion, but I find it hard to believe the notching up (preloading) springs doesn’t result in a harsh ride and loss of down travel. Outside of that, the only way you’ll really know is to pick a notch and be ready to adjust and do some testing. I know you’re against the airbags but if you want flexibility in rake (and probably ride quality) as the bed load changes significantly, that’s the safest bet.

Either way, keep us updated and good luck!

 

You need to look at your rear setup if you seriously don’t want to redo things. With the weight you’re saying you’ll be carrying, it’ll sag with mediums for sure - sounds like you’ll be well past the ~200lb capacity of the mediums. That would actually help you with the 5160s as it’ll put less strain on them and less likely to top out, but you may lose that rake you want.

just a heads up, good luck

 

Honestly no. I was just looking at the kits Headstrong Offroad offers and really liked what I read about the Bilsteins. I need the shocks preassembled so I just decided to choose the 650lb option.

Noted about the shittier ride... hmm.

 

I had my shocks and coils assembled by Headstrong before they shipped it. They offer it as an additional fee, but totally worth it.

 

FWIW my '05 OR access cab MT with brand new TSB leafs was dead level @ the #2 setting on the 6112's w/ 1/4" spacer on driver's side. Got about 1/2" higher compared to the charts. Over not very much time the rear began to sag into noticeable bro lean. The front did not settle at all. Added a 3-leaf AAL and got back to a little more than factory rake, no more sagging for 2+ years. I don't carry any weight in back regularly but I do tow a lot from time to time (heavy tongue weight gathering fire wood in the forest seasonally, over fairly rough terrain). I think if you went with 650 lb coils @ #2 and stock rear springs you'd be way nose high right off the bat, unless you've got a lot of extra weight up front. I also think you're going to have a hard time picking one setting in front that will be the right one as you progressively mod things (like adding a big bumper in front). Bite the bullet and do it all at once or resign yourself to changing settings or springs as you do more things that affect F/R weight distribution.