Bilstein advice .85 or 1.75?

I am new to the TW forum and its been extremely helpful. I have decided that I am going to put Bilstein 5100 on the front of my 2011 DCSB OR 4x4. While researching all the threads on it, I have a few concerns and questions.

Background: My truck is a daily driver averaging 19.3-20.2 MPG over 40k miles, but I do use it off road while hunting and fishing and getting places my TX buddies cant in their Chevy’s. I trimmed the front mud flaps and rounded them off (same height as rear) the first time I got off the road as it was annoying as hell hearing all the weeds hit the bottom of an “Off Road” truck. Pretty simply done and looks a hell of a lot sportier and they don’t flap in the wind when driving hwy either like some of the other tacos I see.
Initially I talked to several of the off road shops in my area and they all wanted $700 for a leveling kit. They said raise the front 2 inches with spacers and needed a block in the back, or drop $1k on a coilovers. I only have 1 inch of rake and thought that’s stupid to spend that kind of money for a spacer lift, and $1k is steep for what I want to do. I am a practical guy and don’t want to drop a lot of money on this, but will do it right or won’t do it all.

From what I gather on a 2011 DCSB TRD OR the .85 setting is going to give me the closest to level I can get without the rear TSB or AAL. The labor for installing 5100s up front is $325 at the dealership or $350 at the offroad shops. I am having a hard time deciding on .85 with stock rear, or bumping it up to the 1.75 with a 1 inch block in the rear. Before you guys bash me for the rear block, I don’t haul alot of heavy stuff and need AAL, I don’t want a stiffer ride in the rear, and I don’t want to spend the additional money on all new leaf packs.

#1 if I decide to go the 1.75 route up front, can I use a 1inch block with the original Bilstein rear shocks? Or would I also need to purchase 5100s for the rear as well?

#2 how bad is the 1 inch block for the rear axle?

#3 I’m 6’3 and I rubbed the shit out of the leather on the edge of the driver side seat getting in and out (I know most of it has to do with the low seat position) but if the truck was raised 1-2 inches it couldn’t hurt. If im going to spend $600 I might as well get 1-2 vs 1 inch in leveling.

#4 is the ride bad with 5100s up front at 1.75 and stock rear with 1” blocks?

My pocket book is telling me to just do the .85 setting and get some 265/75/16 BFG AT when its time but I would like to hear your opinions. You all know a hell of a lot more about what’s best for tacos than the off road shops here in Texas that ive been too.

Thanks and pics of DCSB at .85 with stock rear, or 1.75 with 1 inch rear blocks would be appreciated.

 

Buy the shocks, set at .85 and be done, nothing wrong with blocks in the rear either. I ran blocks on my 06 and wheeled the piss out of them until replacing with a leaf pack due to sagging. Also there a fuck ton of very friendly and helpful people here in Tx to help with the install for a damn case of beer.. just an FYI.

If you want to run 1.75 up front, go to the dealer and make them install the TSB leaf pack in the rear for free of course. It will look like tits, the ride won't be the same but that's kind of the price you pay for having the looks and capabilities of your truck.

On another note I should mention, you won't get 19-20 MPG anymore when you mess with the suspension and add bigger / more aggressive tires. I see you have an 11 with 40k miles on it, that means you drive alot. Might want to put that in to consideration, any more questions I am open ears.

 

I thought tsb was only available during warranty? Just considering the suspension how much would you guess the .85 setting would change my mpg if I kept the same type of tire I have right now? If I go 1.75 I would say the hell with it and get bigger more aggressive tires.

 

I wouldn't think that raising the front with the 5100's to 1.75 would make any difference that is measurable on your mpg. It's the tires that would, and that depends on the tire. Without doing some obnoxious MT tire, and some A/T tire, maybe 1-1.5mpg? I dunno exactly.. But now when you tow something or weigh down the bed, you're rear will be lower than the front and you'll have a "bro" style look. Otherwise, I think level looks better for daily driving.

 

I had a 2011 access cab before the current 13. Put 5100's all the way around with the front at .85. Didn't touch mileage, bumping to a slightly larger tire will decrease it some...but it won't be a drastic change by any means.

 

instead of blocks in rear look into 1" lift shackles. Should eliminate some problems as your truck ages and suspension wears.
Oh by the way... Welcome to Taco World!! What part of Cowtown are you in?

 

has anyone heard about the springs on the TRD OR being progressive and raising the setting to 1.75 giving a rough ride?

Also would the stock rear bilsteins be ok with a 1'" block or lift shackles, or does that also require 5100s?

Mailing address is Haltom City, but its really Fort Worth. 35 and Meacham

 

Front springs should be fine set at 1.75". I don't know much about 2nd gen rear suspension. I just installed new billyy 5100s all around with a 1" shackle in rear and fronts set at 1.75". I'm not far from you out near Texas Motor Speedway. I35 and 114.

 

No such thing for a second gen...unless you're running a shackle flip kit. A longer shackle on a stock Tacoma will lower the truck due to the design of the rear suspension. There is no way to run a shorter shackle either...

 

I wasn't aware that shackles weren't avail for 2nd gens. Think about this from Wheeler's


1.5" Add a Leaf Kit: 77.50 A single leaf Add A Leaf Set, works with your factory length u-bolts.
Fits the factory TSB leaf springs, too

 

I'm running 1.75" front 1" blocks in the rear with the stock struts . Looks great , ride is slightly harsher in front but not much . I'm very happy with my choice .





Running 1" blocks is fine unless you plan on doing serious wheeling . For the average mall crawler even bigger blocks are fine IMO.

 

Off Road coils will ride rougher from what I've heard. Some upgrade to Eibach coils for a better ride.

I had my fronts done at a NTB, $100 for the install, $70 for the alignment. They did hit me with a "shop fee" of $19 which they didn't tell me ahead of time but I can't complain. Many others on here have found similar deals for the install. Look around for some auto places, you never know.

 

Thanks for the pics fellas. Did both of you get a true 1.75 lift with the front or did it end up being Tacodawgfan I'm digging your set up on the short bed. That's what I have and looking for the same setup

 

Same setup on my 2010 that I just traded. 1.75 with a 1" block

 

The three of y'all that have set them at 1.75, have you had any vibrations?

 

Never got any vibes from the rear,but i did get the growl out of the front bearing that went away in 4WD. It was why I eventually traded the truck. Warranty was about to be over and I really didnt want to deal with it anymore. It continued to get worse to the point where it bothered the shit out of me.
Toyota was great with me and gave me an awesome deal and what I thought was a great trade value so i jumped on it. This is my 4th Tacoma, 2nd of the 2nd generation. I myself will never lift another one. The newer Tacomas are too sensitive to changes in factory geometry to make it worth while IMO.
I loved the way it looked but my new '13 stock rides so nice that i cant bring myself to screw withit again and start the whole ball rolling of problems again.(alignment,needed new uca's..growling..worries of vibes)
I drive alot of highway miles and its so nice to have well mannered quiet truck again, at the same time I work constuction and my truck leaves the road everyday in all kinds of conditions. Its still more than capable without a lift. Just my experiences. Good luck in whatever route you decide to go!

 

I can't remember my measurements but it was right in there somewhere.

I talked about this on another thread, it's kinda weird but I'm not sure if I'm feeling a vibration or if it's the fact that I'm looking for it since I've heard about it on here. Sometimes I think I feel something sometimes I think I'm imagining it. But what I feel is not really a vibration. It's strange that it feels like I can feel the road more as if I went to a different tire is the best way to describe it. It' almost like maybe after the alignment that I feel more tire on the ground. It actually drives better now. Before the truck kinda had a wandering feeling that is now gone for the most part. I don't know if that had to do with the alignment or the lift? I was afraid it wound drive worse but it feels so much better now.

 

None here.

 

i put mine at 1.75 and it looked level to me.4 cylinder 5 speed

 

i'm at .85(stock springs) on my 2010 sport dblc with rear tsb,my truck actually rides and handles better than stock,didn't notice any big differances in mpg.i didn't do top plates for the "taco lean",i've always thought that the "yaw sensor" takes that lean into account to keep the "vsc" happy,i haven't had any problems..spring rates may differ from "sport to offroad" with the "offroad" having a higher rate,so the more you load them,the rougher your ride will be..my ride isn't rough.prior to getting my "tsb",the shop guys said"your truck is gonna ride like crap",they were wrong...the 4 leaf pack combined with the 5100 rears give a super ride,and after 6 months,i haven't sagged hardly any...this set-up keep me at factory rake,and there is no noticeable brake-dive to deal with,which would have been more evident with just "tsb" and stock front(too much rake)the 5100's should be the "base factory set-up" on all prerunners,the 4600's just don't cut it.i think i got actually more than .85 of lift up front,and i did double check to be sure the seats were installed correctly(they are)on my truck i think 1.75 would've been too much.