1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Bilstein struts help

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by rmagedn, Jul 2, 2025 at 3:12 AM.

  1. Jul 2, 2025 at 3:12 AM
    #1
    rmagedn

    rmagedn [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2016
    Member:
    #177172
    Messages:
    1
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mark
    Vehicle:
    4th Gen '05 BeastRunner
    Hi guys, I recently removed the front spacerift and rear block on my 2014 Taco 4wd short bed with a bilstein setup plus rear AAL's(no more lift block) I have 24-263108 Bilstein 5100s with OME 2887s up front and 1.5" AAL's in the rear with 5100 shocks. My question is when I set the struts on the second clip I am pretty much still at stock height with rubbing right before full lock. I changed it to the 4th clip and it rides harsh(I knew that going into it) I haven't tried it at the 3rd clip yet but probably will depending on your guidance. I researched and the 24-263108s that I have are for the 3rd Gen Tacos and the 24-324359 are what I should have purchased. By using the incorrect struts, is this the problem I am having of not getting any lift in the front at 2nd clip since I am using 3rd Gen struts on my Taco? Pics for visuals.

    4th clip, harsh ride no rub.jpg
    2nd clip, rides good, rubbing before full lock.jpg
    IMG-20250623-WA0026.jpg
     
  2. Jul 2, 2025 at 4:47 AM
    #2
    hinmo24t

    hinmo24t MAhole

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2018
    Member:
    #263138
    Messages:
    482
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    tom
    dartmouth, ma
    Vehicle:
    2015 TRD OR , blue ribbon metallic
    not sure, but good looking truck! blurple
     
  3. Jul 2, 2025 at 7:46 AM
    #3
    Keaton1717

    Keaton1717 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2017
    Member:
    #214533
    Messages:
    402
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Keaton
    New Richmond, OH
    Vehicle:
    Cement 2020 DCLB TRD OFFROAD/MGM 2014 ACLB TRD OFFROAD
    This shouldn’t cause too much of an issue. The 3rd gen’s are a little heavier from the 2nd gen’s, meaning they used different springs/coils. The collapsed and extended lengths are a little off from each other from the 2 shocks. I’d set them to the 3rd clip and see how it rides and see if it lifts the front up any. Looking at the specs the ones you have on it currently should provide you with more lift.

    Obviously the front bumper adds some weight to the front end as well.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2025 at 8:02 AM
  4. Jul 2, 2025 at 8:22 AM
    #4
    memario1214

    memario1214 Hotshot Offroad Moderator Vendor

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    Member:
    #23628
    Messages:
    20,162
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Colton
    Missoula, MT
    Vehicle:
    SOLD - 05 Dub Cab TRD Sport 4x4, CURRENT - '21 Tundra MGM Limited
    Your primary problem here is that you have a spring rate issue, and are attempting to use the circlips to compensate for it. You have a steel front bumper + lights. Maybe a winch? I don't think so on that piece, but can't tell for sure.

    A lift spring such as an OME 885, 886, etc is built to achieve its lift by way of being a taller spring. If the 887 spring is not providing you any lift (it should be providing approx 2.5" at the bottom setting) on a 2G Tacoma, it's a tell that you're under-sprung. You should still be getting at least some height so that is odd. Lift springs like these should never be installed on anything but the bottom-most circlip setting on a Bilstein 5100. The reason that you're getting a very rough ride on the upper circlip settings is due to the coil binding and completely stopping out the coilover's compression cycle before you make contact with the bumpstops.

    The most basic of fixes here would be to move the circlip back down to the #1 position to protect the coil, put on something like a 1" spacer atop your coilover, and extend the bumpstops to prevent collapsing the shock. This is not ideal, but would "work". You'd also need to make some droop tests to make sure that you're not getting coil contact from your upper ball joint. You're kind of in a pickle in the lift height department, and there's not an easy way out.

    As far as tire fitment is concerned, here's something to consider - Regardless of lift height, assuming you're getting full bumpstop engagement during the compression stroke, the tire/wheel is in the EXACT same position. What I am getting at is that whether you have a stock height truck, or a 3" lifted truck, you still have to do the same amount of clearance work to make the tires fit during all stages of the suspension cycle. The only time that you don't need to is when the travel gets stopped out early by way of a lengthened shock, coil bind, etc. All I'm getting at is that lift height isn't the golden ticket to fitting a larger tire.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top