Help! 2nd Gen Shocks!!!!!

Hello, I am new here. Looking for advice on shocks and struts. I don't really need a lift but I would not mind a 2" front end leveling, in fact I do want that.
Maybe someone can help? I have a stock 2006 Tacoma TRD Prerunner 2WD. The shocks OG and are bad and I will be replacing them.
1. Do I need to replace the strut springs or can I use the old ones?
2. What shocks do you recommend for the truck? I am thinking about getting the Bilstein 4600's. BUT If I want to raise the front level Should I use the 5100's or the 4600's with a spring spacer?
Thanks!

 

Get the 5100 shocks

If you use the 4600’s you’ll have to use spacers.

The 5100’s are a better in all ways.

 

Just yesterday I finished putting BILSTEIN 5100's on my '07' TRD OR access cab 2wd. Leveled out the original 'rake' look of my truck perfectly when I chose the #2 circlip location that Bilstein mounting instructions indicated as a .85" 'typical lift height'. (Actual result rise in front to my truck was 1.5") I had 91K on the OEM Bilstein's and used the OEM springs. The four new shocks (and a wheel alignment) immediately delivered a smoother, less jarring ride at freeway speeds and parking lot bumps!

 

1) unless you are upgrading the springs, no you use the stock. Make sure to get a taco lean spacer for the driver side. Also if you dont want to deal with swapping the springs over you can pay a garage to do that. I have done it in the past, I hate dealing with spring compressors.

2) Bilstein 5100s will be fine. Don't use spacers, spacers are for posers.

 

What is a 'lean spacer'? Never heard of that before.

 

the driver side will be lower ever so slightly due to the drivers weight and gas tank. So a common fix to get rid of the taco lean is to add a specific spacer, called a "taco lean spacer" to the driver side strut assembly.

but if you go with the bilsteins you should be able to adjust it out. Its just more work and if you max out the adjustment then youll need the spacer, or just live with the taco lean.

 

https://www.suspensionlifts.com/sho...er_id=882919&wc_gforms_reorder_item_id=425402

I'm going to install these next week...

 

A set of 5100's at the bottom setting and 883 OME coils will give you a 1.5" lift up front.

 

I can only speak from my personal experience, but I have 5100’s on the bottom clip with OME 883’s and it lifted my front end like maybe an inch. 2014 v6 4x4 no added weight. Not complaining, that’s what I wanted and I did my research before buying that setup.

 

Around here there is an abundance of 'take-offs' I picked up a set from a '23 Tacoma with 500 ks on them as he went with a lift right out of the gate. $200 Canadian. I read that with these there is a 1" lift in the front. Good price good quality. I'm part Scottish, so the pricing appeals ;-) Cheers, Dave

 

5100’s suck. The cheapest shock that is not horrible is 6112.

would not recommend wasting time and money on something that sucks.

 

The 5100’s are definitely more stiff than I was expecting for seeing how much they get praised. Must be the digressive valving. If I could do it all over again I wouldn’t go 5100’s, but here we are. Not going to drop more money changing them out.

I am excited to see how my Dobinsons IMS suspension feels once I get it installed on my 4Runner.

 

because they’re pencil thin

 

I have a wacky motion sickness issue w/ progressive shocks, and most factory shocks. The floaty feeling is terrible. The stiff 5100’s are perfect for me. I wish I had discovered them years ago (for daily driver).

 

Right there with you. The more stiff the ride, the more comfortable I am (up to a point).

 

Yeah there's a whole psychology-of-adaptation to different suspension settings.

With FOX 2.5 PE's & DSC adjusters on 4 corners it's sort of like having a Phillips Hue mood-lighting setup in the living room. If I'm feeling smooshy and lazy I dial them down to 0, if I want to pretend that Tacoma on a 2" lift handles well I dial them to 5 or 6, & accept the major increase in VH. (Noise doesn't increase.. just vibration & harshness.)

 

I think 5100’s will be my next move