Bilstein 6112

you will be hard pressed to get a (non shop style) spring compressor in between the coils and coils, and coils and shock body.

They can be pretty easily assembled by loosening the LCA bolts to allow the arm to swing freely. a jack can then be put under the uca to compress the assembly and get the top hat nut on. In my experience the amount of jacking will just start to lift the corner of the vehicle if you are on the higher clips. If the nut doesnt go all the way down just remember to check it once the truck is back on the ground.

 

Thanks

 

I installed my 600 lb springs using the truck as a spring compressor. It worked OK - it was safe, but one side was a little funky.

I don't know that you can compress 650 springs, and I seriously doubt you install 700 lb springs this way.

 

Thanks for the quick responses. That is what I recall and I will be getting 600 lb springs.

 

I can confirm you can use this method with 650# springs, because I ended up adjusting my preload from the 8/6 that I had the clips pre-assembled with.

Not sure about 700# springs, but I would think so. The 650# easily compressed enough to get the nut on without the truck leaving jack stand.

 

I'm getting ready to install (6112s on the way from @memario1214 !).

I'm expecting 1.7" lift up front, and just wondering about the needle bearing and UCAs. My plan is to leave the Toyota needle bearing and stock UCA for now, I mostly just drive freeway and forest roads on weekends and it's under 2" lift. I should be able to get away with it for a while, right?

The plan is to replace the LCA bushings, go for ECGS, and put in new UCAs in 6-12 months when the truck will be around 25k miles, so time to look at new LCA bushings anyway. Just saves some work and money today.

Obviously if I get vibrations that go away in 4HI, I'll have to go back in earlier for the ECGS bushing.

Am I on the right track?

 

Interesting.

On one side, with 600# springs, the truck lifted off the jackstand.

 

You've really got to appreciate this kind of honesty.

 

Question for those who have a SSO Slimline/Versa winch bumper type of front bumper. Will I do better to upgrade the springs to 650# or 700#?

Initially will be just the bumper at around 70# additional weight and after winch and light bar closer to 110#- 120#.

I want 2” lift after install and settling.

 

Honestly, Id just do the bushing. You'll likely have some vibrations and if the needle bearing fails, sending needles into your diff, you will be kicking yourself and spending a ton more money on gears. It'll also save you a whole bunch of time and it's a lot easier to take the front end of the truck apart once.

Swapping that bearing to a bushing is basically maintenance that has to get done sooner or later.

 

I was afraid of this. I do plan to upgrade the UCA and replace LCA bushings in a few months, so was just hoping to do the ECGS bushing then too. Thanks for the input. Definitely don't want to jack up the gears or the CV rod or anything if I can avoid it.

 

Thanks for the input. Just received the last of my order today, I'll definitely be back when it's time for more parts... Thanks for the great service and quick shipments!

 

I had the same thing. I installed both 600lbs and 650lbs springs using the jack method but both times, the truck was coming off the jack stands. Little sketchy. Lifted the truck about an inch and a half.

maybe because me have 2nd gens…which are a little lighter then 3rd gen. Idk. Just an idea

 

Yeah, the truck comes off the jack stands when you’re compressing the springs but it’s not going anywhere. Just have to make sure you have a good perch on the LCA. Extra jack is nice to have in case the truck moves around a bit. Just go slow.

 

I really don’t remember mine lifting off the jack stands. This was also the first time doing this sort of thing so I was extremely careful and observant. I guess it depends on how heavy the truck is.

 

Yea, depends on truck and spring weight. Heavier spring and lighter truck, it will come off the jack stands and it’s also an indicator that you might be using too much spring for your weight.

 

Can somebody explain why they say the ride is better when they also say it is stiffer? I understand the handling and control improves but I would think that the stiffer ride would rattle your brain? I understand the digressive system bilstein has as well I'm just trying to imagine what the truck would feel like vs the current OR setup I have.

Thanks

 

The why's and how's of suspension feel hurt my brain.

Keep in mind that you have a multidimensional spectrum - on one axis you have small bumps that don't flex the springs at all vs big bumps that max the travel limit, and on another axis you have rate of articulation, slow crawling vs a full send impact

The Bilsteins and their digressive setup means that they are incredibly stiff on both the small bumps and the low speed articulation. So on the plus side, brake dive and steering roll are virtually eliminated. On the minus side, small potholes and 5 mph speed bumps suck.

Where the digressive shock shines are on the big whoops and high speed impacts. The Bilsteins soak those up like butter.

Does an expensive linear shock outperform a digressive? Absolutely. But I personally found the Bilsteins to be a reasonably good compromise for a truck that mostly lives on road and occasionally sees trail. It's stiff in that it doesn't roll and wobble down the highway like a worn out Jeep, but rather feels rather sporty. Try to punish it on a pockmarked trail however, and it magically loosens up while still keeping you planted to the ground.

It's not perfect, as mentioned earlier the small chatter like highway seams and road imperfections are ignored by the billies, leaving that work entirely up to your tires to absorb. But that's a minor issue that I'm willing to forgive, because it feels great everywhere else.

Hope that makes sense.