08 TRD OR 6112/5100 + Icon AAL, shoutout this forum

Hey everyone just wanted to give a thanks to the guys on this forum for some great ideas etc. I’m a college kid on a budget so I’ve been piecing together my suspension and I think it turned out awesome.

Here’s the rundown with costs.

2008 TRD OR 4x4 access cab, 76k miles.
I am stunned at how great it rides even completely unloaded, was worried the AAL with 5100 was going to be stiff but it’s not.

*shipping costs are not included, most was already in warehouses in California so it wasn’t more than 100*

Bilstein 6112 unassembled : $609 rock auto

Bilstein 5100 pair : $196 rock auto

Kyb top hats: $23 ea. rock auto

GM 15712438 bumps: $13 for set Amazon

2023 Tacoma TRD OR leaf springs with icon AAL : $200 (used with 10k on leafs and 3k on AAL)

Relentless Off Road U bolt flip plates: $30 (powder coat is 10 but I primed and painted them myself)

9/16 round x 3 1/4 x 9.5in U bolts: $40 (GET THE 7.5, I was unsure so got longer, ended up chopping off a good 3”)

Energy suspension front bumps: bought forever ago for around $35, 2” longer than stock

total: ~950

for sub $1k I couldn’t be happier. Front UCA were optional for me because I wanted to keep it under 2”. Im at the 1.8” setting right now might change when it settles. When I realized the Tacoma TX Pro came with basically the 6112 (before they were even out is my understanding… could be wrong) and 2” lift from the factory on stock UCA my worries were suppressed. Now I’m just going to wait till my upper ball joints go then I’ll throw on some aftermarket UCA. It was still on jack in photo of front, my ball joint doesn’t sit with that much flex normally.

Whole thing took me about 10hrs split between two days using two jacks and a few jack stands. Ended up using the truck to compress the 6112 springs and that was shockingly easy shoutout to the few on here who’ve recommended that. I finished yesterday so I’ll update this thread when I (light-med) wheel it. Hit cleghorn on the stocks last weekend so I have a fresh comparison.

As to why I went 5100 in rear and not 5160, was a mix of cost vs performance vs need. To each their own but for 3x the price (and someone who runs triple bypass Resi Kings on a dune buggy) I can’t imagine that tiny shock oil tube running to the 5160 resi is doing all that much unless your ripping down a washboard road/trail (which I won’t be so need wasn’t there). The outer sleeve is even smaller than my kings resi hose tube inner diameter.
Not an expert just long time dirt bike, quad, buggy and off roader in all forms of racing, terrain, etc. my two cents is probably different than others, but this was my choice and my truck and I couldn’t be more happy with the result. Here’s some photos.

yes I know my 245s now look wimpy LOL. Wheels and tires in the future.

 

Good job OP! Go with what works for you. Looks good from here.