Question regarding bilstein 5100's in order to LEVEL my 2012 taco DCSB

I have a base model 2012 toyota tacoma DCSB 4x4. ok, so currently at my disposal i have a brand new, full set of 4 (four), bilstein 5100 shocks for my truck, and im going to be installing them myself in about a weeks time, so i just have to know a few more things before i begin the tear down and install (will be borrowing a coil spring compressor to do the front coil over strut disassemble and assembly). Ok, so here are the details on whats going to be installed, Now, the front pair shocks that i will be installing are the adjustable (0inch-2.5 inches of lift) bilstein 5100 shocks and the rear pair of shocks are the non adjustable, non remote reservoir , NO LIFT bilstein 5100 shocks. I will also be reusing the stock front coil springs as i was previously told they were fine to reuse since the bilstein 5100 was designed in mind to reuse the stock front coil spring, just as long as it is not the progressive coil spring used on the TRD offroad package, witch it is not, my truck is the base model witch has the normal, non progressive front coil spring (same as used on the TRD sport package). my BIGGEST and ONLY question is, with the use of the stock, front coil springs, and the use of the front adjustable bilstein 5100 and the rear non adjustable bilstein 5100, and knowing that i will NOT be using my truck to tow anything, or haul anything in the bed etc, here is the question: --> what should i set the front 5100's snap ring to, out of the four (4) height adjustable settings;

1st setting = 0 inch
2nd setting = 1 inch (.85 inch, varying sources of information)
3rd setting = 1.75 inches
4th setting = 2.5 inches

to be as close as possible to be PERFECTLY LEVEL and NOT nose high?? i was told that the 3rd setting of 1.75 inches was the setting to use to level out the truck, but with my circumstances of using the stock front coil springs and rear bilstein 5100's idk what is right.. because all ive found on the forum was guys who used the 5100's with other aftermarket front coil springs such as eibach, ranchero and old man emu with some other rear suspenion set up with the front bilsteins set at 1.75 inches and it looked nose high, and other guys who used the stock coils with the bilsteins set at 1.75 inches and the stock toyota shocks in the rear that also looked slightly nose high. my case is different, im using the 5100's all the way around, so in order to LEVEL my truck without being nose high, should i set the front bilsteins at 1.75 inches, the 3rd setting, or 1 inch, the 2nd setting. my gut is still telling me to go with the 1.75 inches on the 3rd setting but im not sure, some advice and guidance is greatly appreciated, thank you all!

 

easiest way to decide is to measure from the center of your wheel hubs to the top of your fender

take those measurements, compare the f/r, then do some basic arithmatic to see where you need to set the snap ring

 

i have mine set at .85 with stock springs and it looks about level with the back. of course theres still like a half inch difference but it looks about level

 

I've also heard that 1.75" should level out the truck but the ones I've seen that have done that with no rear in the lift, the truck looks nose high a little bit. I think you should go with the .85" of lift but thats my personal opinion. I look at it like this, I raised my truck 3"s up front and 2"s in the back and it sits perfectly level.....so with your 1" lift up front, wouldnt it level it out since we are still talking about 1" of difference?....makes sense right? haha

 

yes yes ive done that, but it wasnt on perfectly level ground, and thats what one of the things was the pushed me to the gut feeling of 1.75 inches, i forget the exact readings, but thats what got me settled on the 3rd setting... ill measure again b4 i do it.. just to double check but i also dont know if it will look different once its done and on the ground you know?? thats my other issue.. :/

 

^^^

this.

it's kind of hard for us to tell you exactly what you want to know because there's lots of variables at play. Since the 5100 adds preload to the coils, the 1"-2.5" measurements are actually estimations, they dont add exactly 1"-2.5"

 

yes, ok.. ill have to measure again, on a level surface this time, i had no clue that there was so many variables in play with the truck size (cab and bed size) and miles on the spring, mine have 4,000 miles on them (spring wear) etc , so i can take the measurements with the wheel still on again??, like measuring from the center cap of the wheel to the fender?? or from the floor with the wheel on? and also, wouldnt it make sence tho to set it alittle high so it settles over time?? idk if that is a common practice.

 

i think i should just set them at .85 ..... idk.... the improved ride quality over stock is a plus all by itself. and i just cant be certain with all these variables. .85 will level it somewhat.. without all the other repercussions and unknowns of the 1.75... witch in all reality is almost double the first setting of .85 .... so.. i guess .85 it is.. idk...

 

So the 5100 won't work with the trd springs?

 

I did .85 on my previous taco and it was the right setting for me. I measured from ground to the frame, not the fender well, and I think the 1.75 setting would have made it a little nose high. Plus I didn't want too much preload to harshen the ride.

TRD springs will work fine with the 5100.

 

You sound like you wanna go with the 1.75. If you are handy enough to install all this yourself go ahead and spend the extra 80 bucks on the rear 1.5 aal. DO IT.........DO IT!

 

well i actually did the install yesterday, and today its at the dealer getting aligned, i set it at .85 and im very happy i did so, truck looks great and i couldnt be happier with the setup its only off by 1 inch back to front now, front ride height is 35.5 inches from ground to fender, and the rear still sits at 36.5 inches, im very happy either way, the truck rides wonderfully even before the alignment, and it looks almost perfectly level, and u still have a slight rake front to rear just in case the truck is used to put stuff in the bed or tow something light or what have you, im very happy. plus i heard that the 1.75 causes front CV axle stress, so that is alleviated now as well thankfully and plus.. when the truck was up in the air yesterday, when the front bilsteins were fully extended and set at .85, the upper control arm was like literally a hair away from just grazing the spring, at full extension only tho, and there was still the slightest air gap so i was stilll good, if i installed at 1.75 i believe i woulda ran into upper control are clearance issues at full extension, even tho u never experience full shock extension on normal road driving, i still believe that its still not a good thing lol.. pictures to come after the truck gets back from the dealer.

 

yes, exactly what he said ^^^

 

Great! Let me know how the alignment numbers turned out. I may take mine in to get checked too. Just curious to see if it was out any even though you said it rode fine. Send Pics Soon!

 

Subbed for pics. I want to do 5100's one day but I'm torn between .85 and 1.75 so I'm curious to see how it looks.

 

i was not able to get the alignment numbers but it was not out buy much lol, thats all i can say and my service manager friend at the dealer had his tech adjust alignment, then road test it, then he had him put it back on the alignment rack just to check and make sure everything was all good, witch it was. pics are coming soon, im actually going to be heading out to take some now if this weather holds and the pics wont do it 100% justice just because of the lens distortion that comes from all cameras, but it looks damn level to me in person. the ride heights are as follows when set at .85 inch --> front: 35.5 inches and rear sits at 36.5 inches (36.5 inches in the rear being the stock ride height, it remained unchanged ) making a total difference of 1 inch back to front, witch is a good thing because while you are still pretty much level you still have that 1 inch of rake for on the off change you ever had to put something in the bed etc. the truck is still functionable for what it was designed to do. idk thats just how i always look at things.

 

still, in all honesty i say set it at .85 if u are doing the same setup as i did, billies all around with the stock linear coils up front. 1.75 im sure u will run into upper control are clearance issues (and extra CV axle stress) as well as it will probably be nose high if you aren't planning to put an add a leaf in the rear i guess the .85 is the more conservative setting if you will, but i still think it looks pretty good. and also, its whatever your personal tastes and preferences may be

 

I was hoping to get the rear TSB done or maybe do an aal and go 1.75. I know many on here have done the 1.75 and didn't think anyone had any issues with clearance. But yeah I don't want to cause too much wear on the suspension. It's not like I plan to wheel it much. I've even considered just doing a top plate spacer because of that.

So how much did you gain? 1 inch of lift? I played with the floor jack on mine and figured 1 1/4 inch in the front with the rear as it is now would be what I'd like.

 

omg no dont do a spacer thats baddd lol you gotta watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG1GynQEAPc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBpLKyaG9BE

and what is this TSB .. i keep hearing about it, whats it entail exactly and what years does it apply to?? and yes i gained just about an inch lol, and im not wheelin my truck either lol normal road wear is enough to cause damage at that setting lol

 

My 2012 DCLB TRD SPORT 4X4 truck was exactly 2.5 inches lower in the front. I used the 2.5 setting and it is now the same. I used the stock coil and didn't touch the rear.