Bilstein 5100 lean help.

Recently had 5100’s installed all the way around, wanted the highest notch to level the truck and the shop said they couldn’t do that because the ride was unbearable so they left it at the fourth notch.

Thats all well and fine except now it’s super leaned and measures 40’ front and 38 rear when the before measurements were 36-38 and if the road has the slightest bump I’ll feel it another 1/4 mile down the road as the truck will still be bouncing from it. Any advice would be great.

 

Did you tell them you wanted the truck level or to just get the nose in the air as much as they can? I figured you were leaning left to right, but it seems like your problem is trucks bed is now lower than the hood. Is that correct?

If they are adjustable coilovers (I'm assuming they are based on your post), I would go back to the shop and ask them to adjust the truck to get as close to level as possible. Also, are you sure they have the proper spring rate for a Tacoma? Having too stiff or too soft of a spring can make a big difference.

I am still new to Tacomas and Toyota in general so I could be way off base, but that's where I would start. Your truck does look good, though!

 

Now I’m under the impression that the 5100’s are meant to ride with the stock springs so that was my mindset going into this, originally when I measured the shock maxed out at 2’ should have leveled it, the shop said they had to drop it down one notch which should be a 1.55 or 1.75(can’t remember off the top of my head) so I should in theory be almost perfectly level or have the slightest amount of height in the back. The shop told me as well as a mechanic in the family that everything would wear in after about a thousand miles and it would sag down to level it out and smooth out the ride but then I see stuff on here and Reddit and the google that none of that stuff wears in at all and this is what I’d be stuck with.

 

Everything will settle a little bit as they break in and start to wear, but typically the difference is unnoticeable. I didn't notice anything on my Jeep's lift when I put 5100's in and I have had that suspension in for about 60k miles. Did you already have those wheels and tires prior to the new shocks? I know when I swapped tires on my Jeep discount tire overinflated the crap out of them and the ride was TERRIBLE until I let some air out.

Are you more concerned with the ride height or the feel? If it's just the height and you still have room to adjust, I would do that. You can always adjust back later if things settle. Also, what shocks did you have before the 5100's? Could it just be that you weren't expecting them to feel the way they do?

 

Im not surprised they would tell u that ride would be stiff if mounted on the top notch, since I can tell by looking at it that they installed them wrong by putting the spring perch upside down. I suggest u take it back asap and get it fixed before it messes something up. Oh and tell them u want it on the top notch if u do want the full 2 inches of lift. That way they have it now is about the equivlent of being installed on the 10th notch if there was such a thing.

 

How did you get 4" of lift when the 4th notch yields a 1.55 inch gain from stock height?

 

Sounds like the coils seats are upside down. Post some pics of the front struts.

 

Some thing is not right? I just had a "Westcott Design's" Bilstein 5100 3" front lift kit w/ 1" rear block. Westcott Designs builds a custom lower collar that allows up to 3" front lift.(stock coil springs)
Before the lift was installed, I did the AAL to the rear because I was going to be towing a heavy trailer. The ride was very stiff when not towing, Westcott suggested I pull the AAL and add air bags instead.
Set-up now rides smooth, just a bit rougher than stock. But when I hit the pot holes on the HWY, it sucks them up like nothing.

https://westcottdesigns.net/product/tacoma-tundra-4runner-bilstein-5100-preload-collar-lift-kit/

 

They did something wrong. We have two Tacomas on 5100s with one on the 4th and the other on the 5th perch. The ride is the same, so that is false information. Get it fixed by the soon!

 

The rims and tires were there prior to the shocks and I only have factory suspension prior as well. The height isn’t much of an issue as I could always do an aal in the back no problem it’s more so the ride is insanely bouncy I mean flat road not hitting bumps and I’m bouncing around.

 

Was that with just bilsteins stock everything else upfront?

 

does this seem right? I’ll try to get a picture on more level ground later as well so show how bad the lean really is

 

Your perches are upside down. They should look like this. They should be up, inside the coil spring

 

well that explains a lot. That’s really frustrating they had my truck for 7 hours and installed them wrong.

 

I added a picture of mine to my original post.

 

well the definitely explains the added height and absolutely terrible ride quality. Thank you everyone for all the info and help, guess I need to get ahold of the shop now.

 

This is from Bilstein’s website. See the picture with the X on it. That’s what you have.

 

lmao that would be my luck, kinda sucks I already paid to have it aligned now I’ll probably need another after the shop fixes it.

 

I would never take my vehicle back to whoever put those shocks on if it was only shop in town..

 

I’m surprised they could get the alignment into spec with your upper control arms so stretched out. It usually makes the tire tilt in at the top.