Bilstein 5100 .85 Before/After Picture Request

@LowStater4 this should give you an idea of what your truck would look like with the 5100s

 

Bilstein at 0.85" on stock trd off road coils. Tsb rear leafs (3+1)



Stock front, tsb rear

 

Nice @Northern Taco thanks!

 

@JMoney do you have the TSB rear leaf springs in those pics? Or original leafs?

 

Came out great at .85

 

Sorry for the late response. I do not have the tsb leaf in those pics.

 

So would you say its otherwise pointless to put those shocks in, over the stock ones.... if your not intending to lift? is that a fair statement?

 

Exactly.

They're valves for lifted applications.

So no lift, no advantage.

 

fair enough, thanks for your assessment.

 

You are a 110% correct...there is a widespread misconception that the 4600/HD Bilsteins are the factory TRD shocks. Yes they are the same color but that is where their similarities end. I have had 5100's 4600's and TRD Bilsteins. The TRD's are a much softer shock that makes the Tacoma wallow around turns. The 4600's and 5100's firm the ride up but I couldn't tell a real difference between the two. Though I prefer the 4600's when towing ...

 

The 5100s are much larger and more substantial shock than the stock TRD yellow Bilsteins, no comparison between the two. I had all 4 shocks changed to 5100s a couple years ago. The back shocks were shot after 5-6 years of Baja driving, leaking oil and lost their control. The front's, I had Jason @speedfreek set the height to .85" and noticed a very slight height change. The back height is controlled with Ride Rite Air Bags... as many inches as I want higher, but basically to keep the truck level or better when loaded for big Baja camping trips.

 

Is this with AAL also?

 

I want to eventually lift the truck 3" but don't have the funds to now. My truck needs a level kit for looks sake. I fislike rake and I'm running 265/70/17s so I think the larger tires make the rake more noticable.

Looking into a set of 5100s. As I understand 0.85 will almost level the truck but the 1.4 gives it a brolean towards the back (ie front is higher). Is this correct?

Also @T4RFTMFW you mentioned the 5100s change the ride. Would you say that it makes the ride stiffer?
I have a Sport, and like a stifferish ride. Slightly stiffer for me would not be a disadvantage. Just want to make sure I understand your opinion of the ride.

 

Yeah

 

i have my bilsteins set at 0 with the same set up and have alot more rake (expected) I have just been on the fence with either getting 1/2" spacers or adjusting the shock. I tow a camper and stuff and have a cap so I am not looking for level at all.

 

L


I don't tow anything and only fill the bed with camping stuff so minimal rake for me isn't a bad thing. Not sure spacer vs going to .85 which would be better for what you want.

 

Love this truck, can I ask what tires you are running in these images? I’m not looking to go too over stock, 265/70/16s is my idea, just wondering if these were them cause they don’t look so bulky.

 

You can go up one size to 265/75-16 without any lift or any rub, many of us do when we replace the stock tires. They will give you 1/2" more ground clearance and the speedometer will be correct (but the odometer will be 3.5% slow).

 

Thank you, I was just looking for a pic with the bilsteins at .85 with either a stock rear end or a 1.5” aal, with the 265/70/16 tires, I kinda like a little bit of gap, the 75s just seem a little unnecessary for my trucks daily Philadelphia driving.

 

Sure, of course... you are not in Baja! You may have seen plenty of photos of my truck which has front 5100s set at .85"? I do have Ride Rite air bags in back to level or raise it depending on loads. There is lots of clearance around the rear tires at stock or with the 75 series tires...

Here are photos of the front and back tires/ wheel openings taken on last August's Baja expedition. The tires are 265/75-16 Hankook Dynapro ATM, the shocks are all 5100's, the fronts are set to .85", the rear springs are beefed up with Ride Rite air bags, set at about 25 psi.