2005-Up Tacoma Rear Bilstein 5100's

Good afternoon,
We get this call quite often and trying to be more pro-active about some of the questions that may arise regarding Bilstein 5100 series rear shocks:

Rear Bilstein 5100's for the 0"-1.5" lift:

Extended length: 22.94"
Compressed length: 14.02"

Rear Bilstein 5100's for 3"-4" Lift:

Extended length: 27.28"
Compressed length: 16.34"

Now here is where it gets tricky, the 2" + lift guys are having the issue..
Now Bilstein does not have a direct replacement rear shock in a 5100 Series. But the optimum dimensions would similar to the following:

Extended length: 24.45"
Compressed length: 14.83"

Now you can run the 5100's series rear shocks for the 0"-1.5" lift
on the 2" lift, but if you are going to be running the truck in any off road situation where you need the rear suspension to droop out is when you will have an issue with the shock acting as a limit strap...That's bad.

Now if you look at the rear shock for the 3"-4" lift is where you will run into an issue on the compressed length. It grows by 2.3" on the compressed length and then you may run the risk of the shock bottoming out before the suspension does. This is where you will have to modify your factory bumpstops to help prevent this from happening.

Hope this helps shed some light on rear shock fitment.
Thank you.

 

Great info. Lots of folks out there run the shorter 5100s with too much rear lift IMO.

 

Yeah just trying to add in our 2 cents I guess..

 

I'm one of those guys with the 2" lift in the rear. I'm still running the factory Bilsteins and they do take quite a beating when the suspension drops quickly. I'll keep running them until they disintegrate (easier to justify the purchase to my wife when the shock has dumped its fluid all over). Since there is no 2" option for the 5100, what would the next best Bilstein shock series be?

 

Working on that now....I am thinking it maybe a 5125 series shock in 8.5"
travel shock, but you will have to add a stem conversion kit to the shock.
By adding the stem conversion kit to the shock, you are adding 1.5" to the compressed and extended lengths.

Standard Bilstein 5125 series shock in 8" stroke:
Extended length: 22.5"
Compressed length: 14.06"

Now adding the stem conversion into the mix on the above shock:
Extended length: 24.0"
Compressed length: 15.56"

Which is only a 1/2" longer on the compressed length then you have now and 1" on the extended length.

Or you run Standard Bilstein 5125 series shock in 9" stroke:
Extended length: 24.35"
Compressed length: 15.11"

Now adding the stem conversion into the mix on the above shock:
Extended length: 25.85"
Compressed length: 17.06"

With this 9" stroke you will for sure be needing to modify your bumps because the shock will be to long on the compressed length.

Bad news about 5125 series shocks is they only carry a 90 day warranty from date of purchase.

Sorry for all the info...
I am geeky that way...

 

Better to have geeked out, good info than random bullshit being strewn around in order to make a sale.

 

Yeah I do not believe in the bullshit part...That just makes for unwanted phones calls...HA,HA

 

So, does this fall in to the BS category?

Cut and pasted from Toytec site:


Bilstein front and rear shocks for 2005 & UP Tacoma

Front F4-BE5-C477-T1 5100 Height adjustable front shocks provide 0 to 2 1/2" lift

Rear F4-BE5-C478-T0 5100 shocks work with 0 to 3" lift

NOTE: rear 5100 shocks are not adjustable

Kit includes 4 shocks, add rear lift options below.

 

Well I am not going to say anything negative about another vendor and
I am not a rocket scientist by any means nor do I pretend to be one.
But here is the spec right for our Bilstein spec sheet (No we are not supposed to have it) for the 2005-Up Tacoma standard 4600 series (Yellow & Blue) rear shocks:
Extended length: 22.54"
Compressed length: 14.68"
So enough said....I would not mount a BE5-C478-T0 on the rear of my 2005-Up Tacoma with over a 2" Lift...
Good luck with that...

 

Nice info. Not enough people take shock travel into consideration when lifting.

 

Honestly no they do not and that is where the issues arise with us because we try and let everyone know as much info as possible so they can make an educated decision as to what will work best for them.
That is why almost all of our shocks we sell online, we give the compressed and extended lengths.
People complain that "Hey my truck rides like crap" and how much droop travel to you have? Or how much compression do you have?
The answer is usually "What did say"? Did you say droop travel? What the hell does that mean...Yes I am joking but you get the idea...

 

My plan was to use the Bilsteins front and rear with a 2" add a leaf.
I guess the 1 1/2" AAL would be ok?
I want to be able to clear 255/75/17 on an access cab V6.

 

No doubt...thanks for all your help recently though...shot you guys a PM with the install of those threaded body Icons you shipped out a while back...

 

I would run the 1.5" AAL...
You should be good..

 

Thanks, DSMS, you'll be hearing from me soon!!

 

I've got some wicked speed bumps here at my apartment and it feels like my shocks are fully extending unless I creep over them with my 2" aal. Should I go with the extended length 5100's? I don't do any off roading so I don't think I'll ever bottom out to hard.

 

Safest thing to do is get a measurement from shock mount to shock mount with the vehicle sitting there under its normal weight at ride height and also take a measurement from your bumpstop to the where your bump makes contact on the frame and message us those measurements..
Just our 2 cents...

 

Thanks for the info DSMS. More than one well known vendor is selling rear suspension kits with Bilsteins that are too short for the springs they supply. They aren't even close. Buyer beware.

 

I noticed this, and am dumbfounded as to why no one else does.

I appreciate that you guys put shock specs up.

 

So if I'm lifting 2" (TSB + 1.5AAL) for looks only -- no off-roading -- which rear 5100 would be best?
Also, what about adding to the shorter 5100s?