Bilstein 5100 Settings for dummies

Newbie to forum but can’t find clear answers on this (maybe for good reason?). I HATE to create a new thread but I want to get this right for my application.

2019 Tacoma Off Road.
Use: 90% commuting 10% Offroad.

Going with Bilstein 5100’s (for now) front and rear with no additional mods/parts other than what comes with the 5100’s.

I have read and read on here and don’t have a complete break down of the Bilstein Settings without additional mods and I’m looking for a recommendation and break down. I don’t haul anything more that 200-300 lbs when shooting/camping.

I want to achieve the following:

1. find a height setting for the 5100’s that will not max out the shock and destroy ride quality on the street.

2. Level the front and rear (or close to it)

3. Perform a slight lift so I can run larger than stock tires on SCS F5 16x8 wheels. (I would eventually like to run a BFG k02 285/75/r16 tire without rubbing. Open to new ideas)

can anyone help? Need any additional info to help answer the question?

 

The ride will feel the same at all settings on the 5100s. It’s a common misconception that the ride changes because of the need to pre-compress the springs more before installation of the coil-over.

With the weight of the vehicle on the springs, the spring length will be the same at all settings.

The 5100s increase ride height by changing the position of the spring on the shock tube. By raising the position of the spring on the shock tube, the length of the bottom of the shock below the spring increases. This increased length of the shock below the spring is what increases the ride height.

Only you can decide where your ride height should be considering the weight you’ll be carrying temporarily or constantly on the front end and in the bed of your truck.

Each 200 pounds in your bed will drop you .5” or a bit less. I tested it with water weight in increments.

Position 5 gets you 2 inches of lift up front.

285/75-16 tires are about 2 inches taller than stock, so they’ll give an additional 1 inch of ride height.

Will they rub with different wheels? I don’t know, but you can try them and see. They might work fine for commuting, and you can always first try trimming and heat forming the fender liners for a little extra room for the larger tires.

One more thing. You can safely install the 5100s without spring compressors or clamps by instead using the weight of the vehicle resting on jack stands and using a floor jack to push the control arm, spring and shock upward and into the upper mount.

Then get and alignment.

 

Wow this is exactly what I needed. Thank you.

After your write up and some more research I’m thinking to go with position 3 or 1.1”(typical) lift.

That way it slightly reduces the rake, gives me a little more space for clearance with the new wheels/tires, and will still allow me to haul a few hundred pounds without sagging the rear.

I will also probably stick with BFG k02 265/75/r16 to prevent any rubbing/clearance issues since this is my daily for now. After paying this off and getting a second vehicle I will go for higher quality / more capable suspension components that are more geared for off road punishment.

Does my thinking make sense?

 

Preloading the coil will cause an adverse effect to ride quality. I know first hand because i had 5100s set at all bottom mid and top perch.

If you plan to go to any perch above the bottom then i would recommend getting OME coils (885,886,887) rather than preloading stock coil.

 

So much bad info here

 

He is correct. Both my truck on the 4 the setting and a one inch block rides the same as my son's truck who is on the top setting and one inch rear block. You do not compress the springs. Call Bilstein for yourself. It's going to ride the same no matter what setting it's set to.

You don't need new coils, Bilstein designed the 5100 to be used with factory coils, in fact the ome will sag and the spring weight is heavier with the factory coils. My neighbor has been through 2 sets of ome coils and now has factory coils back in. The ride quality never changed.

 

How do you figure you’re not compressing a spring when you’re moving a perch upwards?
Also I figure you’d be losing travel when you preload spring too much, is this not true?
With preload on linear springs the spring rate remains relatively the same, the problem is you are changing the relative position of the piston thereby affecting the travel. You’re essentially doing the opposite of bottoming out, meaning you’re hammering your pistons upwards.
It will ride like trash.

 

Not getting into a debate about it, mine rides great. In fact better than stock. Read post #2

 

I personally would NOT compress my springs. OP, do yourself a favor and order your Bilsteins with the correct coils on them for the length you want. I have 885 coils on mine and have roughly 1.5"~ of lift up front and added a 1" block in the rear. Last I measured, the truck was 0.5" higher in the back. Also, 1.1-1.5" of lift will not fit 285 tires...well, it may fit but you'll rub a little or a lot, depending on your wheel specs (more than likely A LOT).

If you plan on putting larger tires on, you may as well just get the lift to best accommodate those tires. I have 265/70/17s but will be moving to 255/80/17 (33") so I will be swapping out my 885 coil and putting on an 888 coil along with a 3 leaf progressive AAL in the rear. I still plan on doing the cab mount shop up front to fit the tires.

 

Don't 255's fit fine on stock suspension?

 

I've read that people have fit them, but I also have different offset wheels that will put them out farther, more than likely rubbing on my cab mount. My 265/70/17 tires rubbed on stock and even still in the mudflap area with my current lift.

 

My truck came stock with 265/70/r16 they definitely fit on the Off-Road set up. Not sure about other applications.

 

Yeah, going to a 17" rim in that size you gain an inch in tire size.

 

100% staying with a 16” wheel. 16x8 vs stock 16x7.

I’m going to move forward with Bilstein 5100’s set at .65” or 1.1” with the same stock components. I will update the thread on performance after I put a few miles and the truck settles BEFORE changing wheels and tires.

I will measure pre and post install and describe anecdotal ride quality/performance changes.

Adding additional anecdotal info on this forum. Stay tuned.

 

Curious to see your feedback. Let us know!

 

Just throwing my experience out there. I have run 5100’s at nearly all heights. They are on the 2nd groove up and ride as good as the bottom setting. Running them on the 34d and 4th were very stiff and uncomfortable. True stuff.

 

Most folks who fit 255's with a stock suspension are also on stock wheels (TRD OR stock wheels are +25 offset, TRD Pro stock wheels are +13 I believe). Most after market wheels have more negative spacing which makes it more difficult to fit without rubbing.

 

Did you end up getting these installed?

 

Using factory coils with four 5100's on my Access Cab, my truck definitely rides more harshly on the 4th setting than it did on the 3rd. I wouldn't even consider the top 5th notch, which is probably why Bilstein recommends against the top setting on the Access Cab.

On the 3rd notch, my truck rode a little better than the Off Road factory setup. The ride is slightly worse than factory on the 4th notch, but still tolerable.

With the factory coils, the resulting lift appeared to be exactly what Bilstein indicates for the 5100's.

 

They will be installed 12/3/19. At that point I’m going to run them for 2 or so weeks before putting on my new wheels and tires so I can get a realistic feel for the difference. I will update the thread with initial feel and thoughts. I will be going with the .65” or 1.1” setting. I decided that I do still want a little rake but not as much as stock, as I rarely haul anything.

Front and rear 5100’s with install and alignment for $940.