Bilstein 5100 fronts feedback needed

Sorry for ANOTHER Bilstein 5100 thread but I need reassuring as a friend of mine is offering me a deal on a set for the fronts. I'm completely new at modding trucks and am still learning the lingo and facts.

I have a 2012 TRD AC Sport

1. I've heard these fit 2005-Up. Correct??

2. I'm only interested in raising the front to maybe the 2nd or 3rd notch to keep a slight rake. Would I still need an AAL or TSB that I keep reading about? What do they do?

3. How will the ride feel at the 2nd or 3rd notch? Trying to keep the ride smooth as stock if possible.

FYI, I won't be going all out off-roading. Mostly just occasional beach runs.

Any other tips or feedback will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

1. are they coming off of another 05+ Tacoma?

2. the settings are .85" 1.75" and 2.5" Measure the distance from your hub cap to the wheel well and find the difference from front to back. (Example: if your rear is 2" higher than the front and you raise the front to 1.75" then you'll have .25" rake)

3. the first notches are no problem. only the guys who max them out to 2.5" have had major complaints from what I've read. Just keep in mind the shocks will be a little stiffer than stock ones, like a truck should be IMO, but nothing extremely different

Just inspect the product and make sure they're not damaged or abused I guess

hope that helps

 

Thanks Buzzards, that does help. And it's brand new still. He bought the wrong one since he has an earlier model. Well, yeah I would inspect it anyway to see if he "tried" to install them.

 

Sorry for ANOTHER Bilstein 5100 thread but I need reassuring as a friend of mine is offering me a deal on a set for the fronts. I'm completely new at modding trucks and am still learning the lingo and facts.

I have a 2012 TRD AC Sport

1. I've heard these fit 2005-Up. Correct??

Yes

2. I'm only interested in raising the front to maybe the 2nd or 3rd notch to keep a slight rake. Would I still need an AAL or TSB that I keep reading about? What do they do?

The AAL or TSB will raise your rear end a minimum of 1" usually or more depending what you go with...

Do you need it no. If you go to the "first notch" .85 If you go 2nd or 3rd notch then you will be level or slightly nose high.

3. How will the ride feel at the 2nd or 3rd notch? Trying to keep the ride smooth as stock if possible.

From what I have read the ride will never be stock but will be ok since you have the sport.

FYI, I won't be going all out off-roading. Mostly just occasional beach runs.

Any other tips or feedback will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

You're good then. .85 for some slight clearance/leveling

1.75 and a 1.5 aal for a little more lift

 

Alright, thanks guys. Answered my questions in almost under 10 mins!

nfs257, sick sig pic btw!

 

This is why I stick around TW, every other forum I'm on takes days to get a reply, here, usually a matter of minutes, hours max.

 

Thanks!!!!!!!!

 

I'm almost positive there are no differences in the leafs between the SR5, Sport, and Off Road package trucks (Prerunner or 4x4). You either have the TSB 4 leaf pack or the standard 3.

I've got a 4 leaf pack, from Toyota thanks to the TSB on my Off Road.

Edit:
It may be different on the 2012s though, must have misread part of your post.

 

I'm going to go ahead and say Sport gets 4, OR gets 3. . .

 

Well let this be another resource for the search function...my gf doesn't provide the seal of approval

 

I don't know what kind of ride you are used to, but on my '05 TRD Offroad, I put these shocks on all 4 corners, and I absolutely HATE them. I thought they would feel differently than they do (maybe a little tighter than stock, but not ridiculous). They might be great for someone that really beats the off-road paths, but for my occasional use, the terrible roads here in northern California make me feel like I'm beating my truck to hell. 5,000 miles, and I'm debating replacing them with something else.

 

i have my 5100s set to the highest notch, with a 1.5" wheelers AAL in the back and i love it. rides better than stock.

 

Is this with the stock coils up front? And by better, are we talking about cornering, or bump absorption? I never considered raising it up. Maybe these things feel better with a bit more length? Damn... I'm going to have to pull them apart again, lol

 

There's always the possible alignment issues to contend with if you put them at 2.5". That's why I'm lowering mine tomorrow (later today, actually) to 1.75". I simply cannot get the alignment right.

 

$100 for the fronts?

 

rides better in every way. i AM using the stock coils with 74k on them, i do not have alignment issues, i do not have a drivers side bro lean, all my alignment adjustments are within spec and truck drives straight down the road, with the steering wheel pointing straight. i have driven probably 1000 miles with them in and not one problem, no cupped tires, nothing. i love them. truck has a little rake with the wheelers progressive 1.5" 3 leaf AAL, but i wanted rake and think it looks great. couldnt be happier.

keep in mind, i had a reg cab before this DCSB TRD OR, and i lifted it with spacers and blocks, it rode fucking horrible. i then put TRD bilsteins on it, a 2" AAL, and OME 884x coils, and it rode better but not much. i could NEVER get the alignment right on that truck. no joke, it would chew thru tires in 1500 miles, it would cup them so bad your steering wheel would shake at 60 mph. i have NEVER had that problem with this truck. i honestly think it all depends on the truck, and is on a truck by truck basis. for instance, i had a 2011 DCSB SR5 v6 auto for a rental once while my current truck was getting an alternator replaced under warranty, and compared to my 2008 DCSB TRD OR that thing was a hunk of shit. engine ticked like it was its job, had NO nut, and all the seats rattled in the tracks. it was a total POS. I dont know what it is, but knock on wood, this truck has been bullet proof.

 

Khaos, if I were home (deployed) and knew that raising them wouldn't help, I would seriously consider it.

 

This is a slightly different topic but along these lines.. would putting only the front 5100s and leaving the stock rear shocks on be a bad idea?

 

It won't be bad, your rear will remain the same, so instead of saying it's bad you could look at it as it's not improved. upgrade the front, good, don't upgrade the back, meh, was it fine with you to begin with?

That said, I would just spring the extra couple of bucks and do all four corners just to be even