ARB and 5100

Hi Folks,

I am installing an ARB bumper and 5100 struts next week. What should I set my 5100s at in order to compensate for the weight of the bumper? I am not changing out my UCAs or springs and have a 1.5 AAL on the back to compensate for my camper shell. My truck is a bit raked right now. It seems to be all over the place with the amount drop that will happen with the bumper. I have searched the forums and it seems anywhere from 0-1.5"

Thanks,

 

I believe you have to upgrade your springs or else you risk ruining your shocks with the extra weight.

 

Set them at 0 and buy OME 886 springs

 

I highly agree with this human

 

I was thinking this but the 886 springs lift me to 2.5 inches which might mean I need to do the UCAs.

What coil springs are on my Off Road Tacoma?

 

Just stock springs. Not good. I was fine at 2.5 without new uppers on my old Tacoma. However, light racing uppers aren't very expensive. Bilsteins at 0", 886 coils, and light racing uppers will be a very solid set up

 

My wife is gonna kill me if I spend anymore money. Already over my budget.

 

Although people do run that setup, I believe Billstein doesn't recommend 5100s with the heavy duty 886 springs. OME struts are valved for those springs.

 

I have been reading that.

 

If you dial up the 5100s on stock springs - say to the 2.5" setting for roughly 1.75" of actual lift with the bumper (just making up numbers), the coil is squished pretty far on the preload. You're very likely to get coil bind pretty bad while offroading. Not to mention possibly over working the shocks.

 

Got a ARB and a 48# Smittybilt XRC9500 winch stuffed in it on the front of mine. Stock springs and 5100s on the top notch.

So far, no problems, and I've wheeled mine a decent amount. I've even unintentionally gotten a little accidental air across an intersection... that was sketchy.

I've also got more armor on the way. Full 3/16" skids, sliders, and a high clearance rear bumper.

That being said, I do plan on upgrading. Eventually. The springs do seem to be getting a little softer. I also won't be upset if something goes catastrophically wrong, because I know the game of Russian roulette I'm playing.

So I'd say do it if you're limited by budget, just plan to upgrade, and don't be upset if something goes bad before you get around to upgrading.

 

I am gonna get the OME shocks and the 886 springs, and plan to do the UCA if needed. I will return the the 5100s and sell my stock stuff to pay for the difference.

 

That's the right way to do it. I unfortunately didn't find all that out until after I had the 5100s. If I find a deal on 886 springs I'll probably slap them on my 5100s. If not, I'll keep saving up and when I can pry my wallet open again I'll jump up to a full OME setup.