Does anyone have feedback on Bilstein 5100s versus Stock?

Hi guys. I know there is a lot of feedback on the forum about the Bilstein 5100 shocks and that they are a good shock and are popular, but I was hoping to get some feedback about ride quality after installing the 5100s on the front of the truck. Specifically, is the ride a lot stiffer with the 5100s installed? I am getting the adjustable shocks and that you can set them from 0" to 2 1/2" or 3" height. But by adjusting for lift doesn't that "pre-load" the springs and make the ride a lot stiffer? I was thinking of leaving them at 0" height and using a spacer on between the coil-over assembly and top strut mount, that way it would give me the height without sacrificing the ride. Any thoughts?
Also, should I bite the bullet and get an aftermarket spring or go stock? I am really trying to keep a smooth ride without making it too "stiff".
Oh, I have a 2013 Tacoma LTD 4WD Double Cab 4.0L. ANY help/input GREATLY appreciated!!
Thanks,
Ken

 

Do you off road at all? I'm just trying to help you out man by just figuring out what you use your ytruck for.

 

I got 5100s (set at 0) with OME 887 coils and am so happy. They weren't as expensive as Kings/Icons/Fox, and for my uses (fire roads, some moderately difficult trails, highway/town driving), they are perfect. The ride is stiffer than stock but then again I didn't like feeling like I was bouncing up and down (almost too soft a ride) With the stiffer ride of the 5100s and my tires aired down a slight bit on trails, I feel like I am soaking up the bumps without feeling like being on a boat (undulating up and down motion), trust me it's not bone jarring but it's the perfect blend of stiff n soft. If you are really in a bind for cash, use your stock coils, but it's a PITA I hear to take the coils off. That's why I splurged to get the 5100s and 887s preassembled through wheelers. Made installation a lot easier. I have a 13' TRD Off Road DCSB 4x4 V6. The reason I went with 887s is because I have some weight on the front end but not enough to justify 886s (no bumper) but more weight than I would want on 885s (lose total lift due to skids, sliders), and so YotaDan at Wheelers recommended a longer coil with same spring rate. he was super helpful with my purchase. I ended up with a full 3" after lift with my armor. To level out, under his recommendation I used a 1.5" HD AAL set as I don't do any towing and only have weight in the bed for camping trips once a month.

 

Thanks MGMT.
Good question, sorry I probably should have thought to put that in my initial post.
No, I don't really do any off-roading. If/when I do it is mainly short trips on rough dirt roads on the way to the shooting range, etc. I have just always owned 4WDs and love them, but am getting too old for the serious off-roading I used to do.

Thanks Riley.
Your setup sounds like exactly what I am looking for. The idea of putting longer springs with the same spring rate makes perfect sense. I do have a Double Cab and have installed at least 200lbs of sound deadening (well, I will have when the job is complete) inside, a heavy front skid plate, AMP steps, etc. so that is probably the route I would want to go as well. I checked BilsteinLifts.com and they actually have a brief description of the spring numbers and how they affect ride. Since I already bought the shocks, I would probably get the springs and new hardware and have them assembled locally. I have done lift installs that mounted WITHIN the coil-over (between the top plate and spring) that pre-loaded the coils, so the springs were a PITA to get compressed that far. I was able to pull it off using two sets of rental spring compressors, but do not plan to relive that experience!
Thanks again VERY MUCH guys and keep the advice/input coming if you don't mind, I would love to hear some more input for the sake of knowledge gain if nothing else.
Ken

 

OP, installing a spacer is essentially the same as the adjustment plate on the 5100s. The load on the spring is determined by the weight of the truck not the adjustment plate or a spacer.

Don't worry about the 5100s being too stiff. They are not.

 

Thanks BTO. I guess I am not clear on the spacer issue. If the spacer is installed WITHIN the coil-over (between the coil and top plate) it would pre-load the spring, so would adjusting the 5100 to lift because both methods compress the spring more than stock. The type of spacer I am referring to mounts outside the coil-over (on top) between the top plate and upper strut mount on the vehicle frame, so it does not preload the spring, it just adds about 1" to the overall length of the assembly.
This is what I am referring too:

 

"Cons: High possibility of damage to suspension components"
Thats a pretty big con, you can probably get new coils for the price of the spacer and you'll be much better off

 

1) Does not preload the spring. It would only extend the shock out by the spacer amount.
2) Would not extend the shock out.

Neither one rides any different, as far as the shock goes unless the shock is extended beyond it's intended travel in the 1st one. It all depends on how the shock design reacts to being operated at a more extended range. 5100s are designed to operate in variable extensions.

 

You are right Styx. I forgot that someone had advised me that I can get longer coils like OMEs (Old Man Emu) from Wheeler's and still keep a nice ride. That will be my next move I think.
Thanks again,
Ken

 

I disagree on the ride not being different. I had the first setup on my '02 Tundra and it was like riding on a brick. I changed the lift to the second type (on top of the top plate) and it lifted the truck about the same height, but maintained factory ride. If the spacer is mounted inside the coil assembly (between the spring and top plate) it pre-loads the springs. If I am correct about the springs they are "progressive" meaning that the more they are compressed, the more resistance they provide, so by pre-loading the spring it puts the spring in a "compressed" state making them harder to compress more. That is what makes the ride "stiffer".
My current setup is like the second example, I have the spacer mounted on top of the top plate, between the top plate and the strut mount on the vehicle frame. It essentially makes the coil-over assembly about 1" to 1 1/2" longer overall, but provides 2 1/2" to 3" lift height. There is a brief description of DayStar spacers on this 4WheelParts.com page.
If I am not getting this right, someone feel free to set me straight. Oh, and the "High probability of damaging suspension parts" is true if you are using a LARGE spacer, but the one I am using is about 1" think, nothing like in the picture. I know a LOT of guys that have been using this kind of lift/leveling setup for years with no problems to speak of as long as they didn't put too large a spacer on. One solution too is using limit straps that bolt to the frame and the lower control arm. The strap limits the amount the coil-over can extend preventing damage to suspension parts.
Ken

 

I have an 09 DCLB, and have 5100's installed upfront with Eibach coils. I left them set to 0", and with the Eibach's I got about 1.5" of lift. They are a much stiffer spring than stock, but exactly what I was looking for. I hated the really bouncy OEM setup. It rides like a truck should now IMO. Doesn't fly all over the place after driving over train tracks or ruts. But not too stiff at all, very stout and smooth.


Hope that is helpful, obviously it's obviously all subjective and depends what you want your truck to do and feel like. Good luck man!

 

Ken this is your go to guy at Sparks! I just put Billstein on my Tacoma and I'm currently on OEM springs. The ride is pretty rough with the OE springs, but the shocks work better than expected. I am going to be swapping out the springs soon enough with the ToyTec springs to get me a better ride. I definitely feel a little more comfortable going off road and handling the small things thrown at me. I would recommend those shocks to anyone!

 

Just installed some 5100's set at 1.75 with the stock TRD coils on my DCLB. it leveled it with no TSB in the back. Honestly I love the ride better that the stock 4600's. on my previous Tacoma I had the OME 885x springs with 5100's and I thought that ride was too stiff. I think with the spring rate on the original coils is just right as long as you aren't running any armor.

 

Had a Daystar 2.5" spacer lift (on top) and it rode great... Went off road and the rt front shock overextended ... blown seals in shock

Installed 5100s set at 1.75" with stock springs and 1/4" toytec spacer left and right... Toytec 2" AAL under the non TSB springs

With my Leer shell installed on my Dbl Cab, it's a great ride on and off road

Cheapest anywhere

http://www.my4by.com/bilstein-5100-series-846.html

 

Thanks for all of the input guys, MUCH appreciated!
Here is what I ended up doing:

OME 52887 Coil Springs
Bilstein 5100 shocks (front & rear)
New coil perches, top plates, coil isolators and 1/4" spacer for driver side.
Icon 3 leaf progressive AALs.
Moog greasable tie rod end links
Moog greasable sway bar end links

I also bought some anti-friction pads for the leaf springs and installed one on each end of the new leafs. I installed the AALs, but left the OEM overload spring installed, this helps for heavy load and gives another 1/2" rear lift. I cleaned all the existing leafs with denatured alcohol and sprayed the hell out of them with dry graphite lube. I sprayed all of the front coil/shock parts with a Teflon lubricant.
The install went well and I LOVE the ride! It is MUCH better than factory and I am really glad that I went this route. Thanks again to everyone that helped, MUCH appreciated!
Now, the only problem is that I have a "clunking" when I go over bumps. I am 99% sure it is the sway bars making contact with the coil perches, so I ordered a Toytec sway bar relocation kit. That should take care of the "clunking". I also noticed a "rattling" sound, like something is loose and vibrating. I have double and triple checked everything and nothing is loose. Some guys say that the 1/4" spacer on the driver side (seems like the noise is coming from the DS) can make this noise and that it can be resolved by putting some rubber shims, like inner tube material on the bottom and top of the spacer. Another suggestion was to put gasket sealant on both sides of the spacer and then reinstall. Has anyone heard of this problem or had similar issues?
Thanks again guys, I am LOVING the truck more and more!
Ken

 

FYI the bottom plate (lower spring seat) on the 5100s when adjusted compresses the coils thus making the ride more stiff. This is also what provides the lift; the coils are further compressed which essentially increases the resistance of the coils when at their new neutral position.

 

That is absolutely right, unless the spacer is installed ON TOP of the coil assembly rather than between the top plate and the coil. I have done installs both ways and there is a world of difference.
Ken

 

I was simply referring to the lower spring seat which adjusts on the 5100.

As for spacers there are coil spacers which go under the top hot or top plate spacers which go on top of the top hat. Seems like a lot of folks get these different lift methods confused or may not understand what's happening when these lifts are installed.

 

I guess that is what I was trying to say. The type that install under the top hat/plate is equivalent to adjusting the Bilstein shock for lift. The type that installs on top of the top hat/plate does not preload the coil, so the ride isn't affected. Does that make sense?
Ken

 

That makes perfect sense and I'm very familiar and it sounds like you are too, the one post I read just provided information that I thought was incorrect and wanted to clarify.