Bilstein 5100 Questions

Hey guys,
I posted this in the "Bilstein 5100 Install" thread yesterday but didn't get any responses, maybe because the thread is old. If anybody could provide some help I'd really appreciate it.

Sorry to revive an old thread and for the long post, but soon I'll be installing Bilstein 5100s with OME 881 coils along with all new washers and rubber bushings. I have a few questions:

1. In the first photo, are the hardware components arranged in the correct order moving from bottom to top (washer, tophat with rubber isolator, 1/4" tophat spacer (for taco lean), rubber bushing, washer, nut)? Note the KYB aftermarket tophat does have the rubber bushing on its underside as shown in the second photo. This assembly would be for the driverside.

2. I mock fit the 881 coils on the 5100s set at the lowest setting (third photo) and the shock is not centered in the coil as seen in the fourth photo. In order for the shock to be centered it seems as though the coil would almost have to move up on the left side? In the video from Youtube you can kind of see this and as I move the shock both the spring seat and the coil move up on the left side. Am I just being paranoid and will this not be a problem once the coil is compressed or is something very wrong here? Thanks guys

 

Haven’t seen that kind of issue before... is it like that for both shocks and coils?

 

Yeah it's like that for both shocks and coils. I tried interchanging them and it was like that (shock not centered) for both....

 

I think when you bolt on the top bushing it helps center the shock in the middle of the spring?

 

Tru dat

 

Really? Well maybe I'll just have to give the assembly a go and see what happens, but I'm definitely scared that something could go wrong. @cornbread_wy is that a spring compressor you rented? I was planning on renting that same style one from O'reillys with the hopes it would work on the 881 coils

 

yup - spring compressor from O’reillys is what I used.

 

Ok cool, I'll take it slow and give her a go! Thanks

 

I have the same set up ill get u pictures tomorrow it if helps u .

 

That would be great Carlos, thank you!

 

Might just want to email OME or Bilstein and ask. When you do get full weight on it I dont think It will matter too much but when I installed mine on cheaper Eibachs they were not that far off.

ETA: Maybe go to a local shop and ask to see a spring on the same spring base. Eliminate the OME spring variable then go from there. There's pictures of bilstein seats jumping the groove. I would not install them just yet.

 

It’s most likely just the spring compressor causing you that issue. The spring isn’t getting equally squashed. You will be fine

 

Here you go driver side this were assemble by wheelers and they came mark driver an passenger . Lmk if u need more @RubyTheRedTaco picts

 

Yeah that's probably a good idea. Unfortunately I didn't buy the shocks directly from Bilstein (got them on Ebay) but I did buy the coils from Wheeler's. But they should still be able to give some advice. Going to a local shop and asking about that would also be a good idea, hopefully a shop would allow me to do that. And right that's my biggest concern, is the seat jumping the groove/circlip since there's uneven pressure on it when I center the shock with my hands. It seems that there would be a ton of pressure on the right side and much less on the left.

I haven't used a spring compressor on it yet, maybe that's all I need to do, I don't know haha. But I do know I don't want to loose any fingers.

Thanks Carlos. I'm kind of wishing I bought everything from Wheeler's and had them assemble it. But I also like doing things myself and learning along the way

 

No problem Ruby . I like also doing things my self but i was a good deal so i pull the trigger .