Front Bilstein 5100s before or after the TSB??

So I have a 2011 DC TRD/OR 4x4. I already threw on 265/75R16 BFG ATs, done a bunch of mods and have even taken it to Ocotillo, all before my first payment - WooHoo!! I love this truck!

I was just about to get some Bilstein 5100s for the front when I noticed that the TSB for the rear leaf pack had been updated to include the 2011 models. Sweet.

Now for my question... I know that I need to get the front end aligned after I install the 5100s. The TSB seems to include an alignment...? Should I install the 5100s (doing it myself) and THEN take it in for the TSB and get a "free" alignment? Am I just confused?

I'm doing both the TSB and the new front Bilsiens (yes, front only), I just need to know if there's an advantage to doing one before the other.

Thanks everyone!

 

free alignment!!!!

 

When I had my tsb performed they told me an alignment wasn't needed when I showed them the TSB printout with alignment specs?

1. I got bullshitted about needing not needing an alignment or
2. I didn't need an alignment after tsb was performed ( have put over 10k miles on truck since TSB performed and tires are wearing properly and seems to drive great)

I think its a crap shoot whether you get the free alignment or not. So that being said I would put the billies on first and if they align your truck great, if they don't align your truck no harm no foul because you needed an alignment anyway after the billies were installed.

 

Maybe Toyota does things different than where I work. But when we complete a TSB we file for warranty, (from the manufacture) and we're reimbursed for the repair, the whole repair, not just the part we wanted to do.

 

Sounds good - I think I'll do Billies first. Anything special to install the fronts on a Taco? I installed some on my Jeep Cherokee about 6yrs ago, but I don't recall how hard it was or how long it took..

 

Anyone know if the TSB for the 2011 4x4 TRD includes replacing the shocks? I think it's just the leaf pack, right?

 

A little searching goes a long way- read post #4 here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...1-dc-lb-trd-sport.html?highlight=#post2543145

 

I have a 2011 with the tsb done, no shock replacement. No alignment since they are only going to put new rear leaf packs on. The ppl who have older tacomas got an alignment because they got new front shocks, which are now the shocks our trucks came with. This is my understanding. If you want a free alignment from a TSB I heard you get one from the steering column rattle one?

 

On the 2008 it was leafs and all 4 shocks and alignment .

 

Thanks. I actually came across that in my searches, but it didn't quite answer my question. You said "I gave the 5100's to the dealer to use in place of the yellow billies" but since I have a 2011 4x4 TRD/OR and my understanding is that the TSB for that model year only applies to the rear leaf packs and NOT the shocks, I wanted to get some other opinions. I just want to be well-informed before I walk into the dealer.

 

They did an alignment check on my 2010....No shocks here either. It calls for the alignment on the TSB whether the shocks are replaced or not.

 

I just got the rear TSB done yesterday, and I'm pretty sure there was no alignment done. You were correct in that they don't do anything up front, just the leafs in back, so I was assuming that explained the lack of alignment. I just ordered the 5100's, so put me down for "after".

 

My bad, I was under the impression that the '11s received the same treatment.

 

No sweat. I wasn't clear what Toyota did to the 2011 models... I hoped that they had fixed ALL of this stuff, but apparently not. The dealer just ordered the parts for the TSB and confirmed that the front suspension wouldn't be touched.

So in the end, the dealer actually answered my question. For a 2011, they don't touch the front - I chose to do the TSB first to keep it simple.

Thanks all!