Bilstein mystery/detective work

Hi guys,

I'm in the middle of overhauling my front end on my '98 3.4L. LBJ's, UBJ's, wheel bearings, the list goes on...

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on new Bilstein shocks too - sorry wallet! They're getting rusty, they seem to be leaking(?) and the bushings are just starting to go at the bottom.
But I'm a confused as to what Bilstein model is currently on the truck at the moment... and what I would replace it with to maintain current ride height.



After looking back and forth between what's on my truck and pictures online, I don't think I have a conventional 5100 or even 6112 for that matter. Neither model looks like what I have installed!

So the detective work begins! My first clue was towards the bottom of the shock absorber.


The bottom appears to be threaded and doesn't have the adjustable mounting points like the 5100's. Upon scraping away the crud towards the top, I uncover what looks like a model number etched into the metal.
2412BE5-6930-H8

Great! Enter into google and I stumble across a website selling a shock (Bilstein 24-186520) that has replaced a very similarly coded model - F4-BE5-6930-H8. I say close enough! Looks like they're for 1st gen Tundras?!


Enter in the updated model number into google and the jury seems to be out on whether it's a 5100 or 6100. On top of that, it doesn't appear to be a readily available part. Seems to be out of stock or "unavailable" on a lot of websites. Interestingly, the "new" model doesn't turn up on Bilstein's website either when you enter the new product code.

So, now I'm saying screw this! My question is - What should I replace these things with? Will 5100's do the trick or should I go with something entirely different. OME?

P.S. running on 33's with a leaf added in the rear.

 

I have never seen that kind of adapter plate at the top that allows an eye mount strut to bolt to the top plate like that. @TMFF ?!

5100s would replace what you have, you would remove the top plate that bolts to the tower and the strut. The new 5100s would bold directly to the tower and the lower control arm

 

Yeah the adapter plate was throwing me off too. I was wondering why nothing looked similar...

 

Never before seen that!

cool beans!

@Wheeler's Off-Road Inc ?

 

Probably ToyTec's first generation of their Ultimate Kits would be our best guess.


EDIT: Scratch that. All-Pro!

 

i believe that is toytecs kit with the steel top mount. atleast they did use to sell a version of those

 

Just to reflect on my recent installation, here's a box of happiness that I received from @Wheeler's Off-Road Inc a couple of weeks ago. I know that shocks and struts are like clothing and everybody has their preference. But I've been amazed at the Bilstein 5100 ride and handling quality.

Now I'm not an average consumer when it comes to suspensions and what I like in handling and ride. I typically outfit my cars with performance suspensions made up from H&R lowering springs, Koni struts, Perrin, and some custom made Delrin bushings.. But these 5100s and OME springs have exceeded all expectations. The best part was Wheeler's pre-assembling the shocks and springs. Everything was already assembled and nicely labeled. Sure I've got a spring compressor and have done my share of suspension builds over the last 10 years. I could do it. However, it is so nice to open the box from Wheeler's and to have everything ready to go.

 

Looks great!

 

Thank you everyone for helping solve this mystery!

I guess all that's left to decide is swap in a fresh set of the current setup? or switch over to the 5100 + OME combo? The latter seems to be a popular setup...

Anyone else riding these Bilstein/All-Pro pieces?

CS_AR - Been drooling over your build.

 

the original Bilsteins look like they are rebuildable, that might have been an interesting side job playing with the compression/rebound shimming.

 

OP what you have is what toytec sold me a while back for replacements. The replacements were for there 1st gen coilovers for the 1st gen tacomas, their new boss coilovers might be different.

 

The Toytec comments sound right...
I remember the previous owner saying something about Toytec when I was buying the truck off him.
Though the link posted by Wheeler's seems to have what looks like an identical set of what I currently have.

Are you saying these are repairable? Or is that more trouble than it's worth? I'm guessing you'd need some pretty specialized tools other than spring compressors.

 

No, they are not rebuildable. toytec has confirmed that with me.

 

Bump in the same boat, I see above you found they were unavailable but I found these on Amazon . Says they are 0-2 inches on a tundra which if the bolts are the same and the part number matches I don't see why I couldn't swap my springs into this

 

My current shot shock . Older toytec

 

I also came across this link on Amazon. Don't know why it looks nothing like what is currently on our trucks though? Maybe it's just that orange bit that's throwing me off...

I've yet to replace my front suspension - Other jobs came up that took priority. (Worn out leaf springs and rear shocks)

Reading back on my original post - I don't think my shocks are leaking. Traced the mess/gunk to a ripped outer CV boot. Flung the grease everywhere in the wheel well.

 

Dropping this link in here as well. Looks like these guys in T4R.org we're also looking at the Bilstein-AllPro setups in 2015...

Check out post #12 - They also dig up the same model number F4-BE5-6930 for the shocks

 

Seems like it would work . Either this or I'll end up pulling the plug on a complete set that I can rebuild

 

What was the verdict on this? I am in the same boat currently. See my latest thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/toytec-all-pro-coilover-shock-replacement.790714/

 

It seems y'all are still selling these kits (as is toytec), would those kits be considered new old stock at this point? I cannot find any replacement shocks for these coilovers unless I buy new old stock. The shock appears discontinued.

EDIT lol nvm they haven't posted anything on that account since 2021