1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Bilstein leveling kit

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by wackym8, Mar 3, 2025.

  1. Mar 3, 2025 at 9:45 AM
    #1
    wackym8

    wackym8 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2025
    Member:
    #466581
    Messages:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD Sport DCSB
    Going to eventually do the Bilstein 5100 2”/1” leveling kit. I’ll either use 1” rear blocks or an AAL in the rear and just the shocks set to 2” in the front. I asked for a quote and was recommended new upper control arms which adds around $1000 with labor. What’s the deal with the UCAs with a 2” lift? If I do the 3rd or 4th setting in the front (1 or 1.5”) instead of 2” will the need for UCAs change? I have 265/70r17 on 4Runner TRD PRO wheels. Not sure of the offset. I’m new to IFS trucks so go easy on me.
     
  2. Mar 3, 2025 at 9:47 AM
    #2
    airforceb2cc

    airforceb2cc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2021
    Member:
    #368194
    Messages:
    1,670
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    KCMO
    Vehicle:
    2021 DCSB Nightshade
    Ironman FCP; 315/75R16; KDMAX; Skids; Sliders
    They aren't required unless you just can't get your alignment in spec...they usually add 1-2 degrees of caster. I wouldn't add them if you are only going 1.5-2".
     
  3. Mar 3, 2025 at 9:56 AM
    #3
    wackym8

    wackym8 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2025
    Member:
    #466581
    Messages:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD Sport DCSB
    How much would ride quality be affected?
     
  4. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
    #4
    Veet-88

    Veet-88 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2015
    Member:
    #155792
    Messages:
    1,734
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Vehicle:
    18 Tacoma DCLB sport
    Why is everyone obsessed with leveling trucks these days? I swear we see atleast 1 I'm going to level my truck thread daily....

    I would just keep the stock height and enjoy the upgrade in shock performance.

    Uca's are brought up typically once your over 2" of front lift to aid in getting correct alignment specs. With the stock uca you can end up with bad camber numbers. As in to much negetive. Then there's how it affects caster, but the misconception is most ucas added positive caster increases tire clearance which it actually does the opposite. Your 265 on that wheel will clear stock, may need to remove mud flaps.

    As for the thoughts on leveling. If you use yours truck like a truck at any point you will regret it being level. It squats unloads the weight on the front and the handling characteristics fly out the window.

    Also 265's on a 2" lift make the truck look like it skipped leg day in my opinion.

    Lastly be prepared to budget in for a front clamshell bushing. Some have no issues but I would say more have issues with it even in stock form sometimes.
     
    TacoTime55 likes this.
  5. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:06 AM
    #5
    airforceb2cc

    airforceb2cc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2021
    Member:
    #368194
    Messages:
    1,670
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    KCMO
    Vehicle:
    2021 DCSB Nightshade
    Ironman FCP; 315/75R16; KDMAX; Skids; Sliders
    No. They are to achieve higher caster in alignments.
     
  6. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:07 AM
    #6
    TacoTime55

    TacoTime55 TT59

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2021
    Member:
    #378314
    Messages:
    10,129
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ed
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2021 Midnight Black TRD Sport AT/DCSB
    TRD Lift,OTT Tune, LED HLs,TRDSkid, TalonCAT
    I wouldn't say obsessed...it's more like "timing".

    I've been waiting almost 4 years to do mine (14May2021 Purchase date).

    Except I'm doing the TRD Suspension Kit only...which is part of the TRD Lift Kit.

    Wife asked me why I was doing the suspension kit, I told her in preparation for when I get new tires at 60K miles. (Currently at 33K)

    More questions followed but I kept it simple.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2025
  7. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:07 AM
    #7
    Veet-88

    Veet-88 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2015
    Member:
    #155792
    Messages:
    1,734
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Vehicle:
    18 Tacoma DCLB sport
    I think what needs to be noted here is ride quality won't necessarily suffer but tire wear and life sure can be if the correct alignment isn't achieved.
     
  8. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:08 AM
    #8
    airforceb2cc

    airforceb2cc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2021
    Member:
    #368194
    Messages:
    1,670
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    KCMO
    Vehicle:
    2021 DCSB Nightshade
    Ironman FCP; 315/75R16; KDMAX; Skids; Sliders
    Correct. They are for alignment purposes only.
     
  9. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:09 AM
    #9
    wackym8

    wackym8 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2025
    Member:
    #466581
    Messages:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD Sport DCSB
    Might just replace the 4 shocks without lifting the front or rear. Maybe 0.5-1” in the front but the main reason I want to do it is because I have the trd sport shocks and want something a little more confident on trials.
     
  10. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:12 AM
    #10
    airforceb2cc

    airforceb2cc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2021
    Member:
    #368194
    Messages:
    1,670
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    KCMO
    Vehicle:
    2021 DCSB Nightshade
    Ironman FCP; 315/75R16; KDMAX; Skids; Sliders
    Define confident...the sport shocks are very capable offroad.
     
  11. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:15 AM
    #11
    Road_Warrior

    Road_Warrior There is nothing on my horizon except everything

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2021
    Member:
    #374919
    Messages:
    7,799
    Gender:
    Male
    East Coast
    Vehicle:
    2021 Black SR5 4x4
    I have had the 5100’s on my truck for a few years now. They have probably 50K miles on them. I’ve run them both on the 5th and 4th clip with the OEM UCA’s. Even if you have them at the full 2” up front, you shouldn’t need new UCA’s.

    I went down to the 4th clip eventually just to keep my truck level. I still have the same UCA’s that came on the truck from Toyota. No problems at all and I do use the truck off road and drive it all around North America.
     
  12. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:16 AM
    #12
    Veet-88

    Veet-88 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2015
    Member:
    #155792
    Messages:
    1,734
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Vehicle:
    18 Tacoma DCLB sport
    Money would be better spent on a good set of skid plates for when the oops inevitably happens. I wheeled on sport suspension for nearly 2 years before an upgrade and even then I wheel with stock trucks that go 90% of the places I go. Where i truly noticed the benefits were on long rough forestry roads more so than trails and the lift doesn't help you there.
     
    Road_Warrior likes this.
  13. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:20 AM
    #13
    wackym8

    wackym8 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2025
    Member:
    #466581
    Messages:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD Sport DCSB
    That’s the thing, I don’t rock crawl or anything like that. For me it’s more about how it rides over bumps, small rocks, on sand, etc. I also drive mostly on pavement and the sport shocks are fine, but I’ve heard great things about the 5100s
     
  14. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:31 AM
    #14
    Road_Warrior

    Road_Warrior There is nothing on my horizon except everything

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2021
    Member:
    #374919
    Messages:
    7,799
    Gender:
    Male
    East Coast
    Vehicle:
    2021 Black SR5 4x4
    just so you know, the bilstein’s are pretty stiff on road. At least in my experience. They will probably amplify speed bumps, etc.
     
    TacoTime55 likes this.
  15. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:35 AM
    #15
    Veet-88

    Veet-88 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2015
    Member:
    #155792
    Messages:
    1,734
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Vehicle:
    18 Tacoma DCLB sport
    That's that digressive valving for ya. I have always been curious to see how 5100/6112's would compare to my elkas linear valving. But I'm not shelling out that kind of cash just for an experiment. See how long my 2.5 dsc's hold up then I maybe looking to try somthing different.
     
    Road_Warrior[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Mar 3, 2025 at 10:42 AM
    #16
    timw1

    timw1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2023
    Member:
    #434595
    Messages:
    219
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tim
    Arapahoe, NC
    Vehicle:
    2023 Tacoma TRD OR DCSB
    2023 OR owner here. I upgraded to Bilstein 6112/5160 and 275/70r17 tires when my truck was 2 months old. The ride is stiffer, but feels good, especially driving on dirt roads. No regrets here.
     
    TacoTime55 likes this.
  17. Mar 3, 2025 at 11:10 AM
    #17
    TacoTime55

    TacoTime55 TT59

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2021
    Member:
    #378314
    Messages:
    10,129
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ed
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2021 Midnight Black TRD Sport AT/DCSB
    TRD Lift,OTT Tune, LED HLs,TRDSkid, TalonCAT
    Good to know.

    I would imagine the TRD Suspension Kit comes with 5100s but I could be wrong?

    I'll have to ask the Dealership if they can call Mother Toyota to find out.
     
  18. Mar 3, 2025 at 12:20 PM
    #18
    Road_Warrior

    Road_Warrior There is nothing on my horizon except everything

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2021
    Member:
    #374919
    Messages:
    7,799
    Gender:
    Male
    East Coast
    Vehicle:
    2021 Black SR5 4x4
    Hey Ed,

    No I believe the TRD shocks are made by Fox. Someone correct me if I’m wrong but I’m almost 100% sure they’re Fox shocks made for Toyota.
     
  19. Mar 3, 2025 at 12:23 PM
    #19
    airforceb2cc

    airforceb2cc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2021
    Member:
    #368194
    Messages:
    1,670
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    KCMO
    Vehicle:
    2021 DCSB Nightshade
    Ironman FCP; 315/75R16; KDMAX; Skids; Sliders
    The pro suspension is Fox. The TRD lift is Bilstein. You pay way too much for what it is.
     
  20. Mar 3, 2025 at 1:40 PM
    #20
    TacoTime55

    TacoTime55 TT59

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2021
    Member:
    #378314
    Messages:
    10,129
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ed
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2021 Midnight Black TRD Sport AT/DCSB
    TRD Lift,OTT Tune, LED HLs,TRDSkid, TalonCAT
    That's what I thought too...at least, what I was told by Parts Guy at Dealership.

    I just don't know what model Bilstein's...maybe 4600s?

    In any case, they are the adjustable ones that max out at 2".

    I don't want to have to service them or have them rebuilt so the TRD Suspension upgrade will allow me to get slightly bigger tires when the time comes.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top