Best circlip setting for Bilstein 5100? Rear: OME HD Leaf Spring + Bilstein 5125

I know this question has been beaten to death and I've done quite some research on this already but still can't find the exact answer I'm looking for.

I have a 2017 SR5 Tacoma.

Front: upgrading to OME UCA + Bilstein 5100 retaining the factory spring.

Rear: upgrading to OME Dakar HD Leaf springs (2 inch lift) + Bilstein 5125 to accommodate.

I was thinking about using the 4th notch (about 1.55 inch lift) on the 5100 front thinking it should still maintain a slight rake with the rear being lifted 2 inches.

I currently carry a bed rack and RTT almost year round (+200lbs) since I do a lot of camping and with camping gear probably close to 300+lbs.

My question is, with the circlip setting on the 4th clip on the 5100 will my front end go nose up once the rear sags? Will my safer bet be to stick to the 3rd clip setting (1.1 inch lift)? --> what I'm trying to accomplish here with these settings is gain higher clearance with eventual plans to fit 33s easier.

I would like to know/see if others have the same exact setup as the one I have planned. This is my first truck so I'm still learning.

Thanks.

 

3rd clip rides best and wont go super nose high with load in the rear. Vote for 3.

 

Thanks for the input @Bishop84 . I figured 3rd clip was the right setting to go with, but was really just curious how others have experienced with the 4th clip. From what I've gathered, it seems to me the ride will be marginally firmer with the higher clip but with risk of squatting when towing a heavy load in the rear.

 

Take actual height measurements before and after, so you can later compare it to settled height.

 

How much weight you gonna have in the back? I had the OME leaf springs and hated em. Needed a shim to prevent vibrations and that lifted it more. Rode so rough after a couple years i swapped back to stocks with a 1" block.

 

@Mater96 that's what I heard too from other people who have ran these springs. Like I mentioned above I run a RTT and bed rack combined weight of ~220 lbs as its my main camping/overlanding rig that I only use on the weekends since I WFH. I know the OME HD leaf springs perform optimally on a constant load of 600+lbs so i am a bit concerned about a harsh ride. The squeakiness I heard can be permanently fixed with some leaf spring liners. Reason why I'm going with these springs is because I got them for free second-hand and did not want to spend the extra $$$ to buy a new leaf pack or AAL. I'm hoping I'm choosing the right route and not regretting putting on these OME HD springs.

 

Oh i gotta learn to read the whole post, if you have weight you should be good. If its still rough you can always take out one of the leafs.

 

Just thought I’d post an update here.

Front height measurements (from middle of wheel hub cap to center of fender liner)

Front shocks = middle clip settings (1.1 inch lift)

driver front (before lift 19.5 —> after lift 21.5 inches)

passenger front (before lift 19.5 —> after lift 21.8 inches)

driver rear (before lift 20.5 —> after lift 24 inches)

Passenger rear (before lift 20.5 —> after lift 24 inches)

i guess without a load of 660lbs for the HD leaf springs the height in the back is a bit higher. Got an alignment done today. Rides pretty smooth so far but going to go camping with it in a few weeks so I’ll see how that goes with the new suspension.

overall pretty happy with the setup considering it cost just under $1k.

BTW: Bilstein B8 5125 shocks metal sleeves don’t fit 3rd gen Tacoma WITHOUT grinding down the metal sleeves .8-1inch (a 20 min job installing the rear shocks took me 2 hours without having the right tools readily available - having to press out the metal sleeve > grind down with angle grinder > press back in using c-clamp and long bolt)

 

My guess is worse case scenario, you won't have the oem rake. 300 pounds is just one girlfriend/wife.

 

Update: new suspension rides like butter for the budget. Added steelies wrapped in 33s on Wildpeaks AT4.

Bilstein 5100 has not disappointed with light off roading taking some abuse.
Soon to move front clip to max 2inch. Traveled 2000 miles since original post.