5100s for 2016 3rd Gen Tacos

http://cart.bilsteinus.com/pdfs/E4-WM5-Y518A00_1.pdf

 

Front 5100 set @ #3
Nothing in rear
265/75/16 BFG KO2s

 

Anyone actually use these shocks off-road?

 

best price on 5100's?

 

Yes. Fronts set at .85 ride far better than stock shocks offroad. I've used them hard for about 15000 miles.

Rear 5100s are another story. I blew both rear shocks. Not sure how.

 

For all you guys who have installed billstein 5100 all around with stock springs.. I’m looking to swap out my shocks as well.. I have the TRD OR package that comes with the stock billies and was wondering how the ride quality compares to the 5100s in the rear and in the front. If you don’t mind giving me individual comparison of stock billstein rear vs 5100 rear and stock billstein front vs 5100 front

 

I have a DCSB 4X4 TRDOR with a Snugtop XV, stock leaf springs, wheels and tires. While installing the rear 5100's, I also replaced the bumpstops with SumoSprings. I drove it this way for a few weeks before installing the front 5100's. The problem with the stock Bilsteins is that they are too bouncy.

With just the rear shocks replaced, the ride was out of sync; the rear was now firm, but the front was still too bouncy. Once the front struts were installed with the stock springs (set at .85), the ride was firmed up in the front, as well as the back. Now, when going over speed bumps, it no longer feels like riding on a buckboard. IOW, the bounciness is gone!

I went on an 800 mile road trip the week after putting them on and they drove great. However, after I returned home and unloaded all of my camping gear, I noticed I now had a Cali Lean. This is surprising since the SumoSprings supposedly add 5/8" to the rear. In any case, I decided to have the front lowered to 0. The ride feels the same, but I got back some rake.

 

Going with 5100’s on all 4. Looking for opinion/advice on .85 or 1.75 setting. Photo is stock height with 265/75/r16 on 2017 TRD OR. Looking for a just a little more height to better match the larger tires plus better handling. To be honest, this is mostly for just better appearance. Would like to hear general opinions based on the current look and spec on the truck. Thanks

 

Here’s a copy of a letter I got with very good suspension and 5100 info From Headstrong Offroad. I’f it helps you in your decision, please consider calling them with your business:

The Bilstein 5100's are popular since they provide some additional and performance over stock while still being budget friendly however they can be a bit limiting off the road. Especially the new version for the 3rd gens. Since that is the case we do have quite a bit of people going with the 2nd gen Bilsteins on their 2016+'s. I created a thread comparing the two. Here is a link if you want to check it out: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-available-in-stock-and-ready-to-ship.455220/

You can run either of the Bilstein 5100's with the aftermarket lift coils we list or your factory springs. The lift coils will provide the lift and the Bilstein will remain at the zero setting. If you stay with your factory coils you would have to adjust the snap ring up to the desired settings on the shock itself. From the feedback I have, so far, people feel as if the top notch settings provide a less then desirable ride quality. In the case of the 3rd gen 5100's I have had a few customers dislike the ride from the 1.1 setting and above. Customers do turn to the lift coil option because they feel as if it supports the truck better and helps prevent the nose dives at stops and the sloshy cornering that you see with the stock suspension without being as stiff as the ride with the preloaded stock spring.. This all just comes down to which option you feel best suits your particular needs. Now or down the line.

In this realm of lifts you also have the OME suspension kits. I have many people who go back and forth between the Bilstein 5100's and the OME's. What typically differs from the Bilstein 5100 kits and the OME kits is the shocks themselves. Most of the other components stay the same (rear lift options). Since this is the case I find it helpful to compare the shocks side-by-side, this way you can see which ones would be suit your specific needs.

Some of the differences between the OME nitrocharger sport shocks and Bilstein 5100 shocks are below:
Bilsteins are a steel body that has been coated with their triple-C coating which seems to hold up better in the elements the powder coating that OME's has on their steel shocks.
There are two different OME struts available the standard 90000 which are the firmest and the 90021 soft ride struts. The Bilsteins fall in the middle as far as valving is concerned.
The OME's have a slightly larger shock diameter then the Bilsteins.
The Bilsteins are a monotube shock and the OME are twin tube.
The OME shocks have an internal component which can be noisy at times. Some people refer to it as the "speed bump clunk." The Bilsteins do not have this same component design.
The OME rear shocks will work the Dakar pack and not require bump stop modification or longer brake lines but they limit the amount of droop you see from the Dakar leaf pack. The standard length Bilstein 5100's really should be used with one of the add-a-leafs or a block up to 1.5". The extended length RCD/Bilsteins will also work with the Dakar leaf pack but longer brake lines are needed and possible bump stop modification but you get more droop from the pack.

The 6112 is a strut and coil combination which uses the notch settings on the shock with the coil provided to achieve lift. They come with a 600lb spring rate tapered coil. They have a much larger shock diameter then the factory shock (which is a 1.5" diameter and the Bilstein 5100's have a 2.0 diameter) which helps with the displacement to keep the shock cooler longer when under strain from an extended period of time. They are not fully adjustable or revalvable. However they are a nice upgrade over the stock suspension and the Bilstein 5100's. From most of the feedback I have, provide a nice on and off-road ride quality even at the higher notch settings. They have a steel body that has been zinc coated. They pair nicely with the 5160 remote reservoir rear shocks. Some people do run the 5100's with the 6112's if they do not need the added extension or the reservoir. I usually say that if the 5100 and a coilover unit like Fox had a baby, the 6112's would be what you get.

Up from this type of lift you have the ADS, Fox, Icon, and Kings which provide quite a bit more performance, capability, and adjustability. If you want to go over these options more in depth I can provide you with information on these as well.

For the rear you can go with either a block, a single leaf add-a-leaf, a 3-leaf progressive add-a-leaf or a full leaf pack replacement. (If you want to explore the full leaf pack option let me know and I can go over the different options that we have available). Since you tow you do could benefit from just an airbag suspension in back. https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p225/FireStone_Ride-Rite_Air_Bags_for_2005-2016_Tacoma.html

The lift achieved from any kind of spring, whether it is a leaf spring or a coil spring, is a variable lift. Meaning that the amount of lift achieved can vary. Depending on the condition of your factory pack and how it responds to the addition of the aal you can see a difference in lift height. On average the aal will provide approx. 1.5"-2" of rear lift. The ride quality will be stiffer from the use of either style of aal since you are adding more steal out back. However you do gain some added load carrying capabilities. The nice thing about a lift block is it is a 1 for 1 ratio meaning that a 1.5" block will provide 1.5" of lift so it is easier to fine tune rear lift and stance with a block over a variable lift from an aal. The block will maintain the factory ride quality but does not provide any added capabilities. It really comes down to which lift option you feel you would prefer.

I have a lot of people who are interested in the add-a-leafs. Since that is the case, I find it helpful to provide my customers with this comparison of the add-a-leafs so you can narrow down which one you feel would best suit your needs and get the spec's on each:

The single AAL is both thicker and arched more than the initial leaf in the 3 leaf AAL. Though the 3 leaf AAL has more steel overall, the first leaf in the mini pack does not engage as quickly as the single AAL does. In fact the single AAL is arched to a point where it re-arches the existing factory packs upon assembly and thus engages immediately. The 3 leaf AAL has less arch and complies with the arch of the factory packs. So although the first leaf in the 3 leaf AAL will provide some support with the smaller bumps, it won't provide as much as the single AAL will, which translates to a slightly stiffer on-road ride. And as far as the 2nd and 3rd leafs in the 3 leaf AAL, these will only come into play until the factory packs are flexed far enough to engage them. This will happen more so over the bigger bumps or when off-roading. The single leaf provides approx. 1.5"-2" of lift and the 3-leaf provides approx. 1.5" of lift with the factory overload removed and approx. 2" with it retained. The overload does provide function, for when you are over load, so removing it or retaining it can depend on what you use your truck for. If you find yourself hauling or towing a decent amount of weight you may want to keep the overload in to keep the factory pack and add-a-leaf from overflexing. Now the performance and capabilities of any of the add-a-leafs still do rely on the factory leaf pack and its capabilities and wareability.
Basically, from the feedback I have, the single leaf provides a stiffer ride quality but better initial support of consistent weight and the 3-leaf provides a better ride quality and as more of the leafs are engaged then the weight support comes into play.

We do not offer installations at this time however we do work with some places in town who install products purchased from us at a discount. Once you decide on the set up I can help get a quote for you.

Please let me know if there is anything else that I can assist you with.
Thank you so much.
Marie
www.headstrongoffroad.com
headstrongoffroad@hotmail.com
951-658-3030

 

Stupid question for the Forum....I have a 2017 TRD Off Road 4dr short bed. If I decided to use new coils as my means of lifting the truck (I'm just looking for 1.5-2" in lift), why do I need to also upgrade to the 5100's and leave them at the zero setting?? Can I just get new coil springs (OME 885's) and run the stock Bilsteins that come on the TRD Off Road package? It seems to me that a large part of the updgrade and costs that come with the 5100's is the adjustable travel technology, but if your plan is to not use that functionality at all, is it worth the upgrade?

 

Trying to get an inch or 2 lift in the front maybe a 1 inch block in the rear level maybe a slight rake

About to order some 5100s but also want some ome springs

I have a double cab 2.7 prerunner...


What springs should I run? @HeadStrong Off-Road

 

PM sent!

 

Can someone please tell me why everyone is stating they set there 5100s at 1.75 when there is no option for that setting? Only 1.1 or 1.5?

 

3rd gen 5100s do 1.55 inch 2nd gen 5100s do 1.75 inch. You can order either. I believe from what others are saying, they both fit either 2nd and 3rd gen Tacomas

 

4 rings on 2nd gen
5 rings on 3rd gen 5100s and rings are spaced closer together.

 

Are you guys running bilstein 5100 with stock springs?

 

I am.
To me the ride is slightly firmer with the 5100s, but still very comfortable. A pleasant surprise was that roll and sway is reduced in curves and around corners compared to the stock Bilsteins.
They soak up the speed bumps just as well as the stock shocks.

I have not used aftermarket springs.

 

I am too- exact same results as OregontoBajaCA. I’m also using single leaf Dakar in rear and it is perfect for me with a load or not.

 

I know there were more people stating they got their 5100s super cheap on jet.com, but I am not getting the same deals, and all those promo codes have expired :/ I came across this thread just last night and went through it

 

I know this post is old but what size tires are pictured here!? Looks great! Is that with the lift at .85 (second gen bilsteins)?