Bilstein 5100s??

Brand new to this forum and just purchased my 2018 TRD Off Road Tacoma. I am wanting to do a little lift on my truck and pick up some tires and wheels. I saw that a lot of guys are running bilsteins and I am considering doing the same thing. Was wondering if you guys did the lift your self or had a shop do it for you? I am trying to stay away from spacers and blocks so I am also wanting to add a leaf in the rear. If y'all can show some pics of your trucks with certain set ups you guys have that would be awesome! I really am wanting to do the lift myself but I don't have the tool to compress the springs nor do I know how.

 

You can order the front suspension fully assembled from @HeadStrong Off-Road. That's what I did and my friend helped me drop it in.

 

I have Bilstein 5100/ Eibach combo up front, 5100 in the rear with 3 leaf AAL. Had the springs installed when i ordered it. Cost more but didn't have to deal with compressing springs. Installed lift myself. Added photo.

 

Bilstein 5100’s with 2887 springs and an AAL. Assembled the shocks at my shop then installed everything right there in the driveway.

 

i put 6112's in front of my second gen. going to put 5100's in the back. i compressed the springs and assembled the struts myself with spring compressors you can rent for free. IT WAS A TOTAL PITA USING THEM CLAMPS as the shock was too thick and didnt leave enough clearance for it to go thru the spring with the clamps attached. If you watch videos of people installing 6112's they all have the big spring compressor tools. and i found one guy giving up! that was pretty darn funny. but i dont give up easily and i found a way to do it with the clamps... Save some hassle and have them assembled or find a shop around you to do it for you. Also, if you are digging in to the suspension this early, do some preventative maintenance and grease them cam or caster bolt sleeves!!!! mark them bolts...

i have a picture of the finished truck here at the end of the thread. i thought i messed something up...but nope!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-did-i-do-wrong.637907/

 

You can hires someone to do the springs part, but really get it done professionally. They will give you a warranty that you lost with toyota. There are alot of people who have issues and without proper knowledge can result in a bunch more headaches

 

What 3 leaf AAL are you runnning and how does it ride? I'm trying to decide on rear lift options for my truck now.

 

Icon 3 leaf mini pack 1.5" AAL. Rides great. The suspension is a little... firmer i guess, which i like. Only issue i had installing was having to cut one of the brackets off the stock leaf because it was in the way. It's in the instructions that you may or may not have to depending on the stock leaf spring installed.

 

Where did you order the pre assembled ones?

 

Ordered complete set from Rogue Off Road. They are out of Vegas. There prices are reasonable but it took a while to finally receive all my parts. They did mention that if you get front suspension assembled it'll add a couple days to ship out.

 

You don’t need spring clamps or compressors to install new shocks.

Detach the front sway bar linkage.
If you have jack stands and floor jacks, you can easily install the 5100s by using the weight of the vehicle by placing the loose spring over the shock, mounting the bottom of the shock on the lower control arm, jacking up the lower control arm while guiding the top of the shock up into the upper mount and then attaching the top nut.

Then take it in for an alignment.

I not a mechanic. I watched a video of a mechanic who thoroughly listed all of the tools you need and then safely demonstrated the installation of the coil over without compressors or clamps.

It’s similar for removal of the coil-over unit. Place a jack under the lower control arm, remove the top nut from the shock and safely lower the coil-over unit downward and away from the top mount. Then remove the bottom of the shock.



You can do it!

 

Here's a video describing what he's talking about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=208&v=vkVLBOnAifc&feature=emb_logo

This method works great and is how I installed my 5100's (saved $100 by assembling by myself with this method).

 

Thank you!

 

I had 6112's in the front and 5100's in the rear of my 5th gen 4Runner and it road great. As far as the install goes there's not a lot to it, and just some basic tools will get you by. With the money you save on having a shop do the install you can easily cover the cost of having the front struts pre assembled.

 

What AAL did you go with looks great!? Are you running 265s as well?

 

Supreme Suspension. Got it on Amazon. 255/85/16

 

I had to cut the bracket on my leaf pack.. I later found that bracket supplied did not have a hole for the emergency brake line bracket. Did you have this issue?

 

Do it yourself. No one will care about your truck like YOU.

Bilstein 6112/5160s on the Taco and 5100s on the T4.



Both great set ups but if budget permits, splurge a little and do 6112/5160s.

 

I did the 6112 up front with 5160 and AAL in the rear.

Get the ECGS bushing installed in the front diff at the same time. This ECGS bushing will eliminate any potential vibrations you may experience after the lift.
I am not saying you'll experience vibes, but I did and so have many others after even mild lifts. So, be aware...

The most common vibe is between 25-35 MPH or 50 - 55 MPH, some experience both. The vibe is only there when in 2WD, switching to 4WD causes the vibe to go away. That is a classic test for the ECGS bushing install.

I experienced the 25 - 35 MPH vibe and it is gone after the bushing install.

Search the forum for "ECGS vibration and fix". I used this video to help me replace mine.

 

The leaf pack bolt was slightly larger than the brake line bracket hole. All I did was drill the bracket and adjusted so the Iine wouldn't rub.