5100s w/ stock coils - any good?

bro learn how shocks work. The piston rod is connected to upper strut mount by that nut on top, it is not rigidly in place, if it was you would not get proper articulation, pre loading means you are pre compressing the springs. How are the springs being compressed more than stock, when the spring just lifts up the piston rod creating that lift, alleviating the compression. Your math isn’t mathing, you should probably learn about how shocks work before you comment on this. So homework for you son, learn what pre loading means, and learn how shocks work. Then come back. Have a good day at school. But first I wanna hear how you thought shocks work .

 

https://accutuneoffroad.com/spacer-lift-vs-preload-spacer-vs-coilover-preload/

 

School is in session

 

Hummm this question was asked four years ago . . . . I wonder what the OP finally did.

However for the record I did 5100s front and back but got a ~2" lift via OME coils (887 medium load) up front and Icon RXT leaf pack in the rear (option 1 =1.85"). Honestly the ride does not seem any different from the stock OR suspension on road or off road. BTW - the cost is in the ball park of what the dealer would charge to install the Toyota suspension upgrade (whatever it is called . . . Pro lift or something ?). Tinker Adventure has some interesting information about 5100 that may surprise you in terms of extended travel (starts at around 3.15 in the video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATmyTbMJL3o
A lot of folks will poo poo 5100 as not serious off road shocks and I am sure if you are a serious rock crawler or desert racer then absolutely you need shocks that are much more substantial than 5100. The biggest complaint I have heard/read is that they tend to fade over time when they heat up during hard off road use. I have not experienced that . . . yet, but I only do moderate trails or trails with a few difficult technical challenges and only for a few hours at a time.

 

I regret to inform you, your link does not show what the Bilstein 5100s do, which is lifting the springs from the spring perch, the one you sent is from the top, and a totally different shock set up from the 5100s. If you can find something similar for the Bilstein 5100s, which your link did not show what they do, I’ll admit I was wrong.

 

Actually, I'm on the same page as you, with the caveat that towards the end of the adjustment range, it might not be a 1:1 spring adjustment to lift relationship (if you start running into other constraints, you might actually start preloading the springs, which will make the ride harsher). The videos seem to indicate the same: you're not really preloading the springs as much as lengthening the fixed end of the shock.

I think the reports of harsh ride on preloaded springs have more to do with running at the limits of the available travel. Plus, 5100s are digressive shocks, meaning they are stiffer than stock on small bumps.

In reference to the linked article, 5100s + stock coils are most like an adjustable preload, but with set positions instead of continuous adjustment.

Edit: Disclaimer: like most of my suspension posts on here, this is mostly academic and minimally based on real world experience. I've done stock suspension work on my truck, but nothing aftermarket. My suspension adjustment experience is primarily from motorcycles.

 

Oh I got you, because I’m like does no one know how shocks work? But I apologize for jumping the gun.