5100's setting

I just picked up a set of 5100's front and rear for my 2007 Tacoma Dbl cab long box 4×4. Truck has recall leafs also using my stock coils.

Rear sitting 22.5" from center of hub to fender flare..

Anyone have this same set up ?
And what was the height setting you used for the front to level it ? ..Or best setting for my set up..

 

What kind of coils do you have? TRD Off-Road, Sport, etc...?

I had a 2005 Pre-Runner TRD Off-Road rear wheel drive. Put 5100s on her and tried the second and third setting. Third setting gave it an annoying bro-lean and she sat nose high. On the second second it was perfectly level with my setup.

The problem with compressing the TRD OR coils however, because they are progressive springs, meant that there was too much load on the springs. While she sat nice and level, my front tires were constantly being chewed up and could never be balanced.

The answer to your question really depends on the type of springs you have. I would recommend buying a set of OME springs if you want to properly level her out and not have issues with load of the springs, travel of the suspension, and potential tire wear.

 

I just did my truck this weekend. I will post the pics after I wash it, it's filthy from winter driving.

I installed the 5100's on the highest setting as I have read that the factory springs will settle. I installed the on the left front shock and the on the left rear spring.
NOTE: since the ToyTec rear spring shim requires replacement of the leaf spring center bolt, I found it easiest to remove the lower rear spring shackle bolt to create clearance to install the new center bolt as it is much longer than the original.

I also installed Wulf Suspensions 1" lift kit on the rear, along with Bilstein 5100's.

I love the height, the 'Taco Lean' is gone, and WOW does it ride better!!

 

Truck is a sr5 stock springs.

 

From what I found so far, I think set to 1.75 3rd clip would be the best..

 

Along the same question; with 5100's on the front and stock TRD OR coils, what is the actual settled lift when set on the second notch? Currently have 1" spacers and simply want to duplicate the same ride height.

 

Stock coils aint gonna settle as they already have. Lift amounts claimed are pretty much spot on with stock coils.


The spacers you have, are they 1in thick, or do they provide a total of 1in of lift.... thats two very different things. The first (1in thick) will provide somewhere around 1.5-2in of lift.

 

Before and after just installed them today at set at 1.75

 

After install

 

I set my 5100s at 0. It sits level and rides nice and smooth (for a truck). I don't have or want any lift, other than upsizing the tires to 265/75-16.

 

I ran mine on the .85 setting with Sr5 springs, rode great.

 

I would not recommend using preload in the front or spacers to add lift to your vehicle.

Rear: If you are going to all the trouble to remove the U-bolts to put in a spacer, then you might as well put in an Add a leaf. They're like $90 shipped from Wheeler's. All a spacer does is lift the body of your vehicle relative to the suspension. This is not that useful off road. An add a leaf will increase travel, increase load capacity, improve the ride off road as you're not on the bumps stops as often, and lift your truck.

Front: By using the Bilsteins to increase preload, you're making the ride harsher and reducing the travel of the spring. Same arguments as above but with the addition of preload making the ride harsher. OME springs come up used on here very regulalry for $100 and are well worth it.

Lift is not about only lifting a vehicle, it is about trying to improve the abilities of the truck, especially off road.



https://eibach.com/us/p-101-suspension-worksheet.html

Thus when you add preload, you are decreasing the spring travel of your truck. For off road you want to increase the travel of your springs and shocks.

 

Ok @nd4spdbh, finally got around to this as my front 5100's have arrived. I haven't removed my front shocks with spacers yet but they must be 1" spacers. I can only measure about 1/2" but the top rubber gasket could be around part of it. My front measurement from center of hub to fender is 22". I understand stock height to be 20" so I'm looking at 2" of lift from the what must be a 1" spacer and that is consistent with what I have found searching here at TW.

I'm a backroad, fire road, Forrest Service road driver not a 4-wheeler rock crawler. My goal is to maintain the current 2" in the front with the 5100's and eliminate the braking dive and general rolling with the stock TRO OR Bills. I'm concerned with "too much" preload on the progressive stock OR springs when setting the 5100's on the 3rd ring for the 1.75" of lift. I can't imagine that 1" of spacer is going to cause problems with my use.

So what is the difference between leaving the 1" spacer and the 3rd ring setting? TIA for helping me along with understanding all this over thinking. I'm really just trying to do this once while I have the front apart for bushings & BJ's.

 

1.75in setting is going to get you right at that 1.75in setting alone. are you trying to achieve 2in more lift on top of the spacer lift. or 2in total.

FYI i run my truck at the 1.75in setting and come no where close to coil bind with stock TRD OR coils, even with the lil 1/4in thick lean spacer (above the top hat) on the driver side. I personally LOVE the slightly stiffer ride (not jarring stiff, but just a lil more sporty stiffness)

the 1in spacer ABOVE the top hat adds no preload to the spring simply provides a lift by moving the entire strut assembly down. A 1in spacer BELOW the top hat between the top hat and spring, achieves the same thing as the 5100's on the 3rd setting (essentially) by preloading the coil to provide more downforce to lift the truck.

 

Nope, just trying to maintain the current 2"

Actually that is what I'm looking for too. The Tacoma has always felt just too soft in the front.

Ding, Ding. Yes spacer is below the top hat. Ok then, most likely I'll remove the spacer and set them @ the 1.75. Seems like a cleaner install.

Thank you!

 

awesome glad we got things sorted for ya!

 

Bilstein 5100 experience

Having removed my front shock spacer and installed Bilstein 5100’s, I wanted to update the experience. First, having now changed out 2 pairs of front shocks I can say that using the technique of changing the springs on the truck method is easy and very safe, use it!!

Condition: ’06 Tacoma TRD OR 4x4 4.0 auto. Front ride height with spacer was 22” from center of hub to fender well. I had asked on TW what stock height was and 20” was the response. So with 2” of front lift I assumed I had a 1” shock spacer under the top hat for a net 2” of lift. Well that proved wrong, the spacer was ½” for a net lift of 1”. Stock height must be 21” not 20”? Response?

Assuming the stock height of 20” and wanting to stay close to the 2”/22” ride height I had with the spacer, I set the 5100’s on the 3rd. ring for the stated 1.75” of height expecting it to sit ¼” less. Surprise, surprise when the center of hub lift after driving was 22 ¾”, ¾” taller than where I started and a full inch more than wanted. Again adding evidence that stock ride height is 21”, having achieved the stated 1.75” of lift with the 5100’s and stock TRD OR springs.

Result: Bro Lean, exactly what I have been trying to avoid. I can’t stand saggy ass Tacoma’s. Now I could have gone back and lowered the front ring to the .65” 2nd. ring but I liked the ride, so…..

Since I was installing 5100’s on the rear I took the opportunity to install the second added leaf to the TSB rears that I made from the stock pre-TSB spring set I had resulting in 2-added leafs made from the stock springs for a total of 5-leafs plus the over load. Bro lean gone.

Conclusion: The stated Bilstein 5100 lift amounts seem to be very accurate. The stock 2nd Gen TRO OR 4x4 front height is 21” not 20”. The ride with the 5100’s, stock progressive front springs and the homebuilt rear leaf pack is exactly what I was hoping for, albeit the stance is lifted higher than I really was looking for. Solid planted road feel at freeway speeds and comfortably firmer front end at stops with less body roll. The Tacoma feels like a truck now.

 

So when you changed out the struts, you just undid the top nut with the truck on the ground and then lifted the truck off the spring? I'm trying to envision how this works. No difficulty getting everything lined up when it went back together?

 

I used the technique in this posting, post #2 the OME vids 1 & 2.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-shock-spring-install-without-spring-compressor.311424/

Short version: truck on jack stands, floor jack to support lower control arm (LCA), disconnect lower ball joint, lower LCA with top of shock shaft @ top bushing un-done. Shock lowers and spring decompresses safely contained by (UCA). As they say, install reverse of removal, easy to align shock shaft through top hat bushing. Short, safe and sweet.