Bilstein 5100 with stock springs

How bad is it to run my front end like this? I need new tires soon and want to go up to a 255/70 r17 but don't have all cash at hand to get some ome couls or eibach coils yet. I also don't want to go any hither than a 2in lift since I work out of the back of my truck all the time. I also have the wheeler add a leaf going on the back with tsb leafs.

 

Third setting on the shock will give you 1.75" approximately. OEM coils are fine.

 

Yup, what he said, that is how I have mine set up along with 1" block in back and it rides as good as stock, IMO. Be careful, some other springs aren't compatible with the 5100's and give a real harsh ride; if you do decide to change in the future.

 

I had them on my 2008 and was able to run my stock spring and a 34 inch tire. Kept it like that for a year then got fed up with the crappy gas mileage I was getting. Went back to stock. If you don't care about gas mileage this is a good way to go.

 

I have the same setup many have mentioned. 5100s with sport springs set on the third perch up front. Factor 4 leaf pack (not tsb, it came like this) and a Toytec AAL and 5125s in the rear. Tires are 265/70/17. I am very happy with the ride, it's more stiff than stock though. Here are a few pictures (there are also a million other pictures of the same setup on this forum).

Lastly, OP, do you mean 255/80/17 above?

 

Well that's good to know that I can run it that way for a short time till I want to upgrade more later?

Am I going to loose wheel travel if I went to a 33's with only a 2in lift?

What's the next size tire down
from the 255/79 r17? I plan in running stock sport wheels to. Tired of trying to search for aftermarket wheels that aren't really any better other than looks.

 

Yes sorry didn't even realize I messed up on tire size. 255/80 r17

 

I've heard of people running it like this I just remember reading some people having issues with it.

 

Hmm, interesting. How about the stock coils from my 4x4 SR5? Will they work with the 5100's?

Thanks

 

Yes.

People had issues running the 5100s at 1.75 or 2.5 - the road manners changed drastically and caused darting (particularly under braking), noticeable bump steer and general feelings of erratic wheel behavior, even with a proper alignment.

 

DCSBFTMFW I had the same issue. Sold them and went back to stock.

 

When I started looking, everything I saw said that the 5100s are designed for use with the stock springs (2nd gen 6-lugs), several sites actually recommended against using any aftermarket spring with them.

Should be no problem to run with stock springs as long as you want to, but there are definitely aftermarket options which will work with them as well. If you replace the springs later on, you'll likely want to re-set the strut height on the 5100s since many aftermarket options are built to add lift.

 

Iv been running 5100s (set at 1.75) up front with the stock TRD OR springs for the past 5 years and have had no issues, it is a bit stiffer than bone stock, but Iv been running the setup so long I cant remember how stock felt.

 

Cool. So would I have to set the 5100 at 1.75 to clear the 255 80 r17?

 

Curious about your choice of in tire size. 80 will be a little tighter fit. Any reason for the taller sidewall or just looks?

 

That's not true, Bilstein and Eibach have a contractual agreement to recommend each others products be used together.

Bilstein has said any other coil but stock and Eibach will void their warranty - and they get paid to do so.

 

I've read a lot of good reviews about the 255. I like the look of them and they are also a lighter tire. I plan on going with the cooper stx Maxx tires. My truck isn't 4x4 so I know there isn't much off roading I can do but I do take my truck out camping and I want to help my truck function as best as possible.
And that comes to another question that I haven't done to much research on yet but what the benifits are with going with a 33in tire. I wouldn't mind going down a size but I do want something a little bigger than stock though. I want something that fills the wheel wells a little more.

 

What would your recommendation be for a weekend warrior with non 4x4

 

Have you checked tire weights? 255s are all E rated and are pretty damn heavy, not sure how they compare with a C Rated 285, for example.