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5100's all around with All Pro Expedition Leaf Springs?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by RonnyG, Nov 14, 2014.

  1. Nov 14, 2014 at 7:50 AM
    #1
    RonnyG

    RonnyG [OP] New Member

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    Hi all,

    Brand new to the forum and I have been reading a lot of what everyone is saying regarding the 5100's so I will try to avoid touching on old topics. My question is in regards to anyone having expierence with these 5100's set up with the All Pro expedition leaf springs. My leafs are done so while I am replacing those I figure I would do the full set up. My truck is not used for crazy offroading but I do use it to get into the woods and mountains for various activities, as well as haul fire wood for the winter and assorted equipment like skidsters and small tractors so I want leafs that can handle some load and these expidtion leaves look like they will work. Right now my ride is stock except for some 15" pacer bullet hole wheels and 31"x10" Geolanders. Just want to make sure this set up will work before I get into it. I think I will get the Eibach coils for the front with the 5100's unless it is strongly recommended I get the coil over kit that toytech has for the 5100's. I assume I will need the dif drop kit both front band back as well and new bushings. Is there anything else I should consider?

    Thanks,

    Ron
     
  2. Nov 15, 2014 at 3:27 PM
    #2
    4thone04

    4thone04 Well-Known Member

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    Ron
    I was in the same boat you are in when I got my 04. I read the billys are great and knowing how they improved the ride of my old 94 I was all in. On stock worn out springs I set them in the middle and off I went. Level front to back and seemed better but not like it should.

    I had almost 3 inches of drop in the rears with 500 lb in back so I put on the general HD springs($430.00 shipped). that raised the rears 1.5 and got rid of that Cadillac rear float.(same 500lbs now drops 3/4 or less) So I knew the fronts needed new springs. I put the 9 coil 4runner springs ($80.00 shipped) in front with the billys for the Tacoma on the bottom setting. Level again and( them springs should have came on the gen 1 trucks!!600lb spring rate). it sits at 38" rear 37" top of wheel well with 265/75/17 from a fj


    But now I am seeing the bilstiens for the Tacoma are to soft. I get a little more bounce than I think there should be. They are not bilstien valved but made for the tacomas by a company in California if I remember right?

    If I was going to do it all over I would have put the 4runner bilstiens OR the tundra bilstiens in the front with the 1999 4runner coils and I couldn't be happier with the HD general springs in the rear.


    good luck jcl
     
  3. Nov 16, 2014 at 5:46 AM
    #3
    RonnyG

    RonnyG [OP] New Member

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    thanks, I had not even looked at the general springs yet, I will get over there and check them out! Do you think the eibach coils would be better than the 4runner coils?
     
  4. Nov 16, 2014 at 6:05 AM
    #4
    RonnyG

    RonnyG [OP] New Member

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    4thone04, did you have the 5100 set up in the rear as well or just the front. I am wondering what shocks to use for the back with this general HD leaf pack? I see some people say 5125 for no lift and 5100's if lifted, since this pack does raise the rear 1.5-2" would the 5100's be the best option?
     
  5. Nov 18, 2014 at 9:18 PM
    #5
    4thone04

    4thone04 Well-Known Member

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    I have the 5100 for a tacoma in the rear.
    When I was looking for front springs I just wanted a higher spring rate. Most of after market stuff was hard to find rates on. The runner springs from rock auto were cheap so I figured I would gunny-pig? I talked to a couple of guys that said there emu setup got soft after 30-40k.
    The biggest thing I notice is the front doesn't dive. So a bump on the freeway doesn't make a unexpected lane change. It's not a harsh ride but firm.

    Jcl
     
  6. Nov 18, 2014 at 9:47 PM
    #6
    4thone04

    4thone04 Well-Known Member

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    Ops I have the 5125 in the rear. I looked over the paperwork. I'm not very happy with the bilstiesn for the tacoma. They seem softer than stock and are almost not keeping up with the rest of the suspension . I am looking at getting the tundra bilstiens. I think bilstien does the valving on the tundra shocks.
    I wish koni made some adjustable a for the tacomas. I could dial those right in!
     
  7. Nov 19, 2014 at 4:16 AM
    #7
    mwrohde

    mwrohde Well-Known Member

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    Tagging this so I can find it later. Good discussion. Need to get a new suspension past the finance committee. She's a tough one.
     
  8. Nov 23, 2014 at 2:21 PM
    #8
    4thone04

    4thone04 Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]

    That's the "lift". It's about stock when new.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2014
  9. Nov 24, 2014 at 9:25 AM
    #9
    sirotto

    sirotto Well-Known Member

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    Bone stock
    What year and brand of 4runner springs did you go with. I am getting ready to freshen up the front end as well. Went to rock auto and saw they had moog branded ones for a front pair for 49 a pair if i was looking them up right.

    Just an FYI, My background is in BMW and we have been able to send all of of Bilsteins out for revalving. Call Allshocks.com and they should be abke to give you the POC of where you would nbeed to send them. I had done it once a few years back when i changed spring rates from 575 to 900 LBS in the rear of the my track car. I i recall it was alot cheaper than replacing a perfectly good shock for another.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2014
  10. Nov 24, 2014 at 9:27 PM
    #10
    4thone04

    4thone04 Well-Known Member

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    Sorry for leaving the year out, the 1999 4runner spring for v6 16 inch rim option. 14.31 over all with a wire dia of .67 vers .64 on the tacoma . If I remember right the part number ended 88. I think I did get the moogs. The only issue is the spring wire is full dia at the top. The factory springs tapper so they rest on the top mount better. I hit mine with a grinder to take the sharp point off. Like 30 deg or so.
    My back ground is porsche/vw. I know a spot to get revalving done but I should have do my home work first and got the tundra bilsteins. The Blistiens for the tacoma are far better than what was on the truck stock. And for a "truck" they are ok. Just not the fix all for an aging tacoma. The Cadillac float was not from the shocks like on the 94 truck I had. I was trying to restore the ride on the cheap. Should of done a little more research.
    I tryed to match the 4runner spring lenth with the 04 tacoma lenth.

    But the rear hd springs are skoocum! You can hall and tow with out the back dropping. A 3-4 inch drop in the back changes the front end geometry making it even harder to keep it on the road.

    Jcl
     

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