Standard Rear Bilstein 5100s with 1.5" AAL?

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone had any information or experience with installing the standard length 5100s with a 1.5" AAL? The last owner put the AAL on the stock TRD shocks #48530-AD050. I also have a camper shell in the rear and certainly surprised that these shocks have helped up, even off roading. My current ride height from center hub to bottom fender is 23.25". My shock ride height is 21.5". Would the 5100s be fine to run, since even the stock shocks work fine? Im not gonna be doing any heavy off roading. I am a college freshman and would hopefully be able to not have put in extended brake lines or grind a bushing and bolt. Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

The 5100 is technically an extended travel shock. It has more travel than the OEM shocks. You will be fine running them with a 1.5" lift add a leaf. They work for bigger lifts than that. Others could provide more technical information than I can about how much travel you are actually adding (pretty sure it's zero with an AAL) with various lift options.

 

Are you thinking about the extended length 5100? There are two different sized 5100. Thank you for the info

 

I had exactly that on my truck for about 4 years and it was fine. Technically the shock does limit downtravel, but that's kinda what you want. That's also how it works from factory. If you put a longer shock on you will need new brake lines and possibly new bumpstops.

 

Yeah limited down travel would be better since I’m street driving most of the time. Did you also have an AAL with the standard 5100s?

 

I did yep. Toytec AAL.

 

Great thank you! Will be buying the 5100s, since they have worked with a similar set up.

also, any idea how the AAL has worked with my stock trd suspension, with no issues? Seems weird since the shocks I have on now weren’t made for lifts

 

The shocks don't necessarily need to be made for a lift. A lift just changes where in the travel range that the truck sits. The shocks still work exactly the same as before. The only concern is if you lift too much and run out of down travel (since lift always comes at the cost of down travel), which is where longer shocks help. But on the rear there is usually plently of down travel, it's up travel that is lacking. And longer shocks come with their own problems as well, such as being too tall when compressed, hence the need for new bumpstops.

 

Ok cool thank you for the info and help.

 

No.

5100s all have more travel than stock shocks. There are actually 3 lengths of 5100. The B110 is a 5100 for 4-6" lifts. I ran a set on the Taco for awhile.

I really like the street ride of 5100s. Offroad they're pretty good too. They just don't last. I burn through them about every other year. I've had 3 sets.

YMMV

Somewhere i have a really good pic of the goo bubbling out of one of my 5100s. Couldn't find it though, so maybe it didn't really happen.

 

Sorry I seem to be worrying to much before I pull the trigger on the 5100s. Just for reassurance, if the stock TRD shocks work with the AAL, the 5100s for sure will work right?

 

Yep, should have 0 issues.

 

Cool. Need larger bump stops?

 

You shouldn't, no. The AAL will add thickness to the leaf pack which will make the bump stops come into contact even sooner than before. So no concerns with the shock being too tall when compressed.

That being said, new bump stops do help the ride quality quite a bit (on harder hits where you actually engage them). The stock ones are hard af.

 

Just installed them, and it went pretty smoothly. Drove around for a bit and feel very stable. When I get out of the truck, I hear very minimal creaking noises from the shocks. Is that normal for them just being put on?

 

I think I have this setup I didn’t think I had as much lift as I did and have 0-1 inches lift billstens but a 2 inch add a leaf that I didn’t notice until I measured my ride height.
I haven’t noticed any issues it’s been almost two years.

 

Yeah probably just the wiper seals making a slip-grip noise as the shaft moves slowly up and down. Likely just dry from storage. Nothing to worry about, my bike shocks do that too. Should get better with time once the shafts cycle in and out of the shocks a few times. You can just give the shafts a quick shot of silicone lube too and that should make the noise stop.

 

Great! Thanks
Did you hear any slight minimal creaking when you first put them on? I just put mine on yesterday and when I get out of the truck I hear like the smallest amount of creak

 

Been running that setup for about 11years now. No issues whatsoever!

 

I think the 5125 is the version for 2"-3.5" of travel