Things to consider for a Bilstein 5100 setup?

Hello TW.

New to the overlanding/offroading scene so please bare with me. Hoping to lift my truck soon. Seems like the 5100 is my best option since ill be for the most part flat land driving and the occasional weekend get away. I need your expertise in what set up will be best for me. Such as wheel and tire size without rubbing. Also best option to achieve the 2"-3" lift, which coils to use? Will i need UCA stock? best AAL? Really trying to avoid any block/spacer lifts but like mention dont know whats the best set up. TIA

 

Hey New-ish here too. Jsut FYI, some one else is prolly gone chime in and tell you to use the search feature, since there are literally tons of threads on this topic. I am going to tell you the same, use the search feature. I have hard time myself but the after searching a few threads i was comfortable enough to decide on what is best for my situation. Your answers you seek are there!

 

Yeah i will make sure i do some research im sure this questuon has been asked a few dozen times.

 

Here is to get you started on your research:

Depends on type of driving/terrain you will do. 5100 can work, but so will stock suspension. 5100 will almost feel like stock, but it gives you a lift. Without actually knowing what type of offroading you will do and terrain you will go on + setup/gear, its hard to tell you anything about the suspension.

5100 is a 2.0 shock non-reservior. If you like to take a washboard or bumpy fire roads at 25+ mph for long duraiton, you will start having shock fade (shocks starts losing it's dampening ability) and potentially blow a shock (leaks).

Bigger tires, means more things to do to get it to fit (CMC, trimming, pinch weld, UCA,etc)

Aftermarket UCA allows you to increase your caster. If you are going to do a mid/extended travel, it also clears the springs as stock will hit spring at full droop.

That's the basic of it. Read the forums that's been previously answered and it'll go into more details about it.

 

Tbh take your rig stock and off road and learn it before upgrading!

 

I should have been more detailed. Yes my ultimate goal is to have a lift and ultimately still be able to do some offroading. Nothing drastic though. And yes i appreciate the knowledge you are mentioning, anyhing i can soak it will be helpful to help me get familiar with the terminology and basic i really appreciate @ZekeR7

 

Yeah they're pretty much like the stock ride, maybe a bit stiffer. The added lift bit is nice but I added new OME coils too.

 

I agree but like i mentioned wanted to lift my OR 2"-3" and upgrade to bigger wheels and tires

 

I dont have a lift yet. But i found some Bilstein 5160s on Craigslist last night. I currently am running some aftermarket 265/70/17 BFG ko2 tires with 17x8.5 -12 offset, and i have almost no rubs. Only the rare hitting a tiny bump while going in reverse while turning my stearing wheel.

 

Is the rubbing only on the wheel well or is it any other components?

 

Only on the inner wheel well, on the driver side. Very minor. Havent gotten around to trimming the piece back, like others have done.

 

Thank you very much good sir

 

I recently installed 5100s with eibach springs in the front set to the lowest setting (around 2” of lift) with stock tires and wheels.Truck rode amazing for 500 miles on road now i installed 4runner pro wheels and 285/70/17 c rated bfg ko2s, rides a little rougher trying to find the perfect psi for the tires makes a huge difference in my opinion. Didnt have any rubbing till i turned into a driveway pretty fast found the little piece of plastic it rubbed on cut it off and no rubs for now.

 

Yes this is the type of feed back i was looking for. Thank you for taking the time to do so. Whats the ideal setting? And yeah planning to go with some K02 with the 17 Fuel Shoks as well. So very similar setup to what i want. What about the rear AAL?

 

I didnt go with AAL i was looking for a level setup even with this setup my rear is still 1/4” higher than my front.

 

I just recently did the 5100 Coilover with AAL. I got a 1/4 inch spacer with the UCA I ordered from RockAuto. I would recommend getting some made for a lift just to avoid any issues especially since you plan on doing some off roading. If you weren't thinking about it, I think you could swing the stock UCA but I wouldn't risk it either way.

I got mine from this website. The cheapest place I found. Plus they are the coilover ones so you don't have to mess with putting the springs on. I did add the AAL that came with the and the shim so the drive shaft isn't at a weird angel. Rides so much better! I was running the stock (08) springs and shocks. The front was a smidge higher until it settled. Also, you will need to drop and relocate your sway bar or else it will hit just getting out of the drive way.

$25 Supreme Suspensions - Sway Bar Brackets For 2005-2022 Tacoma 2003-2009 4Runner and 2007-2009 FJ Cruiser 2WD 4WD T6 Billet Aluminum Sway Bar Drop Brackets (Silver)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UW8WVSO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I wonder how if the sway bar is an issue on the Gen 3 also

 

It was only hitting it by like a 1/4 inch max but still. Sorry though, no data on the 3rd gen. You could do the lift and see. I drove for a few days before I figured out the noise upfront.