Any Long Term Opinion Of 5100'S ?

So....I, like everybody on this site it seems, am contemplating doing "stuff" to my truck ( i.e. cap, racks, storage, lights ). Otherwise I guess we wouldn't be on the site, in my case mostly lurking and reading post after post and realizing a lot of whats on here and really out "there" ( in the real world through marketing ) is opinion. But I guess thats how life is right? I tend to learn only from my own mistakes, but when it comes to dropping coin I probably don't have anyway, on pricey items like suspension upgrades I try to do my homework.

So here's where I am now, maybe some of the more "seasoned" taco owners can give some perspective.

- I am drooling over the radflo coilovers or similar setup
- I am however considering and really leaning towards a less expensive option such as the bilsteins or the ome 885 coils with the appropriate shocks

Currently, I have only added a set of Supersprings to the rear leaf pack to aid with carrying loads of gear and loads of "work" stuff. They are so far awesome but did lift the rear around one inch. I had never considered lifting the front at all until this point. Just the inch alone looked awesome to me, however I am running the "doorstop" look currently. So while I can live like this I would feel better with the front lifted up a bit.

With regards to the options, while I am drooling over a high end set of coilovers I realize that for my budget this would be a huge expenditure and maybe not totally justifiable. So while I still may pool the trigger on some very nice, re-buildable coilovers, they are at the top of my wish list but like I said, maybe not a good choice financially.

Next I considered the ome lift from toytec or just getting the front shocks and 885 springs. Lots of good reviews on here, but again, at 700 bucks for the lift and I think around 500 for the front setup its still a little more than I would like to spend. Although, this option is probably the best for me. A 2" lift would be ideal. I don't want to push the 3" mark and stress the CV joints incredibly or increase the chances of needing UCA's replaced. I know all of this could happen but from what I am reading, staying under that magic 3" number really makes a big difference.

So while I am leaning towards saving for the ome setup. I have also seriously considered either getting the 5100's for the front and adjusting to 1.75" or 2.5", or even going with the fronts and rear from Downsouth Motorsports as the cost would still be less than the OME lift or just the front setup. And seeing as how I am ok with the looks of my added inch in the rear, an AAL of 1.5 or 2" probably wouldn't be worth the extra coin. So...........if I go the billy route, my concern currently would be with the long term reliability of the Bilstein 5100 adjustables, and the Bilstein's in general ( if I consider the rear ). I have read a few write-ups, one the recent install thread ( very good review ), but most seem to comment on the short term...as in "just installed and love them" or "I have run them for a few months and love them". I wanted to see if there were any guys who have run them for a year or more.


And as if this post has not been "wordy" enough. One last thought/question. I know the high-end coilovers are the best choice off-road, but between the ome setup and the bilsteins how do they compare? Would the Bilsteins hold up to some light off-roading or were they really designed to make the truck look good?

Like most on here, I am thinking long and hard and trying to make the right choice the first time. The suspension is next something I plan on investing in multiple times.

If anyone made it this far through the post, let me know what you think! Thanks.

 

hhhmmmmmmm........back to reading posts I guess.......

 

Come on peeps. Everyone is buying 5100s like hotcakes and no one has any post coital-bliss reviews or comments?

I'm with the OP on my approach to this stuff. I'm looking for more than, "Dude, I just installed them its awesome!"

 

They are Bilsteins aren't they...the lifetime warranty should say something!

 

on 4wheelparts.com they sell them in sets of four. do you get 2 fronts and 2 rears?

 

They are dependable shocks with a great warranty. If you do go with the ome set up don't get the nitrocharger shocks that ome sells. Yes they are valved differently but they are twin tube shocks which are not as reliable as the 5100 monotube design. I personally run a mixed set up of 5100s and ome coils and I'm having no issues other than some vibes but that's mainly a ride height issue not a product defect.

 

Can you expand more on this? I'm debating between the 5100's and Nitrocharger's and this may sway my decision.

Thanks

 

damn...im late to this thread.

im currently running 5100's on stock setting with ome 881 coils. i have around 18-20k on this setup so far....and im about to dump these 5100's for some ome nitrochargers. my opinion on the 5100's.......the more miles you put on them...the more they stiffen up. my truck rides like a damn washboard donkey now.

 

Me and tacomaman have discussed this issue before but he is right, the 5100's do stiffen up over time. I've had mine on for a year and a half now and put about 15-18k miles on them and they are def A LOT stiffer then when i got them. I was looking to replace my stock coils with some OME 881s and set the 5100's to stock setting, but i think my problem is the 5100's stiffening up, not my stock coils so really the only way to fix it would be to get a whole new setup. Don't get me wrong the 5100's are great and def the cheapest way to get a reliable lift, but speed bumps/potholes are not ideal at lower speeds, highway performance is awesome and offroad they are champs but city driving is not ideal.

Down the road i'll either replace them with an all OME setup, or bite the bullet and go with more expensive coilovers but time will tell. Don't let me discourage you, but the 5100's are prob only good to 25-30k miles before you get sick of your tacoma driving like a coal truck

 

Also looking at these same options. im getting my Leafspring TSB done soon(parts will be here on the 9th) after that i plan on doing either the 5100's set at 1.75 or 2.5, with an add-a-leaf, or possiblyt getting the full lift kit with the eibach coils.. the OME kit is also an aption that im still debating, but im pretty sure if we do coils it brings it to 'that dreaded 3" mark', correct me if im wrong.. i do not want to hit this 3" mark, i dont want to spring for UCAs anytime soon.

 

Lifetime warranty.....read the fine print! Most companies offer life time warranty, but its the exclusions that get ya!

 

offroad swap meet is this sunday in cabazon. see if u can score some used King, Fox, or sway-away replacements with reseviors.


PROS
1) they dont heat up from offroad abuse.
2)if you never want anything other than a 2.5-3' lift. you can damn near have this shock forever due to it being rebuildable.
3) its a good looking shock
4) They def work well.

cons
not really any. but im partial to KING.

before i lt'd the rear, i was going through at least one non reseviored shock per trip. Ive had fox and bilstien.

I put Kings on the front as soon as i got the truck and removed the swaybar.... no problemo

 

I've had 5100's set at .85 for close to a year now...I am currently looking at other options. Over time, they have gotten stiff and unpredictable. I can feel the springs jumping in the cups when I slow roll over a bump. All in all, I would not spend the money on the cheap lift again...I am going with a coilover and UCA replacement.

 

I'm installing mine next weekend. Can't wait to see what the hype is all about.

 

exactly...i'm just gonna save up for an all OME setup for the front and keep the rear 5100's

 

well........yesterday, swapped out my 5100 setup for ome nitrochargers. my truck has been riding like crap with the 5100's for a while. when i took the passenger side apart......i noticed the damn seal in the strut was popped. damn 5100 couldnt handle a 45 mph pothole hit. not even 20k on the set yet. hopefully..it'll be warrantied. i think im sticking with ome from here on out. the ride is awesome.

 

This is why I love TW! Unbiased reviews that allow individuals to hear both sides of an argument. Hopefully they will honor the warranty. Let us know how the OME shocks hold up.

 

yeah....i definitely will. the nitrochargers coupled with the 881 coils are amazing. moreso better than the 5100's when they were new. its like butter....soaks up the shitty roads we have here alot better.

 

I wonder if Bilstein will honor the warranty since they were paired with the OME shocks. I know several places do not reccomend the setup for that reason. Good Luck

 

who knows. i've always ran them on stock setting, so not too sure.