"Bowing" NEW OME Coils? Anyone had this happen?

I just started putting together a new "inexpensive" suspension upgrade for my 2013 Tacoma Double Cab 4WD. The upgrade consists of:

OME Front Coil Springs (PN 2887)
Bilstein 5100 Front Shocks (PN 24-186711)
New Top Plates, Isolators, Shock Washers/Bushings, etc.
Icon Progressive 3 leaf Add-A-Leaf (PN 51100)
Bilstein 5100 Rear Shocks (PN

$91 24-186728 5100 Series Shock Absorber

24-186728)

I compressed the springs and installed the front shocks making sure that all the parts were aligned properly and everything was in it's correct place. After the install I looked at the coil and noticed that it was "bowing" in the center (not aligned straight up and down parallel with the shock). I called Wheeler's Off Road and talked to someone there who told me that this is normal when you first install the coil springs and that they require a "break in" or wear in period. Has anyone ever heard of this or had this problem before? I REALLY don't want to install them on the truck just to have to remove them again. ANY help is GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks,
Ken

 

what setting do you have the bilstein on? its supposed to he 0 with an OME coil

 

Can you post pics of the assembly?

 

My 5100s came pre-set to the highest 2.5" setting. Did you adjust them down to the lowest 0" setting??? And yeah, pics!

 

Yep, they are set at the lowest setting. After I was told that this was "normal" I put the other assembly together (other side) and it is the same way. Let me get a pic of them and post it.
Thanks for the help guys, I am kind of sweating bullets here...
Ken

 

Spring perch upside down ?

 

Here is a pic of both coil-over assemblies. The bowing is pretty clear (I think, at least to me it is). Anyway if anyone has ANY input or advice on this one I would REALLY appreciate it. I am tempted to install and run it over some bumps for a week to see if anything changes, but am not sure if would help and REALLY dread re-installing the OEM stuff if it does not work. HELP!!!
Thanks again,
Ken

 

Bingo

 

SOAB!!!!! I cannot believe that I did that! SH@#! Great, not I have to put my faith in those lame spring compressors. I lube the HELL out of them, but they STILL cross thread. Oh well, at least I know the answer and I can fix it. And not I have the install/removal pretty well down.
Thank you SO much OZ. If you had not mentioned it I would not have thought of it, but looking at my truck confirmed. Lesson learned!
Thanks again to everyone, MUCH appreciated!!!!
Ken

 

Well, I guess the good news is that I won't have to compress them as far this time for the install. Thanks God for air tools! I wondered why the lower spring was not staying firmly in place and aligned to the spring perch. OH well, I do feel much better about things now and am DAMN glad that I for you guys help. This forum has been awesome and has pulled me out of a few jams now. Thanks again to all of you. I will post an "after" picture.
Ken

 

This is a common mistake, don't feel too bad.

887's wow I didn't know they had 887s??? Those have to be some stiff ass coils.

 

Same spring rate as 885's

 

Yikes!! Lower Coils Seats are on Upside Down!! Don't feel to bad though, you are certainly not the first to have done that.

 

Well, got them redone today and all is well. I started yesterday, and the first assembly was fine. When I went to redo the second assembly the spring compressor SNAPPED when I was unthreading it! Thank GOD I was sitting in a way that nothing was directed at me. I got popped in the knee by part of the broken bolt and just sat there for a minute stunned waiting for pain to kick in, but all I got was a small scratch! I had to order another set of the coil compressors and was able to finish the second coilover assembly today, no problems to speak of.
I also took apart the 3 leaf add a leafs from Icon and drilled them and installed anti-friction pads. Wheeler's turned me on to these a few years back and it was one of the best things I have done. They eliminate the metal on metal contact between leaf springs and make the ride smoother and WAY quitter. It is a definite must do for any ad a leaf without them installed or even factory leafs that do not have them. If you do install them make sure to:
Drill at a slow speed with a sharp bit.
Drill a pilot hole and step up drill sizes a little at a time.
Constantly add drill/tap lubricant as you drill.
Apply light to moderate pressure when drilling.
If you don't do these things you can overheat the bit and metal hardening the metal making a total PITA to get the hole drilled for the pad. I used a titanium step drill bit at first and then a larger drill bit to drill the final hole. I did have one of the holes harden up on me and it is no fun.
Anyway, just wanted to pass this along and say thanks again for all of the help.
Also, I posted a lot of this info last night in this thread along with pics of a spring compressor that I bought that I was warning people about. Moderators: Do you know what happened to the post?
Thanks again guys, MUCH appreciated! And thank to Dan at Wheeler's Off Road! Their support is unbeatable!!!
Ken

 

KeninSb shoot me a PM. I live in Goleta also. Saw your posts and had some questions about so upcoming MOD's. Sounds like I could learn a thing or two from you!

Thanks bro

 

Will do!

 

Chris4X4: Did you seriously mess your arm up like that doing works on coils? Holy CRAP! I know they are dangerous, I did have one of the compressors BREAK while loosening them. The bolt snapped in half and parts went flying. AllI got was a little scratch on my knee, I was SO lucky!
Ken

 

OH man that sucks! I feel REALLY dumb because I had TWO SETS of coil overs, the ones I was assembling and the ones on my truck. All I had to do was look at the ones on my truck to see how to CORRECTLY install them! I don't know what the heck I was thinking. Seeing your pic is kind of sobering. Makes me realize just how bad things could have gone
Ken