Bilstein 5100's installed incorrectly?

Hello,

New Taco owner here that thinks this site has been more than helpful. I have a quick question that I hope somebody can answer about an install of my 5100's.

My 2010 DC only has 900 miles on it, but I was approved to have the leaf spring TSB performed and had Bilstein 5100's installed in the front to level it out.

The shocks are set at 1.75" as far as I can tell. I'm not a mechanical guy, but from the bottom side, it looks like the circlip is placed in the second to last groove from the bottom one.

I've read about "Taco Lean", but my driver's left side front end is measuring about .75 inches lower than the driver's side right. Is this the lean? The truck only has 900 miles on it, but I weigh about 250 lbs and didn't think my weight would cause a lean this early.

I called the dealership and they were less than helpful. They told me to wait a couple thousand miles to see if it levels out because the springs need to adjust.

Any insight would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

I just put Bilstein 5100s on my truck as well. My driver's side leans 3/4" lower than the passenger side. The lean wasn't as pronoucned until I put the 5100's on. That being said, you aren't the only one with the issue.

Toytec makes a 1/4" spacer that, when installed, will compensate for this "lean". I'm conisdering this route.

 

Post some pics of the front struts up close...

Marc M

 

3/4" sounds like an awful lot of lean. Even at its worst, mine was always under 1/2". Post some pictures.

 

That's probably just the infamous 'Taco lean'. The gas tank adds about 130lbs to the driver side when full, plus your 250lbs = 380lbs more on the driver side than the passenger side. Toytec and Old Man Emu suspensions offer a .75" spacer for the driver side front coil to even the lean out; I'm sure some other companies do to.

Also, just to double check, look at both coils in the front and make sure that the coils are at the same notch and about the same amount of threads showing.

I don't notice it in my '09, but it probably does it when I'm sitting in it.

And a full .75" does seem a bit excessive.

Check that your front tires are at the same PSI too.

 

Here are some pics of the install...again, I'm not the most mechanical guy so I hope these pictures will help.

Passenger side back view

Passenger side, side view

Passenger side front view

Driver's side back view

Driver's side, side view

Driver's side front view

It looks like more bolt thread is visible on the passenger side, which is incidentally the higher side.

 

Those look to be properly installed at 1.75". Just the lean I guess.

 

I noticed my taco lean was much more pronounced after the TSB. Before it was less than 1/4", and was about 9/16" after.

(Side note: after installing a 5mm spacer on the driver side along with an OME lift, it was dead level.)

 

For 1.75", the clip should be set to the 3rd groove from the bottom.

 

In the pictures they do appear to be set on the 3rd groove from the bottom.