Ride Quality

Glad I just got lucky. I only set mine to .85" as I was only wanting to level the truck to a slight tail high look. Also to improve the ride compared to the stock shocks, known from past experience with other Tacoma sized Toyota trucks.

 

Yes, it seems most with the .85" lift can get reasonable caster settings with stock UCAs. If caster cannot be adjusted to a satisfactory setting after the .85" lift, however, then you'll need the UCA swap.

I'm leaning toward replacing my UCAs anyway just as a precaution. I'd hate to get adjustable Billies in at .85" lift, decide I need 1.75" lift then have to do disassembly/ reassembly all over again (or pay for it again) this time with UCA replacment.Looks like the Camburg UCAs with stock ball joints might do the trick for me and not break the bank (~$400).

 

^UCA's for 1.75" and up? So you have Bilsteins and you know this for a fact out of that experience, correct? Because you're saying something TOTALLY different than what I see on this and other forums daily. The bottom line is, Bilsteins are fine up to 2.5". You do realize how many folks have them and have NOT replaced UCA's, right?

For example:

 

I have mine set at 1.75" and did not have the UCAs replaced. It seems to be fine, FWIW. If UCAs weren't so expensive I would be more inclined to replace them.

 

This would be nice to get cleared up for certain. I'm considering this myself. Surely there's a toyo tech on here

 

I can't imagine how they don't have any alignment issues, unless there's a tremendous variation in manufacturing specs between different trucks, which I also highly doubt. Not looking for an argument, just stating facts as I've learned them from first hand experience. With the 5100's set at .85" I cannot achieve max caster adjustment. It is within specs, but anything less than max caster seems to lead to wandering issues, which my particular truck is evidently very prone to. I have a lifetime of mechanical experience and have run dealership service departments, I know how alignments work. I watched with my own eyes as the tech tried to adjust it to perfect specs and observed how much the adjustment range was compromised by even the small lift.

Now everyone will interpret the way their vehicle steers and handles differently. I'm extremely sensitive to a vehicle that pulls or wanders and like my vehicles to drive straight and true. Road conditions also are a variable and it may be that someone driving on a smooth southern California highway may have a different experience than I do on a rut and pothole covered midwestern road. Tires also obviously affect the equation, it may be that my particular combo of tires, alignment, roads and personal sensitivity team up to give me a totally different driving experience than someone else.

I'm sure many thousands have installed the Bilstein's and not noticed any issues with the way their vehicle drives. One thing that is for sure though is that alignment computers don't lie. With the Bilstein 5100's set at .85" the max caster achievable is around 2.0*, a significant reduction from the stock max of 2.8*. A 1.75" or 2.5" lift will only reduce that adjusment range even further. Those are the facts, how they affect your individual perception of how your vehicle drives is a subjective issue.

 

No, not from experience but from pouring through the posts on several alignment threads and looking at examples of alignment sheets provided by members who have done this mod.

None of us are trying to nitpick on this, just trying to get all the facts out so people can make their own judgment about what is right for them.

 

"Around" is not a measurement. I deal with facts and maybe "around 2.0" is good enough for you, not me. There is nothing subjective about it, either it's within spec or it isn't. Either it tracks true or it doesn't. Obviously there would be a reduced range of adjustment but that doesn't mean you cannot get it back to spec, only that this is less adjustment room available.

When I see irrefutable evidence of what you're saying, then I'll agree. Until then, you're just one person (I guess two) who has a completely different experience than thousands of others.

 

That's fine, I agree the truth should be sought, but judgment has nothing to do with it. Either the truck can be aligned properly or it cannot. As I said above, you're two people saying something completely different than thousands of others who have done this mod so it's questionable, at best.

 

^Exactly.

Just don't drain your tranny fluid by mistake.

 

hahhahahahhahahah...... I wonder if he was joking.

 

Now see, that's the intelligent way to do it. If there are no fluids, you can't drain the wrong one. That's using your noggin.

 

No, "around" is not a measurement, Tacoma caster specs range from 1.3* to 2.8*. The preferred spec to keep a Tacoma from wandering is 2.4*-2.8*, the higher end of the adjustment range This measurement is not attainable using the 5100's set at .85", let alone higher. Hence, the "around" 2.0*, as that was as high as it can be set with a .85" lift. In my own experience that lack of further adjustment leads to some fairly severe wandering and directional stability problems. I'm sharing this experience and not making a blanket statement that everyone else will have the same problem, if you read my previous post closely you will see that I carefully noted the other variables that may have an affect as well. As far as facts go I've carefully documented every step of my experience in my alignment advice thread, including spec sheets.

Thank you Chris, same thing I've figured out as well. For some people it may drive "fine", to me it did not. I've reached a happy medium with my alignment and lift, but I know that it won't truly be correct until I go the next step and install the UCA's.

 

I think we're all missing the simple things. Ride quality and handling is purely one’s own opinion, and however tight the tolerances on these trucks, they are all slightly different.
The TSB rear springs alone, from what I've read on this forum, gives people different rear lift height results of 1" to 2.5". The front Bilstein 5100’s set to the .85" setting on my truck gave me an actual 1" lift height when installed. I'm sure a TRD OR or Sport compared with the same body style standard truck will ride and drive differently and have different alignment issues. Just because of differences in alloy wheels verses steel with slightly different offset or who knows how many other small differences. A five lug truck to a six lug would also get completely different results, would it not??

Then we change them even slightly from stock with lifts, shocks, tires, wheels, bumpers, ect..., and all that big money and hours of factory R&D is right out the window.

 

After much time spent sitting on the fence, I ordered the bilsteins 5100. Anyone have any other problems at .85" of lift besides Alignment?

Such as busted CV boots, uneven wear tires, or unnecessary wear of other suspenstion components over the long term.

 

I've had mine on over a year and 8,000 + miles with no issues at all, even alignment, set at .85". The CV boots are no problem nor is tire wear, and the ride is great.

 

Thanks for the info, glad to hear it! Stoked to get them installed. Everything else is stock on your truck Triple 4Trd?

 

Stock as far as wheels and tires. Only the TSB four leaf rear springs and the Bilstein 5100's all around, set to .85" on the front. I've changed out some things on the inside. Had put on a performance muffler but ended up putting back on the stock one. Covered up the improved tunes.

Also running a AFE oil free drop in air filter but that's about it. The best mod I've done is the Fumoto oil pan drain valve. Changed the oil yesterday in 10 min. and 5 min. of that was letting it drain. A crawler, no ramps, and a 6oz. cup under the filter trap and done with no mess. Love this truck design compared to the 1st generation it replaced as far as oil changes anyway.